The longest day of the year is just around the corner and it's time to stock up on sun protection products.

This summer, you may notice new labels and ratings on SPF products. The Food and Drug Administration wants to help consumers better understand the protection they get from all those bottles and tubes.

Among the proposals, the FDA wants to offer a four-star rating system for products that claim to protect against the sun's harmful rays. Which rays? Sunlight is made up of UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays create a tan; UVB a burn. Both can damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer, dermatologists say.

The current SPF, or sun protection factor, is mostly a measure of protection against UVB rays, but dermatologists said most cancer cases and the premature signs of aging are caused by UVA rays. Consumers haven't had a measure of how much of those rays they're protected from.

The star rating would force sunscreen manufacturers to perform two tests on their products.

"To get a 4 rating, you'd have to demonstrate that your product warrants it on human skin tests and in lab tests with a sun simulator," said FDA spokeswoman Rita Chappelle. "The lower rating from two tests would be the star rating. We want to make sure the consumer is getting the minimum appropriate rating. To allow a marketer to say, 'Our product is four stars,' you'd have to have demonstrated that."

Some products will start carrying the star rating for the summer of 2008, Chappelle said, but the rule change proposal caused such a hubbub among dermatologists and manufacturers that the rule's implementation is on indefinite hold. FDA got more than 20,000 public comments and had to extend the comment period by a month at the end of 2007.

Now, it is not clear when the rules will come into effect.

Now, regulators are picking through the comments to consider changes to the rule before the final details are unveiled. That means those consumer protections won't be in place for summer's start.

Researchers Get Going

Still, Chappelle said some savvy companies are getting ahead of the pack and doing the research now so that FDA can sign off on the star ratings before summer's end -- whether or not the FDA is ready to enforce the rule.

Also in the FDA's proposal, words like "sun block," "sweat-proof" and "water-proof" will be stricken, Chappelle said, because no product can truly block sun, and some always comes off in water or with sweat.

Put On More

Dermatologists said that's part of the message they try to deliver to patients -- reapply.

"You must remember that no sunscreen withstands intense workouts for prolonged periods, especially if you are in the water," said Dr. Brian B. Adams, of Cincinnati, who wrote a book called "Sports Dermatology." "Bring extra sunscreen to your venue or stash it with your Gatorade along your running route for reapplication."

Also, don't rely on liquid products for sun protection.

"Covering up is important," said Dr. Arielle Kauvar, a New York City dermatologist. "Wear a broad-brim hat, long sleeves, tightly woven, dark fabrics and wrap-around sunglasses. Seek the shade during peak daylight hours and beware of reflected rays from water, sand and snow. Be extra careful when you are at higher altitudes, where the sun rays are stronger."

There are clothing products on the market that offer their own sun protection factor. There are also laundry products that claim to boost the protection for any clothes.

"Fabrics stop sun from striking body. You don't need SPF-rated products to get protection from the sun," said Dr. Zoe Draelos, a dermatologist and researcher in High Point, N.C. "Hold clothing up to the light. If you can't see light through it, you're protected."

When you're shopping for good UVA protection, dermatologists said there have been some major improvements in ingredients in the past few years. Even before products begin carrying the star ratings, look for products that contain Helioplex, Mexoryl, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for the best protection.

Kauvar said children have the easiest time reapplying sun-protection sticks and sprays on their own, so consider those products for young people.

Also, apply a topical antioxidant prior to applying sunscreen. Antioxidants reverse the free radical damage that results from the UV rays that bypass your sunscreen, Kauvar said.

Get Your Vitamin D

What about Vitamin D? In January, a doctor told "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that the best way to get the vitamin is to get into the sun for 15 minutes a day. Some tanning salons put on their marquees, "As seen on Oprah, get your Vitamin D here."

Dermatologists disagree.

"You don't have to have a tan to make vitamin D," Draelos said. "You only need to get three minutes of sun to get enough vitamin D. Just take the garbage out."

"Healthy levels of vitamin D can be obtained by eating a healthy diet and using supplements if necessary," Kauvar said. "UV rays are a known carcinogen, and there is no reason to deliberately get unprotected sun or indoor tanning exposure to increase vitamin D levels."

Teach Your Children Well

Finally, teach your children about sun protection. Kauvar said she's working with a 20-year-old patient now who had to learn the dangers of the sun earlier than most people.

"The woman had fair skin, red hair and blue eyes but was convinced she could develop a tan using tanning beds. She began indoor tanning at age 15 without the consent of her parents and was visiting the tanning salon as often as two to three times a week by the time she was 17. A biopsy of the changing mole confirmed that she had melanoma," Kauvar said.

The woman's cancer was caught early enough, Kauvar said, and now she's an advocate for sun protection.