Do you think your sunscreen protects you? New study may not say

If you are like most people, you believe that sunscreen protects you against sunscreen, skin damage and even skin cancer on the road.

You choose something with the “wide spectrum” or “SPF 50” label and you think you are treating.

But what if you are misled?

A new study is running heads, and not in a good way. The results showed that three -quarters of the sunscreen on the market do not offer the protection they claim. Even worse, American sunscreen may not meet the same safety and effectiveness standards used in other parts of the world, especially in Europe.

So what do you have to do to protect your skin?

Sunscreen protects you, but only if it is well formulated

Published in a recently peer-reviewed study in the Photo Dermatology, Photo -Immunology and Photo Medicin Journal, researchers investigated 51 sunscreen products for sale in the US with SPF values from 15 to 110. They were all labeled as offering broad spectrum protection and were tested with the help of a commercial laboratory. Researchers wanted to see if they protected against both UVA and UVB rays, something that people expect that a “wide spectrum” sunscreen will do.

UVB rays are those who cause visible sunburn. UvA rays go even deeper and are strongly linked to premature aging, wrinkles and skin cancer.

Here is the problem: SPF values of UV absorption and computer modeling measured by Laboratory were on average only 59 and 42 percent of the labeled SPF. Most products offered a considerably lower UvA protection, with an average UVA security factor of only 24 percent of the labeled SPF.

In other words, the sunscreen have done well to protect against UVB rays, which means that they would probably help protect against sunscreen. Where they rage is protecting against the deeper penetrating UvA rays. That means that even if you use these awnings regularly, you will still be at risk of premature aging and skin cancer in the future.

Moreover, the researchers discovered that alone 35 percent of the products Tested met the EU standard for sunscreen, which is stricter with regard to UvA protection compared to the American standard. Most sunscreen – 94 percent – would pass on the current American standard, but would be too weak to be eligible for the EU standards because they do not effectively filter UvA rays.

How are sunscreen regulated in the US?

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which conducted this study, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates sunscreen as non-recipe medicines, which means that new UV filtering es should undergo the same long assessment process as pharmaceutical medicines.

Manufacturers have looking for new sunscreen chemicals that are approved in the EU, but because they miss sufficient safety tests as required by the FDA, they cannot do this. The FDA has indeed not approved a new sunscreen filter since 1996.

The FDA wants to ensure that new sunscreen are safe for the public, but the delay in approving these ingredients means that consumers have fewer choices when it comes to sunscreen products. The FDA proposed rules to strengthen the UvA protection offered by the American sunscreen in 2019, but has not yet completed the changes, so they are not in force.

The EU, on the other hand, regulates sunscreen such as cosmetics, which makes more flexibility possible when using ingredients. The EU has approved 34 UV filters for use in sunscreen, compared to only 16 in the US

In one Evaluating the UV protection study Of the four American sunscreen compared to four EU sunscreen -all with an SPF value of 50 or more -the results showed that we allocated sunscreen on average three times more UvA rays to continue to the skin than the EU sunscreen did.

Another study Comparison of sunscreen discovered that 19 of the 20 sunscreen tested met the American requirements, but only 11 met the EU requirements.

What you really need in a sunscreen that protects you

The EWG has been sounding an alarm about our sunscreen standard for years. Their annual sunscreen guide rates hundreds of products. You can find their recommendations here, That can help you determine the best sunscreen.

In addition to assessing their list, look for the following characteristics when shopping for sunscreen.

Wide -spectrum protection

This label should mean that the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays. But because of weak American regulations, not all broad -spectrum products have been drawn up. Look for those who specifically mention a high UvA protection or have been assessed by trusted sources, such as the EWG.

Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide

These mineral sunscreen are among the most effective and safest options for UVA protection. They are on top of the skin and reflect rays away instead of absorbing them and then trying to disarm them, as many chemical sunscreen do. Many dermatologists and here at CV SkinLabs!-apply these ingredients for sensitive skin and long-term use.

The FDA also notes That they only regard these two active ingredients as safe and effective. The agency has approved other non-mineral active ingredients, but lacks sufficient data to determine their safety.

Water resistance

Especially when you go swimming or sweating, make sure that your sunscreen is water -resistant. Otherwise it can wash away quickly, so that you will be exposed.

High SPF

SPF 30 is considered the minimum, but does not let it fool by thinking that SPF 100 is twice as effective as SPF 50. As soon as you go above SPF 50, the difference in protection becomes quite small. What more matters is how often you apply again. There is a good rule of thumb every two hours.

Be picky, because you should protect your sunscreen!

As the research reveals, not all sunscreen offer the same level of protection. Many Americans rely on products that give a false sense of safety. Even if you do not burn, UvA rays can silence damage in silence, leading to wrinkles, age spots and an increased risk of cancer later.

With a little extra research you can find it that keeps your skin safe. Pause, read the ingredients and check for zinc oxide. Use the EWG guide if you want. That is the best way to prevent sunburn today and serious health problems tomorrow.

Which sunscreen do you use?

_{Featured image by Mikhail Nilov Via Pexels.}