News Brief
This story reports on the ratings of sunscreens for effectiveness. A story earlier this year reminded the public that the scalp is an especially vulnerable spot for melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, to hide.
With sunroofs in vehicles, for instance, people’s exposure to rays without protection may be greater than they think.
Read on to find which ones work and which ones don’t. This is the second year this list has been issued.
“Four out of five name brand sunscreens offer inadequate protection, according to the Environment Working Group’s second annual sunscreen report, which was launched last year to fill a gap in federal quality and safety standards for sun protection products. “Leading brands were the worst offenders.
“None of the market leader Coppertone’s 41 sunscreen products met EWG’s criteria for safety and effectiveness, and only one of 103 products from Banana Boat and Neutrogena, the second-and third-largest manufacturers, are recommended by EWG,” the report’s authors wrote.
“While the SPF rating on a product is helpful, it only refers to the sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB rays. A good sunscreen should have adequate protection against UVA rays–which we now know penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB radiation and can also causes skin cancer and wrinkles–remain stable in the sun and the ingredients shouldn’t cause potential health problems.
“EWG’s scientists looked at nearly 400 peer-reviewed studies of the 17 sunscreen chemicals approved for use in the U.S. They found that “some popular sunscreen chemicals actually break down when exposed to sunlight. Others penetrate the skin and pose health concerns including allergic reaction, hormone disruption and skin damage,” according to the report.”
Source: Chicago Tribune, July 3, 2008
Source: Evironmental Working Group Website, July, 2008 (Link above)