A Burning Issue
New sunscreen rules make for a healthier summer
By Cameron Keady
School's out for summer! June 21 marked the official first day of the highly anticipated season. Students nationwide will soon be out of the classroom and in the warm summer rays. However, there will soon be a new set of rules for fun in the sun. On June 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations for sunscreen labeling.
The rules will go into effect next summer. They require sunscreen makers to create and advertise products that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Both kinds of rays can cause skin cancer. UVB rays cause sunburn. New sunscreen labeling must clearly explain the effectiveness of the sunscreen and the level of protection it offers. "These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, FDA drug division director.
Word Play
The hot term to look for on new labels is "broad spectrum," which means that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Past sunscreen labels have advertised protection only against UVB rays. If a sunscreen does not meet this broad-spectrum standard, its label must include a warning saying it hasn't been shown to help reduce the sun's harmful effects.
The new rules also require manufacturers to shift from labeling sunscreen as "waterproof" or "sweatproof," terms the FDA has referred to as "exaggerations of performance," to terms like "water resistant." Calling a product waterproof suggests sunscreen does not need to be reapplied after swimming or sweating, putting consumers at a greater risk for sunburn and skin disease. New labels will provide a time frame indicating how long sunscreen is effective while swimming or sweating.
Strength in Numbers
The sun protection factor, or SPF, is a familiar label to sunscreen users. SPF labels give a number, usually anywhere between 2 and 50. Some labels go as high as 100. People who want greater sun protection often reach for sunscreens with a high SPF number. The FDA's new guidelines call into question the effectiveness of sunscreens with SPFs higher than 50. "Right now, we don't have any data to show that anything above [SPF] 50 adds any value for anybody," Dr. Woodcock told the New York Times. Unless manufacturers can provide solid results of protection by sunscreens with a higher SPF, the FDA is proposing to limit sun protection factors to 50.
On the lower end of the number spectrum, sunscreens with an SPF between 2 and 14 are required to have a warning label: "This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early aging." With more than 1 million Americans diagnosed each year with skin cancer, the FDA believes that new labeling guidelines will help people protect themselves from the sun.
Max- It's summer right now, so when the weather is very hot, many people will go to the beach. But, the sun is very bright, do you know that playing in the beach will cause sunburn? Becuase of this, we would spread some sunscreen to protect ourselves from sunburn. Two kinds of rays will cause sunburn, called UVA and UVB sunrays, and those two rays can also cause skin cancer. Most people wanted to prevent sunburn, so they buy sunscreen with a higher SPF. And some sunscreens with a lower SPF only prevents us from sunburn, but does not prevent us from skin cancer. So if you go to the beach, you should notice about the sunscreen you spread on, then you can prevent yourself form sunburn and skin cancer!
