0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month
SUBSCRIBE
Register
x Username * (usually your email address) Password *
Friday, June 7, 2013
Forecast | Radar

#
FDA issues new guidelines for sun safety FDA issues new guidelines for sun safety

Text Size: A | A | A
Print this Article Email this Article
Buy This Photo
Loading...
CAPE COD TIMES FILE Sunscreens' effectiveness fades with time, and they should be reapplied every two hours during exposure to sun. The FDA warns that sunscreens with SPF ratings above 50 may not be providing extra protection the higher numbers imply.CAPE COD TIMES FILE
June 06, 2013 12:00 AM

## Here is some advice to bear in mind when selecting sunscreen:

Look for products with an SPF of 15 to 50, and that are labeled "broad spectrum protection," meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Higher SPF values are misleading. "It's like the gas mileage sticker on a car. It's based on test conditions that you'll never achieve in the real world," says Lunder.

- Keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun, as their skin is especially sensitive. Sunscreen should not be used on infants. If they are outdoors, keep them completely covered and in the shade.
- Try to keep older children inside when the sun is harshest, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A bad sunburn in childhood or adolescence doubles the risk of melanoma later in life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
- Avoid sunscreen sprays. The FDA has banned sunscreen powders (though some products may still be available) and has asked for more data on sprays. The concern is twofold: that not enough sunscreen makes it onto the skin, and that the spray may be inhaled into the lungs.
- Avoid products with vitamin A, retinol or its derivatives, such as retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate. At the moment, the FDA says there isn't enough evidence to suggest these are harmful, but the Canadian health authorities appear to be concerned that the additives increase sun sensitivity. They have proposed requiring that sunscreens with retinyl palmitate carry a warning saying they can increase the possibility of a sunburn for up to a week.
- The Environmental Working Group recommends avoiding products with oxybenzone, a chemical that may disrupt hormones. Though research has found this effect, many scientists say the effect is so weak as to be insignificant. The advocacy group, however, recommends products that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients. (These products may leave a milky white film on the skin.)
- Look for fragrance-free products. Scents bring more unnecessary chemicals and potential allergens to the mix.
- Take endorsements and seals of approval with a grain of salt. The Skin Cancer Foundation gives a "seal of recommendation" to sunscreens, but only if their manufacturer has donated $10,000 to become a member of the organization.

## Popular Today

- Tropical Storm Andrea wending its way toward SouthCoast
- New Bedford police use Taser on teen with machete and knife
- New Bedford man convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison
- Teen charged with possessing machete, knife
- Knife-wielding teen charged with robbing New Bedford thrift store
- Death notices
- Margaret E. DeTerra

By RONI CARYN RABIN

The New York Times News Service

There is no question most skin cancers are related to sun exposure, yet even with sunscreen sales approaching $1 billion a year, skin cancer rates continue to climb. Melanoma diagnoses have risen nearly 2 percent a year since 2000 and are increasing even more among young white women.

Some experts blame inappropriate use of sunscreen, saying that people do not apply enough lotion (a golfball-size dollop) or do not reapply it every two hours as instructed. But there's another major concern: Until recently, many sunscreens with a high sun protection factor, or SPF, were designed primarily to protect people from ultraviolet B rays, the main cause of sunburn. These sunscreens may have enabled users to stay out longer but did not necessarily protect them from ultraviolet A rays. These are associated with aging and skin damage, but some experts believe they may also be implicated in skin cancer.

Experts are urging people to limit their time in the sun, especially at midday, and protect their skin with hats, shirts and cover-ups instead of relying exclusively on sunscreen.

"Sunscreen is not a magic bullet," says Dr. Steven Q. Wang, director of dermatologic surgery and dermatology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge,

N.J., and a spokesman for the Skin Cancer Foundation, which receives funding from sunscreen manufacturers. "It's just one of the defenses against the harmful effect of UV radiation, and that message gets lost."

This summer, most of the sunscreen on store shelves must conform to new Food and Drug Administration labeling rules that may help remedy consumer misperceptions. Still, concerns remain about ingredients in some sunscreens.

Use of the label "broad spectrum protection" now means the sunscreen has been proved to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, although the UVA protection may be comparatively weaker. Any product with an SPF lower than 15 must carry a label warning that it will not protect against skin cancer. Products cannot claim to be waterproof, only water-resistant, and labels must note a time limit of either 40 or 80 minutes before the sunscreen is ineffective. Manufacturers can still sell sunscreens with SPFs that exceed 50, though FDA officials are evaluating whether they should remain on the market, says Reynold Tan, a scientist in the agency's Division of Nonprescription Regulation Development. It's not clear that sunscreens with higher SPFs actually are more effective, and consumers may not apply them as frequently.

Advocates like Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst for the Environmental Working Group and an author of its report on sunscreen, have criticized the FDA for backing away from some of its own proposals, like putting in place a star system that would give consumers more information about UVA and UVB protection, capping the SPF values allowed on the market at 50, and banning sunscreen sprays, which may not work as well to prevent sunburn.

Europe and Canada have tougher standards, Lunder says. "In the U.S., you can make a bad sunscreen and just not call it 'broad spectrum,' but still sell it," she says. "In Europe, the pass-fail test is stronger, and it must protect against both UVA and UVB."

<empty>

HOME
Reader Reaction
We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Rules. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or fill out this form. New comments are only accepted for two weeks from the date of publication.
Not sure how to add your comment? Here's how
Print this Article Email this Article
Ads by Google
loading...
COUPON OF THE WEEK

- JUNE Doorbusters are here! Savings up to 40% OFF. Hurry because supplies are limited. First come,... Mahoney's Building Supply Inc.

See All Online Today More >>

- $50 Off with any Trade-in Vacuum Cleaner Handy Andy's Quality Vacuum Cleaners
- FREE Vacuum Cleaner Repair Estimate right away while you wait. Handy Andy's Quality Vacuum Cleaners
- UP TO $30 BACK WHEN YOU PURCHASE JONATHAN GREEN ORGANIC PRODUCTS Mahoney's Building Supply Inc.
- 10% off Family Membership Ocean Explorium
- 10% OFF Ocean Explorium
- JUNE Doorbusters are here! Mahoney's Building Supply Inc.
- Buy One Pizza Get One Half Off! Blue Point Restaurant
- BOGO on some great items Mahoney's Building Supply Inc.
- 2 FREE Benjamin Moore 2oz. color samples PLUS 10% OFF Mahoney's Building Supply Inc.
- Buy 1 get 1 free admission! Ocean Explorium

Top Jobs
Top Homes

- Site index
- Full index
- Marketplace
- Classifieds
- Jobs
- Cars
- Real Estate
- Apartments
- Place an ad
- Local search
- Interact
- Blogs
- RSS Feeds
- Rate / Review

- News
- Local
- State
- National
- Education
- Business
- Weather / Traffic
- Death Notices / Obituaries
- Politics
- Religion
- Multimedia
- Photos
- Videos
- Out & About
- Submit a Photo

- YourTown
- Acushnet
- Dartmouth
- Fairhaven
- Fall River
- Freetown
- Lakeville
- Marion
- Mattapoisett
- Middleboro
- New Bedford
- Rehoboth
- Rochester
- Somerset
- Swansea
- Wareham
- Westport

- Sports
- High School
- Red Sox
- Patriots
- Celtics
- Bruins
- Sports Blogs
- Sports Columns
- Golf Guide
- Youth Sports
- Services
- Subscribe
- Email Alerts
- TextAlerts
- Mobile Shortcut
- Toolbar
- NIE

- Lifestyle
- Health
- Gardens
- Outdoors
- Pets
- Family Room
- Weddings
- Columnists
- WiFi HotSpots
- Waterfront Guide
- Family Milestones
- BookLovers
- Locks of Love

- Entertainment
- Coastin'
- Movies
- Dining
- Wailing City
- Grape Expectations
- Horoscopes
- TV
- Sudoku
- Crossword
- More Games
- Calendar

- Special Reports
- Restaurant Inspections
- Crime Database
- Immigration Raid
- Surviving Hard Times
- SC Bridge Database
- Casino
- A Nossa Vida
- Whaling in NB
- Half-Marathon
- Inauguration