SAN ANTONIO — We are just two weeks away from the official start of the summer season, even though many of us have already hit the pool, lake or beach and are hopefully using sunscreen. But in tonight's Verify, you may not be slathering on what you think you are.
When you go to the store to get sunscreen you typically look for a certain SPF for protection. But you may want to start looking deeper into what you're buying.
THE QUESTION
Is it true that your sunscreen bottle that says SPF 30, may not be the strength sunscreen you are getting?
THE SOURCES
- Dr. Bruce Hermann, a board certified plastic surgeon at North Texas Breast and Plastic Surgery Center
- Dr. Annabelle Garcia, a board certified dermatologist with Sonterra Dermatology.
THE ANSWER
TRUE
WHAT WE FOUND
Dr. Hermann says just like all products there are knockoffs and counterfeits, and sunscreen is no different.
"Sometimes people are ordering these products thinking they're getting legitimate products, but they're actually from lesser known companies that, you know, can have good advertising, have good brands, have good packaging," said Hermann. "You think it's legit, but it's really not."
Dr. Garcia says getting the right strength sunscreen, of at least SPF 30, is a must.
"Especially with high exposure to UV radiation such as UVA and UVB rays," said Garcia. "So it's super important to get a sunscreen with a good SPF. That is broad spectrum, which means it blocks UVA and UVB rays.
So yes it is true, your sunscreen bottle that says SPF 30 may not be the strength sunscreen you are getting.
Both doctors also say to make sure you're getting the sunscreen listed on the bottle or spray, to go with well known brands like Neutrogena, Coppertone and Equate. All of those have the actual SPF show right on the container.