Myth #5: The higher the skin protection factor (SPF) rating, the better.

SPF ratings, soon to be revised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only refer to protection from UVB rays.  A person needs sun protection that has chemical and physical blockers, plus antioxidants.  A higher SPF also gives a false sense of security and introduces more potentially harmful chemicals to the body.  Plus, an SPF of 50 is only marginally more protective than an SPF of 15; an SPF of 30 has only 2% more protection than an SPF of 15, and a 40 has only 1% more than a 30.  Sunscreens need to be reapplied every 90-120 minutes.