Sunscreen Lotions that Work – Know Your Sunscreen

New FDA Guidelines are forthcoming that will help consumers spot sunscreen effectiveness.  Right now, labels are misguided, leaving you to choose lotions that may be ineffective.  With skin cancer on the rise, it pays to know how to protect yourself.

CONFUSED ABOUT whether or not to use sunscreen, or which one works?  The FDA has announced new mandates that reflect more than three decades of study.  By the summer of 2010, changes to sunscreen labels will be enforced.

These lotions will have to indicate if they protect against UVA and UVB radiation; currently, the label only needs to refer to UVB.  If both UVA and UVB protection is not offered by 2010, the manufacturer cannot assert that their lotion protects against skin cancer or early skin aging.

What’s more, the new regulations will mandate that sunscreen lotions will no longer be able to advertise a SPF – sun protection factor – greater than 50.

Judy Woodruff of the PBS Newshour (the best news show on TV in my humble opinion), recently interviewed Dr. Ali Hendi, a dermatologist with The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Here’s some bottom line assertions that Dr. Hendi made in the interview:

– With the new guidelines, a product cannot label itself as being waterproof or a sunblock. Those do not exist. There’s no ingredient that is a total sunblock. And there’s no product that is waterproof.

– When outdoors, apply sunscreen every two hours. If swimming or sweating, apply sunscreen after the activity is finished.

– UVB rays do not penetrate deeply; they can be blocked by the glass in your car, for example. UVA rays penetrate deeply and are known to cause skin cancer. It’s important to have protection from both UVA and UVB.

–  Skin cancer and skin damage from sun exposure is happening to more young people today than in the past.  Oftentimes, the damage is from exposure a decade earlier. Young women are developing skin cancer in greater numbers than men which is thought to be due to their greater use of tanning beds that use U.V. radiation, a known carcinogen.

If you’re a sun lover, or want to know more about this topic, listen to the Judy Woodruff Interview (sorry, no longer available) or go to the PBS Newshour and watch the interview here.

Last Updated on March 6, 2018 by Joe Garma

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Joe Garma
 

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 7 comments
Tony - November 21, 2011

Well written article.I appreciate your writing skills.Its great.I really like the concept of this post and I feel that this is a very unique and rare information that you have managed to compile.You have done a great job by sharing this post with us.I like this post.Keep sharing with us in future too. 

Reply
Grace - November 21, 2011

Excessive sun exposure may cause cataracts to develop.
Avoid looking directly into the sun. Wear a broad-rim hat to keep your face and
eyes in the shade. Even if you are outdoors, stay under the shade .Outdoor
exposure should be avoided between 11:00AM and 3:00PM because the UV rays are
harshest during these hours. Protect your skin from the sun’s rays by
strengthening it from within. Eat plenty of foods that are rich in
anti-oxidants. These delay aging and fight free radicals that can cause
wrinkling and possibly cancer.

Reply
Avery - November 22, 2011

The Environmental Working Group put pressure on manufacturers
sunscreen for them to improve efficiency. Slowly,
the EWG’s campaign is beginning to bear fruit, particularly in conecrne
protection against UVA.If we stick to chemical creams, EWG recommends creams ecamsule or based Tinosorb S and M. These products are more stable under the
influence of solar radiation. For protection against UVA Association recommend sunscreens containing avobenzone  but containing oxybenzone or methylbenzylidenecamphor
4-(4-MBC), which are known hormone disrupters. The
oxybenzone is approved in Europe, but its
presence in the products must be stated in clear terms unless its concentration is less than 0.5% (Source The Bottle).

Reply
Alexa - January 3, 2012

Wow, great post. Can’t wait to read the next one.”.Sun creams lotions are stable when you are  under the
pressure of solar radiation. For protection against UVA Association recommend
sunscreens containing avobenzone .

Reply
Six Sigma - March 20, 2012

Great content gives freshness and relevancy to the blog or website to boost the ranking.I like this .Thanks to share this blog.

Reply
Siran - March 21, 2012

I get it clear idea about your topic.Most of the people looking this kind of valuable tips.Too much exposure to sun can cause
of skin diseases so avoid looking directly into the sun. Use sun cream lotion,
wear broad rim to avoid this.

 

Reply
Botandroid - May 4, 2012

Amazing pictures and very clearly explained as well.I liked your article
which is very simple short and descriptive.Thanks for sharing such
great article with us.

Reply

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