First off, I’d like to thank all of you for the positive feedback on my last article regarding organic foods. I didn’t realize that it would create so much conversation. I would like to apologize to Michael and Mitch, proprietors of Rainbow Earth, 220 Rehoboth Avenue, for leaving them out. It was an unintentional oversight.

And now on with the show! A couple of years ago I wrote about sunscreen and now new information has been released as to the real effectiveness of this beach essential. If you think that slathering on the highest number sunscreen at the beach will protect you against skin cancer and wrinkles, think again.

Experts agree that sunscreen is not as effective as thought against skin cancer.

Sunscreens generally do a good job filtering out the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburn—these are the UVB rays. But we get a false sense of security that keeps us under the sun’s harmful rays for much longer. This adds to the risk of eventual skin cancer—both the deadly melanoma and the more common and less threatening basal and squamous cell cancer.

And most sunscreens don’t defend nearly as well against the UVA rays that penetrate deep into the skin and are more likely to cause skin cancer and wrinkles.

What’s the best protection from UVA rays? Experts agree that a sunscreen that includes zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or avobenzone is best. You should also look for those that are waterbased and have an SPF of 30 or better. They also insist that you limit your time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. And still cover up—including wearing a hat and sunglasses.

Here’s where it gets very confusing. Some product labels are misleading. For example, the SPF, or sun protection factor, refers only to defense against the harmful UVB rays. So, you are only getting partial protection of the spectrum.

Many sunscreens don’t mention when to reapply—many doctors say at least every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating. Nor do they tell you how much to apply. It is recommended that an adult use at least 2 tablespoons of sunscreen. Many people just don’t put on enough, and apply it very thinly. Most people who apply an SPF 15 are really only getting the effect of an SPF 5 if not applied properly. Many labels fail to tell you that your must apply your sunscreen at least 2 hours before going outside. That’s because most sunscreens work by reacting chemically with the skin and don’t start absorbing damaging rays right away.

And claims such as "waterproof" and "sunblock" are unsupported according to the Food and Drug Administration which years ago proposed replacing them with the more accurate terms, "water-resistant" and "sunscreen." Manufacturers including Neutrogena Suncare maker Johnson and Johnson and Coppertone maker Shering-Plough Corp. say they haven’t complied because the FDA still hasn’t imposed those rules—a delay that’s spawned consumer lawsuits and pressure on the FDA from the American Cancer Society.

Doctors tell us not to abandon sunscreen but we should probably use more of it.

Sunscreens do protect us, it’s just that we don’t put it on properly and we don’t read the labels. It’s still our best bet, for now, for sun protection. I’ll keep you updated on what happens with the FDA and Congress as it happens.