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Are Waterproof Sunscreens Effective?

Are Waterproof Sunscreens Effective? (0:38)

Dr. Ellen Marmur, a dermatologist at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, reveals whether or not waterproof sunscreens can truly protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

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No sunscreens are truly 100% waterproof, and this is why the FDA has now changed the word waterproof to water-resistant. Resistant means it can withhold water, and it can also sometimes go on wet skin, the sun protection is actually made to be a little bit stickier, and it can resist being washed off. It can resist up to 40 minutes or 80 minutes, look on the label for water resistance 40 minutes and reapply it every 40 minutes.