Use sunscreen? Two consumer groups offer different methods for picking the right one
June 02, 2015
Consumer Reports
For Consumer Reports, the sun protection factor or SPF is the feature consumers should compare when buying sunscreen.
It recently tested 34 sunscreens and found almost a third didn’t meet the SPF claim on their labels. They missed the mark by between 16 to 70 percent.
Sunscreens tested that met their SPF claims and were also the lowest-priced are:
- Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 lotion, $10.50 for 8 ounces.
- Equate Ultra Protection SPF 50 lotion, sold at Walmart, $9 for 16 ounces.
- Banana Boat SunComfort Continuous Spray SPF 50+, $11 for 6 ounces.
SPF is a measure of how long a sunscreen will protect a consumer from UVB rays which can cause sunburn and contribute to damage that can lead to skin cancer. Most dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen that delivers an SPF of 30 or higher, which blocks 97 percent or more of the sun’s UVB rays
Consumer Reports measured SPF levels in the sunscreen samples by applying different products to panelists’ backs and having them soak in a large tub of water for the amount of time the products claimed to be water-resistant. When the panelists got out of the water, their sunscreen-coated skin was exposed to ultraviolet light.
For more information on the Consumer Reports sunscreen tests, see “Consumer Reports Latest Sunscreen Tests Find 11 Products That Didn’t Meet Their SPF Claims,” sign up for Consumer Reports Online to read the ratings on 34 sunscreens, or get a copy of Consumer Reports July issue at newsstands, bookstores, or libraries.
Environmental Working Group
Another consumer organization, the Environmental Working Group, analyzes the ingredients in sunscreens and ranks them in a database.
The EWG examined 1,700 products and found 80 percent offered inferior sun protection or contain ingredients the group calls harmful.
Active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms, mineral and chemical filters. Each uses a different mechanism for protecting skin and maintaining stability in sunlight. Each may pose hazards to human health, according to the EWG.
The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. These products typically include a combination of two to six of these active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate.
Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. A few products combine zinc oxide with chemical filters.
The most problematic of the sunscreen chemicals used in the United States is oxybenzone, found in nearly every chemical sunscreen, said the EWG. It recommends consumers avoid this chemical because it can penetrate the skin, cause allergic skin reactions, and may disrupt hormones.
See the EWG’s “The Trouble With Sunscreen Chemicals” for more information on sunscreen chemicals.
On vitamin A in sunscreen, the EWG cites a study by U.S. government scientists which suggests that retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight.
The EWG is critical of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s delay in taking a position on vitamin A in suncreen. It petitioned the FDA five years ago questioning the safety of the use of vitamin A and related chemicals in cosmetics. Instead of taking action, the FDA has ordered more studies.
The EWG recommends that consumers avoid sunscreens and other skin and lip products containing vitamin A, retinyl palmitate, retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate, and retinoic acid.
See the EWG’s “The Problem With Vitamin A” for more information on the use of vitamin A in sunscreens.
Only 21 percent of the sunscreens in the EWG’s database for 2015 scored the highest scores of 1 or 2. Most major sunscreen brands, including Banana Boat, Coppertone, and CVS, score poorly, the EWG said.
It estimates that more than half of the sunscreens on the American market wouldn’t make it to store shelves in Europe.
The EWG ratings are based on compiling industry, government, and academic data sources, models it constructed, and a review of technical literature on sunscreens.
Areas of agreement
Although Consumer Reports thinks chemical sunscreens are best and the EWG prefers mineral, they do agree that covering up to protect yourself from the sun is a good idea.
They also agree that you should avoid getting sunburned, which studies show can increase your risk of skin cancer.
The EWG goes a step further and recommends that consumers don’t use sunscreen as a tool to prolong their time in the sun. It’s says there’s no proof that sunscreens prevent most skin cancer.
See “Eight Little-Known Facts About Sunscreens” for details.
Sprays
The EWG cautions against the use of sunscreen sprays
Aerosol sprays are a delivery method that the FDA has cautioned may not be safe or effective. Aerosolized droplets could push sunscreen chemicals deep into the lungs where they could irritate lung tissue or pass into the bloodstream. In addition, the FDA says it lacks data to prove that sprays provide the necessary thick, even skin coverage on dry skin, let alone a wet child.
Consumer Reports recommends not using sunscreen sprays on children until the FDA completes its investigation. The FDA recommends not using sunscreen of any kind on infants under six months old, but to keep them out of the sun instead.
My husband, who was very active in the sun when young, is a big believer in sun block having had a few skin cancers removed. He also wears a hat now to protect his thinning scalp. He uses a Neutragena brand with SPF of 55. I use makeup with an SPF of 15 which seems fine for me.
Posted by: dkzody | June 03, 2015 at 12:34 PM