It's summertime — here's the skinny on sun protection
Today is the first day of summer. But before slopping on sunscreen, consider this: An environmental watchdog group says it can recommend only 39 of the 500 beach and sport sunscreens on the market.
Alex Breitler
Some brands exaggerate the amount of protection they provide, the Environmental Working Group claims in a new report. Others contain chemicals or vitamin A, which some researchers say is good for the body but not for the skin.
The environmentalists say sunscreen should be part of your sun protection portfolio but not all of it.
"The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt," the group says in its recently released report. "No chemicals to absorb through the skin, no questions about whether they work."
These days, some sunscreens boast higher sun protection factor values, as high as 100.
A high SPF may protect you from one kind of ultraviolet light - UV-B, which causes sunburn. But there's also UV-A to worry about.
That's the kind of ultraviolet light that causes tanning. And to date, there is no rule requiring manufacturers to disclose how effective sunscreens are at blocking UV-A.
Both types of ultraviolet light damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That agency is working on a four-star rating system to show how effective products are at protecting against UV-A.
Powder sunscreens can be inhaled, with particles of zinc and titanium possibly ending up in your lungs. Some lotions, meanwhile, contain a potential hormone disrupter known as oxybenzone.
But much of the concern is about marketing.
One product claims that it "doesn't break down," perhaps leading a consumer to believe that only one application is needed during a long day in the sun.
Another product says it is "mild as water," while a label warns to stop use if a rash or irritation develops.
They're not happy with the Environmental Working Group, which regularly seeks funding to support a wide range of consumer health advocacy reports.
John Bailey, chief scientist of the Personal Care Products Council, called the sunscreen report "unscientific and unsubstantiated" and warned that it might persuade people to avoid using sunscreen at all.
"The FDA testing and regulatory process for sunscreen products is the most rigorous in the world," Bailey said.