The Truth About Sunscreen

We all know that sunscreen is essential for good skincare and cancer prevention. The little SPF in your daily moisturizer and maybe even in your foundation doesn't really cut it. You should be using actual sunscreen daily. Perhaps do you use sunscreen, but are you really protected? What makes for a good sunscreen? And how effective is yours? Well, here's the truth about sunscreens on the market...

"In a new investigation of 952 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. Leading brands were the worst offenders: None of market leader Coppertone's 41 sunscreen products met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness, and only 1 of 103 products from Banana Boat and Neutrogena, the second- and third-largest manufacturers, are recommended by EWG."

Did you get all those statistics?!? So from the three best selling sunscreen brands combined, only one sunscreen could be recommended! ONE.

The problem for us consumers lies with the current sun protection factor (SPF) labeling system regulated by the FDA. It was implemented 30 years ago and only measures protection from UVB rays, the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburns. However, it's UVA rays that cause skin cancer. You could have a SPF 75 sunscreen, apply it daily, and still get cancer! Poor regulation by the FDA has lead to substandard sunscreen quality.

Here are some major findings from the 900+ sunscreen study:

* Only 15% of 952 products analyzed met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness, blocking both UVA and UVB radiation, remaining stable in sunlight, and containing few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards.

* Analysis found that 7% of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30) protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and do not contain ingredient combinations known to protect from UVA, the sun rays linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer. FDA does not require that sunscreens guard against UVA radiation.

* Many sunscreen ingredients break down in the sun, in a matter of minutes or hours, and then let UV radiation through to the skin. Analyses show that 48% of products on the market contain ingredients that may be unstable alone or in combination, raising questions about whether these products last as long as the label says. FDA has not proposed requirements for sunscreen stability.

* Many products on the market bear claims that are considered "unacceptable" or misleading under FDA's draft sunscreen safety standards. Claims like "all day protection," "mild as water," and "blocks all harmful rays" are not true, yet are found on bottles. Until FDA sets an effective date for these standards, industry is free to use hyped claims.

Bottom line, make sure your sunscreen truly provides sun protection! Here are some helpful links:

* Top 10 Sunscreens
* Common Misleading Sunscreen Claims
* Sunscreen Hazard Score
* Recommended and Non-recommended Popular Brands
* Sunscreen Hazard Scoring Methodology

The Sunscreen Hazard Score lists all 952 sunscreens used in EWG's study. Each sunscreen was tested for protection, harmful chemicals, and other criteria. A score of 0-2 indicates low hazard, 3-6 of moderate hazard, and 7-10 of high hazard. My Neutrogena sunscreen received a score of 3, while my Alba Botanica received a score of 4. Not too bad, but you know what your sunscreen scores?

Source: Cosmetic Safety Database