Top 10 Skin Myths—A Dermatologist Tells All

Myth: SPF Will Tell Me How Much Protection I'm Getting From the Sun

Fact: In truth, SPF is only part of the equation. Damaging UV light is separated into two parts: UVA and UVB. SPF only measures UVB, once thought to be the only harmful part of the spectrum. The United States has not yet adopted a standard to measure UVA protection, but it's in the works. Choose an SPF with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and make sure you couple your sunscreen with an antioxidant for maximum protection.