"Line of Defense" by Robert S. Donovan on flickr
Is it enough to just pick up some sunscreen and slop it on, or do all of those letters and numbers on the front of the bottle mean something important? Well, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does think that those letters and numbers are important and recently decided that sunscreen needs to be more clearly labeled to help people protect themselves in the sun. Let’s take a look at some of the terms found on sunscreen labels, what they mean, and how they might change with the FDA’s new rules.
- UVA/UVB- these are the two types of radiation from the sun that can damage our skin. UVB rays are the major cause of sunburns, but both UVA and UVB rays can contribute to long-term skin damage, early skin aging, and skin cancer. Not all sunscreens protect against UVA rays, which leads us to the term…
- Broad Spectrum- When a sunscreen is labeled as having broad spectrum protection, this means it will protect against both UVA and UVB rays. The new FDA rules on sunscreen will mean that products will be tested to prove they protect against both.
- SPF (Sun Protection Factor)- This number indicates the amount of protection you get from UVB rays only, the ones that can give you a sunburn. For an idea of what the SPF number means, sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters out about 93 percent of the UVB rays, while a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 filters about 97 percent of UVB rays.
- Waterproof/Sweatproof- The FDA has decided that these terms are misleading, because at a certain point, any sunscreen will in fact wipe off. This is good to keep in mind- just because it says waterproof or sweatproof doesn’t mean you don’t have to reapply. Starting in the next year, sunscreen will display that it is water resistant for a certain amount of time, either 40 or 80 minutes, after which point you should reapply.
So, how do I know what sunscreen to use? The FDA recommends the use of broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher. Also, be aware that some sunscreens do have an expiration date, so check that before you apply. (Sunscreens are designed to last for up to three years, so you likely can use the same bottle you bought last year.) The FDA also recommends that you reapply sunscreen every two hours, or sooner if you’ve been getting in and out of the water or sweating.
As new labels start appearing in 2012, you’ll still need to check for broad spectrum and for an SPF of 15 or higher, but you’ll also be able to choose 40 or 80 minute water resistance and know to reapply accordingly.
For more information about the FDA’s new rules for sunscreen and their sun safety recommendations, see: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm258416.htm
For a Consumer Reports recent review of sunscreen brands, see: http://www.consumerreports.org/health/healthy-living/beauty-personal-care/skincare/sunscreens/best-sunscreen/index.htm
