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According to a new study from Consumer Reports, nearly half of sunscreens have a lower sun protection factor (SPF) than they claim on their bottles.

So, should you start buying sunscreen with a higher SPF to protect your skin from sun damage and lower your skin cancer risk?

Not necessarily, says , a dermatologist at MD Anderson in Sugar Land. But it¡¯s a good reminder to use more sunscreen more often.

¡°There have been other studies that show that the ¡®real world¡¯ SPF of most sunscreen is much less than what¡¯s on the bottle because we tend to apply less than what is used during laboratory testing,¡± George says. ¡°Regardless, this does highlight that more may need to be done to change sunscreen labels to make them more accurate and reflective of how sunscreen is actually used.¡±

What to look for on your sunscreen label

To make sure you¡¯re protecting your skin in the sun, George recommends looking for the following:

• An SPF of at least 30: Using sunscreen with an SPF higher than 30 does not mean you can stay in the sun longer or reapply less often.
• Broad spectrum: This means it protects against both UV-A and UV-B rays, the two types of rays that can damage skin and lead to skin cancer.
• Water-resistant: No sunscreen is waterproof. Products must specify whether they are water-resistant for 40 or 80 minutes.

Apply sunscreen early and often

Use these tips to make sure you¡¯re using enough sunscreen to protect your skin:

• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you head outside.
• Apply at least one ounce ¨C the size of a golf ball.
• Cover each part of your body exposed to the sun.
• Reapply liberally every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
• Wear sunscreen 365 days a year, whether it¡¯s sunny or not. UV rays are present year-round and can do damage even on a cloudy day.

How to protect your skin from the sun

¡°Ultimately, sunscreen is just one way to protect your skin from sun damage,¡± George says. ¡°But wearing sunscreen isn¡¯t the only thing you should be doing to protect your skin.¡± She offers this advice:

• Look for shady areas when outside. Avoid going outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are the most powerful.
• Cover up. Wear dark, tightly woven clothing to protect your skin. Pick a hat with a large brim to protect your ears and neck.
• Use extra caution around water, snow and sand. These can amplify the sun¡¯s rays.
• Wear sunglasses. Look for lenses that provide both UV-A and UV-B protection.

¡°It¡¯s important to remember that these are all just parts of protecting your skin,¡± George says. ¡°But when we¡¯re diligent about all of them, they can help lower cancer risk and still allow us to enjoy the outdoors.¡±