The new FDA sunscreen labeling guidelines have been released. Here is what you need to know.

Because no sunscreen offers 100 percent protection, the FDA is proposing new guidelines to help you better understand exactly what yours can and can’t do for your skin. Look for these changes in the near future.

1. A warning will appear The FDA wants a warning label (a la cigarette warning labels) to appear on every bottle that would read: “UV exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging, and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing, and using a sunscreen.”

2. The meaning of SPF will change Instead of “sun protection factor,” the FDA wants the letters to stand for “sunburn protection factor.” This subtle distinction will prevent people from developing a false sense of security. The FDA wants to remind you that whenever you’re exposed to the rays, you risk getting burned – and that can lead to skin cancer.

3. A new UVA-rating system will be implemented Next to the traditional SPF number, which only measures UVB protection, you’ll find a UVA rating based on a scale of one (low protection) to four (highest protection). Products that don’t rate even one star will have to state “no UVA protection.”

4. Misleading phrases will be banned Claims like “all-day protection,” “sweatproof,” and “waterproof” won’t appear on sunscreen bottles. “All sunscreens need to be reapplied, so no product could live up to these claims,” explains Hackensack University Medical Center’s Robin Ashinoff. [via]