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Not All Sunscreens Are Equal

Don't Forget the Insect Repellant

By Joseph S. Enoch
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 20, 2006

• Sunscreen Gets A Makeover • Sunscreen Standards Lacking; Many Ineffective, Group Says • Fruits & Vegetables Protect Against Sunburn • Some Lip Balms May Attract UV Rays • FDA Proposes New Sunscreen Rules • Study: Excessive Lifestyles Fueling Cancer Rate • Skin Cancer Rates On The Rise • Vitamin D Reduces Cancer Risk, Study Finds • Tanning May Be Addictive, Studies Warn • Marathon Runners May Face Higher Risk of Skin Cancer • Suntans Without the Sun • Not All Sunscreens Are Equal • Skin Cancer More Deadly in Darker-Skinned People • Tanning Ads Commonly Seen in High School Newspapers • Sunscreen Makers Lie, Suits Charge • Study Warns Tanning May Be Addictive

As the blazing heat summer scorches everything in sight, it's important to always wear sunscreen if you're going to spend any extended period of time in the sun. But as sunburned consumers will attest, some sunscreen works better than othrs.

ConsumerAffairs.com has heard from many consumers who've been burned by high SPF sunscreens and sunblocks.

"I work for the Pittsburgh Steelers at their Latrobe, Pa. camp," wrote John of Greensburg, Pa. "I purchased a bottle of Fresh Cooling mist 45. It was great. When I ran out, I decided to try the Age Shield sunblock 45. It dried and cracked my skin and burned with obvious reddening and severe flaking. I assumed the products were similar. My mistake."

Some indignant consumers have sued, claiming that such famous brands as Coppertone, Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic are in fact unreliable in protecting adults and children and can create a sense of false security that actually endangers users. The suit is pending in a California court.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is upset by the suit. "This lawsuit is especially disturbing because it may cause people to stop using sunscreen," said Perry Robins, MD, the foundation's president.

The foundation maintains that using sunscreen will in fact help prevent skin cancer when consumers practice safe sunning but concedes that the Food and Drug Administration needs to regulate sunscreen marketing more closely.

When it comes to harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, there are two brands: UVA and UVB.

According to WebMD, "UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer."

ConsumerSearch says, "UVA light penetrates and causes deeper connective tissue damage -- even when the skin surface feels cool."

Both are clearly harmful, but not every sunscreen protects against both.

All sunscreens with SPF protection guard against UVB, but it was not until recent years that researches came to fully realize the harmful affects of UVA and thus, most, but not all sunscreens filter those rays.

So when purchasing a sunscreen, make sure it is a "broad spectrum" product, one that protects against UVB and UVA. The bottle may not clearly state that it is broad spectrum. So consult the ingredients label for at least one of the following: benzophenones, oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or Parsol 1789.

When it comes to SPF, more does not necessarily mean better. According to WebMD, "The lighter-skinned you are, the higher the SPF you should use. Still, even if you're as pasty as the Pillsbury Doughboy, you should be fine with SPF 15." Dark-skinned consumers shouldn't be complacent, however. They are vulnerable to skin cancer too.

"The SPF in sunscreen is frequently misunderstood," says ConsumerSearch. "Many people think that an SPF 30 offers double the protection of an SPF 15. However, reviewers say SPF 15 blocks 93% of rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97%, only 4% more. SPF ratings higher than 30 don't offer any further UV protection, and let the same 3% of UV rays through as SPF 30."

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher and adds the following tips:

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
• Do not burn.
• Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 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.

Don't Forget the Insecticide

Wherever there are sunbathers, there are insects. With West Nile virus having spread to nearly every state in the Union, it's more important than ever to prevent the little pests from bothering you, ConsumerAffairs.com's Dr. Henry Fishman notes.

His advice: Start at home. Drain all standing water regularly, like your fountain, kiddie pool or old tires. Clean out your gutters and drains and check your window screens.

Be sure to wear an insect repellant. Less than 40 percent of folks who need them use them.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says four products work:

1. DEET, the old standby, works the best;
2. Pyrethrum has been around for years to spray on your camping gear and clothes;
3. Picaridin, a new spray, works well (learn more) as does oil of lemon eucalyptus;
4. Skin So Soft, Citronnela and other plantable oils work very poorly, as do mosquito zapping machines.

Whatever you use, follow the directions on the label, spraying repellant on exposed skin and your clothes. Avoid open cuts. Spray it on your hand, then apply it to your child. Avoid the eyes and mouth.

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