Sunscreen Summary — What Works and What's Safe

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Sunscreen Summary —

What Works and What's Safe

In a new investigation of 785 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental

Working Group (EWG) found widespread evidence that many products on the market

are not safe and effective, including one of every eight high-SPF sunscreens

that does not protect from UVA radiation. We have also identified 130 products

that offer very good sun protection with ingredients that present minimal

health risks to users. Find

out which in our best and worst lists.

More Americans than ever are using sunscreen to protect from sunburn and

guard against skin cancer. Top choices include products with high SPF ratings,

and that are waterproof or that advertise " broad spectrum "

protection. Most people trust that the claims on the bottle will ensure that

the product truly protects their health and their families'. Nothing could be

less certain.

JUMP TO SUNSCREENS

 

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safe & effective sunscreensTop

selling sunscreensRead

all of EWG's Top Tips

 

 

Our comprehensive

scientific review indicates that 83% of 785 sunscreen products offer

inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with

significant safety concerns. Only 17% of the products on the market

are both safe and effective, blocking both UVA and UVB radiation,

remaining stable in sunlight, and containing few if any ingredients with

significant known or suspected health hazards. Our assessment is based on

a review of nearly 400 scientific studies, industry models of sunscreen

efficacy, and toxicity and regulatory information housed in nearly 60

government, academic, and industry databases.Many products lack UVA

protection. Fully 12% of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30)

protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and do not contain ingredients

known to protect from UVA radiation, the sun rays linked to skin damage

and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer. FDA does

not require that sunscreens guard against UVA radiation.Sunscreens break down in

the sun. Parodoxically, many sunscreen ingredients break down in the

sun, in a matter of minutes or hours, and then let UV radiation through to

the skin. Our analyses show that 54% of products on the market contain

ingredients that may be unstable alone or in combination, raising

questions about whether these products last as long as the label says. FDA

has not proposed requirements for sunscreen stability.

 

COMMON MISLEADING CLAIMS

 

All day protectionWaterproofChemical-free

Read

full listQuestionable product

claims are widespread. At least 50% of products on the market bear

claims that are considered " unacceptable " or misleading under

FDA's draft sunscreen safety standards. Our analysis of marketing claims

on hundreds of sunscreen bottles shows that false and misleading marketing

claims are common. Claims like " all day protection, " " mild

as water, " and " blocks all harmful rays " are not true, yet

are found on bottles. Until FDA sets an effective date for these

standards, industry is free to use hyped claims. Companies' decisions to

inflate claims has spawned recent class action lawsuits in California.

 

Many sunscreens contain

nano-scale ingredients that raise potential concerns. Micronized and nano-scale

zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in sunscreen provide strong UVA protection, and

are contained in many of our top-rated products. Repeated studies have found

that these ingredients do not penetrate healthy skin, indicating that

consumers' exposures would be minimal. Studies on other nano-scale materials

have raised concerns about their unique, toxic properties. FDA has failed to

approve effective UVA filters available in Europe that, if approved here, could

replace nano-scale ingredients.

 

Radiating

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE & Truth

To ALL who share our circle, our

universe, our love, our trust.

May

I always be found worthy.

Gratitude

& Thankfulness to All of Us

aSoaringHawk

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the

first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with joy &

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Thank you for YOU!