sun protection

If one cancer charity gets its way, the distinctive buzz of tanning beds could soon become harder for Ontario teens to hear. With melanoma becoming increasingly common in Canadians aged 15 to 29, the Canadian Cancer Society is asking Ontario to ban teens under 18 years old from using indoor tanning beds in the province. Nova Scotia and the city of Victoria already have similar bans in place, and Sarnia is considering one. Should this one be left to personal and parental discretion, or is it time to change the rules?

It used to be that your options were whether or not buy SPF 15 or 30, but now a trip to the sun care aisle can be really confusing. The SPF numbers go from five to 75, you can get waterproof or sweatproof, there are sprays and lotions, and some brands promise that you won't feel greasy after application. But which claims really stand up to the test, and are there ingredients you should look out for — or avoid — to get the best, safest protection?