How To Pick A Sunscreen: What The New FDA Rules Really Mean

With a dizzying array of options on the market, walking into a store and knowing what sunscreen to buy is difficult.

The Food and Drug Administration's new sunscreen rules, announced earlier this week, aim to change that. In a year's time, a few simple tweaks right on labels should make it easier for consumers to parse out exactly what's what. Among them:

• Products will no longer be able to be labeled "waterproof" or "sweatproof." Instead, they will have to list how many minutes they can last in the face of moisture. Also gone? The word "sunblock." Too misleading.

But before those changes kick in, there's no need to be stumped by sunscreens. Dermatologists say there are a few main things you can look for when shopping.

Check What's Inside

First, look for ingredients like Zinc oxide, Avobenzone or Titanium dioxide, which ensure broad spectrum coverage. (For a more complete list, check out the American Academy of Dermatologists' website.)

Need it even simpler still?

"My personal bias would be towards zinc, because just the one chemical gives full, broad protection," said Dr. Raja Sivamani, a resident physician in dermatology at UC Davis.

Get The Right Protection

Second, look for a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, said dermatologist Dr. Thomas Rohrer. He said some people question whether anything higher than 15 really makes a difference -- but his vote is "yes."

"Nobody uses the amount of sunscreen that people do in testing in real life," he said. "So it does help to go up to an SPF of 30, or even beyond."

Be Sun Smart

Both derms stressed that the biggest factors may not be determined in the drug store aisle, but when people are out in the world. Avoiding the peak hours and wearing protective clothing are really the first lines of defense, Sivamani explained.

Slather It On -- All Day Long

Also? Reapply, reapply, reapply, even if using a water resistant formula and especially if you've picked a spray. Roher said that people who use sprays may get a "false sense of security" by just misting themselves, meaning they don't get the same volume of sunscreen that they might with a cream or gel.

"You need a strong SPF, but the most important thing is to apply a lot of sunscreen and apply it frequently," he said.