“Immediate Protection!” “Ultra waterproof/sweatproof!” “Continuous Protection!” “Extra UVA Protection!” “All day protection!”—Sunscreen tubes prominently display these sweeping claims. But how reliable are they and which should be considered when buying a sunscreen?
All sunscreens are designed to reduce the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. As Dr. James Spencer, a dermatologist from St. Petersburg, Florida, told the New York Times, sunscreen must be applied every few hours and should be reapplied immediately after coming out of the water, and after profuse sweating. Therefore, the “All day protection” claim is probably misleading and the “waterproof” claim gives users an exaggerated sense of protection.
In the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to update sunscreen labeling standards to help give consumers a clearer sense of how much protection their product actually provides. UVA and UVB rays are the two components of sunlight that cause damage. UVA rays are less responsible for burning, but penetrate the skin more deeply thus posing some risk of cancer and aging-related changes. UVB rays cause burning and can also increase the risk of some types of cancer.
The current system, proposed in 1978, has no standardized UVA rating system, and thus consumers have no way of knowing how much protection they are getting from these potentially dangerous UV rays. A second problem is that the current SPF (Sun Protection Factor) system, which indicates multiples of how much longer a person can stay in the sun without burning than they could without sunscreen, is confusing. Consumers generally have to resort to a trial and error system in order to decipher sunscreen labels. The new FDA regulations are intended to provide much needed clarification. Until then, the best bet is to buy a sunscreen with “broad spectrum” protection against both UVA and UVB rays and to apply it thirty minutes before going outdoors and reapply every few hours or immediately after coming out of the water. And use enough to ensure adequate coverage: a teaspoonful for the face and a fourth of a cup for the body, are needed for real protection.
But remember that the best way to avoid sun damage is still to stay out of the sun and keep your skin covered. Sunscreen alone does not allow one to lie out in the sun all day, free of the risks from harmful rays.
Pleases see ACSH’s publication “Health and Safety Tips for Your Summer Vacation (2007)” for further information on sun protection.
