Sunscreen SPF labeling may be unreliable
- May 26, 2016
- 2 min read
It’s hot and everyone wants to hit the beach for the cool ocean waves and sun’s warm rays. Sunshine is great, but its rays? Not so much. Both UVA and UVB rays pose serious health risks, such as premature aging, eye damage and skin cancer.
This opinion article was originally featured in PantherNOW and talks about how sunscreen SPF labels can be unreliable and how people can properly take care of their skin.
Check out the article’s excerpt below and click the link if you want to read the full story!
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Maytinee Kramer/Staff Writer
It’s hot and everyone wants to hit the beach for the cool ocean waves and sun’s warm rays. Sunshine is great, but its rays? Not so much. Both UVA and UVB rays pose serious health risks, such as premature aging, eye damage and skin cancer. While the skincare industry has significantly advanced in creating sun-protective products over the years, a new study by researchers at Consumer Reports shows that nearly half of sunscreen products in the U.S. had less than the SPF it promised. This makes us wonder exactly how safe the products currently on the shelves really are.
This year, Consumer Reports researchers tested and rated more than 60 lotions, sprays and sticks with SPF claims of 30 or higher — 30 being the minimum level recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. However, 43 percent failed to meet the SPF claim on the label and some even showed an SPF of less than 15, falling extremely short from their labels.
This means that many sunscreens are leaving people vulnerable to sunburn and other possible skin damage.
In addition, the Food and Drug administration does not routinely test sunscreens; it requires the manufacturers to test their products. Even then, the companies are not mandated to submit their results.
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Photo credit: Flickr
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