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 Since its inception in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen which includes seeking shade, covering up with clothing including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses and avoiding tanning and UV tanning booths. Recent attacks on sunscreens by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and by the media point to imperfections and potential risks, but miss the point that sunscreen continues to be one of the safest and most effective sun protection methods available.
We are concerned that the criticisms will raise unnecessary fears and cause people to stop using sunscreen, doing their skin serious harm.
In general, the criticisms have not been based on hard science. In fact, The Chair of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Photobiology Committee, an independent volunteer panel of top experts on sun damage and sun protection, reviewed the same studies reviewed by the EWG, and found that their determination of what made a sunscreen bad or good was based on “junk science.”
Below, the Photobiology Committee responds to the criticisms and explains why sunscreen remains an essential part of anyone’s daily sun safety program.
Click on the statements below to read the Committee's response to each one:
Systematic review of all studies from 1966 to 2003 shows no evidence to support the relationship between sunscreen use and increased risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Actually, some important epidemiological research has indicated that population groups using sunscreen have reduced their melanoma incidence.
While solar UVB is one source of vitamin D, the benefits of exposure to UVB cannot be separated from the harmful effects of sun exposure: skin cancer, cataracts, immune system suppression, premature aging. And excessive exposure to the sun actually depletes our body’s supply of vitamin D. The safest way to obtain vitamin D is through a combination of diet and vitamin D supplements. The Foundation recommends increasing your intake of vitamin D to 1,000 mg. daily.
Old research on rodents suggested that oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen, can penetrate the skin, may cause allergic reactions, and may disrupt the body’s hormones, producing harmful free radicals that may contribute to melanoma. However, there has never been any evidence that oxybenzone, which has been available for 20 years, has any adverse health effect in humans. The ingredient is FDA-approved for human use based on exhaustive review. The Photobiology Committee reviewed the studies on oxybenzone and found no basis for concern.
Since both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB) are harmful, you need protection from both kinds of rays. “Broad-spectrum protection” and “multi-spectrum protection” mean only that a sunscreen offers protection against parts of both the UVA and UVB spectrum. It does not mean complete protection. Because there is no consensus on how much protection the terms indicate, they may not be entirely meaningful. SPF – sun protection factor – refers specifically to how much protection is offered against UVB rays, but to date in the US, we have no equivalent measurement to represent the degree of UVA protection in a sunscreen. Nonetheless, UVA protection in sunscreen has greatly improved in recent years. To make sure you’re getting effective UVA as well as UVB coverage, look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, plus some combination of the following UVA-screening ingredients: stabilized avobenzone, ecamsule (a.k.a. Mexoryl™), oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and/or zinc oxide.
For everyday use an SPF of 15 or higher is generally adequate, while SPFs of 30 or higher are appropriate for active, extended outdoor activity. An SPF 15 sunscreen screens out 93 percent of the sun’s UVB rays, while SPF 30 protects against 97 percent and SPF 50 against 98 percent. The Skin Cancer Foundation agrees that in most cases, SPFs beyond 50 are unnecessary.
The Environmental Working Group cites an FDA study for this data, and faults the FDA for not releasing the study. However, the FDA is yet to release the study precisely because it has not gone through proper peer review. Thus, the EWG based its criticisms on an unapproved 10-year-old study of mice that has never been published in any journal. To date, there is no scientific evidence that vitamin A is a carcinogen in humans. What’s more, only trace amounts of retinyl palmitate appear in sunscreens, and some evidence suggests that it is actually protective against cancer.
In actuality, manufacturers must provide scientific data on their sun protection product showing that that it sufficiently and safely aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin. The data are reviewed by an independent volunteer team of photobiologists – experts in the study of the interaction between ultraviolet radiation and the skin. Every sunscreen product awarded the Seal is monitored annually to ensure that it continues to meet the criteria. Seal of Recommendation requirements include:
- A sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater.
- Validation of the SPF number by testing on 20 people.
- Substantiated data that the product does not cause phototoxic reactions or contact irritation.
- Substantiation for any claims that a sunscreen is water- or sweat-resistant.
The Foundation also awards the Seal to other sun protection products such as clothing, window film, awnings, hats, and sunglasses.
Consumers should rest assured that sunscreen products are safe and effective when used as directed, and should be considered a vital part of a comprehensive sun protection program that includes the following sun safety strategies:
- Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Wear a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher every day.
- Apply 1 oz. (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
- Examine your skin from head to toe once every month.
- See your doctor every year for a professional skin exam.
- Avoid tanning and UV tanning salons.
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