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Today's Sunscreen Unlike a few decades ago when baby oil and iodine were common sights at the beach, most people today understand the importance of protecting their skin from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Applying sunscreen has become routine when preparing for outdoor activities. Ongoing research, however, continues to increase our knowledge of the effects of UV radiation on the skin and, subsequently, the relative effectiveness of sun protection products currentl available on the market. "Today's thinking has taken a new direction when it comes to sunscreen and the importance of SPF [sun protection factor] levels and broad spectrum coverage," says dermatologist Neil Fenske, M.D., who is the director of Dermatology in Moffitt Cancer Center's Cutaneous Oncology Program and a professor at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Medicine. While a product's SPF is an important indication of its level of protection from the effects of UVB rays, SPF does not measure protection from the dangers of UVA rays, which play a larger role in the development of melanoma. (See UVA and UVB Facts below.) That's why many sunscreens available today combine several different chemical ingredients to provide protection against the broad spectrum of UVB and UVA rays. These include UV-absorbing filters to help guard against shorter UVA wavelengths and other chemicals to protect against the remaining UVA spectrum. Ingredients are classified as either physical barriers, which reflect UV radiation, or chemically absorbed barriers, which are easier to use and more cosmetically appealing.
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