Make Sure You’re Covered With these Sunscreen Facts

Features, Health News /

by ERIKA ALDRICH

Summer is upon us, and amidst the yardwork, barbecues, days in the pool, and trips to the beach, it’s important to remember one key component that should be present in each: sunscreen. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays and lessens your chances of developing skin cancer. Take our quiz on sunscreen facts and make sure you’re covered!

  1. Which of the following is the estimate of how many people will get skin cancer at some point in their lifetimes?
  1. One in five
  2. One in eight
  3. One in ten
  4. One in fifteen
  1. Sunscreen can protect you from which of the following?
  1. The sun’s UV rays
  2. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays
  3. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
  4. Getting a sunburn
  5. All of the Above
  1. True or False? There are 17 ingredients approved by the FDA for use in sunscreens, with some being chemicals and some being physical substances.
  2. Which of the following is the mechanism by which sunscreen protects your skin? (Choose all that apply)
  1. Absorbs the sun’s UV rays and convert the sun’s radiation into heat energy
  2. Scatters the sun’s UV rays before they penetrate the skin
  3. Chemically alters the skin’s surface to reject the sun’s UV rays
  4. Creates a liquid barrier that traps the sun’s UV rays
  1. You should wear sunscreen year-round, even on cloudy days because what percentage of the sun’s harmful UV rays can still make it through to your skin?
  1. 50 percent
  2. 60 percent
  3. 70 percent
  4. 80 percent
  1. When planning on being in the sun for more than a few minutes, dermatologists recommend you use a sunscreen with which of the following features?
  1. Provides broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays)
  2. Has an SPF 30 or higher
  3. Is water resistant
  4. All of the Above
  1. True or False? A sunscreen with a higher SPF will protect your skin for longer than a sunscreen with a lower SPF.
  2. Which of the following is an important direction to follow concerning applying sunscreen?
  1. Apply early; about 15 minutes to dry skin before going outdoors.
  2. Apply thoroughly; most adults require about one ounce—the volume of a shot glass—to adequately cover their bodies.
  3. Reapply every two hours
  4. Reapply after swimming and/or sweating
  5. All of the Above.
  1. Fill-in-the-Blank. The higher a sunscreen’s SPF, the better. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 protects your skin from up to ______ percent of the sun’s UV rays, SPF 30 protects up to ______ percent, and SPF 50 protects your skin from up to ______ percent of UV rays.
  1. 15 percent/ 30 percent/ 50 percent
  2. 50 percent/ 75 percent/ 100 percent
  3. 93 percent/ 97 percent/ 98 percent
  4. None of the Above
  1. True or False? Sunscreen manufacturers are required by the FDA to ensure their sunscreens retain their strength for three years.

Resources: Information provided by The American Academy of Dermatology and SkinCancer.org

ANSWERS:

    1. A. One in five. One in five Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their lives.
    2. E. All of the Above. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s UV rays—made of UVA and UVB rays—the first causes skin aging, and the second causes sunburns; both cause skin cancer.

 

  • True. 

 

  1. A and B. Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s UV rays, and physical sunscreens scatter the sun’s UV rays.
  2. D. 80 percent. Clouds only block around 20 percent of the sun’s UV rays, so it’s important to wear sunscreen at all times.
  3. D. All of the Above. Sunscreens should have an SPF of at least 30, protect against both UVA and UVB rays, and be water resistant.
  4. False. A sunscreen with a higher SPF means it blocks more UV rays than a sunscreen with a lower SPF; they both provide protection for the same amount of time.
  5. E. All of the Above. You should apply sunscreen 15 minutes to dry skin before being in the sun, use at least an ounce for full coverage, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
  6. C. 93 percent/97 percent/98 percent. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 provides about 93 percent protection; SPF 30 provides 97 percent, and SPF 50 provides 98 percent; no sunscreen provides 100 percent protection.
  7. True. Throw away sunscreen that is older than three years or that has changed color or consistency.

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