Sure looks like protection ? but is your sunscreen really keeping you safe?
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It's 84 degrees here today, which means I'm ready to head out and enjoy the sunshine -- after first spraying on a sturdy coat of sunscreen. I never wear less than SPF 30 (pasty, skin cancer-prone skin runs in my family) and I always choose a brand that promises "broad-spectrum" UVA/UVB protection, meaning it should block out both UVB rays (which cause burning) and UVA (which cause aging-related damage and skin cancer).
Except: The FDA doesn't require sunscreen makers to substantiate claims that a product provides UVA protection. So even when you're applying and reapplying with religious fervor, you could be getting a big dose of the danger rays. In fact, a 2009 report found that only 1 in 10 sunscreens (and 1 in 5 daily moisturizers with SPF) offered the promised protection. Which might help explain why there are over a million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the US every year, including so many non-melanoma cancers that a new study describes it as "an epidemic." Think this isn't an eco issue? Rates of sun-related skin damage, including bad burns and skin cancer, are expected to rise as climate change gets worse, because the thinning ozone layer lets more dangerous UV rays get through.
The good news: Environmental Working Group has rounded up an impressive squadron of advocates, sunscreen makers, and physicians to sign a letter asking the FDA to set enforceable standards for UVA protection. They're also pushing FDA to review a slew of potential sunscreen ingredients, already approved for use in Europe, that might beef up your SPF protection.
Here's hoping that FDA opens its mail this week. In the meantime, click here to download EWG's Shopper's Guide to Safer Sunscreens for lists of the best brands and ingredients to avoid.
Read on, for more on greener sunscreens:
How To Find Sunscreens That Really Protect the Skin Without Harmful Chemicals
How To Avoid Toxins in Your Sunscreen
Is Your Sunscreen Causing Cancer?
Go Green with Your Sunscreen
