Ready to head to the beach or a backyard barbecue? Many sunscreens, despite their advertised numbers, provide just a quarter of necessary protection from ultraviolet rays. That’s according to the Environmental Working Group’s just-updated annual Guide to Sunscreens.
It isn’t always easy to decipher SPF factors and ingredients when you’re faced with a bunch of products. But everyone should know there are two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB. SPF numbers on your average product are typically based on UVB protection, and the EWA’s peer-reviewed research found “the actual SPF protection was, on average, less than half of what the label claimed.”
As for UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, EWG said, “We found the UVA protection factor achieved was, on average, only a quarter of products’ labeled SPF.”
EWG identified seven “verified” sunscreens and seven sunscreens that rate “green” in its cosmetics database. They each cost $20 or less and rate low for potential hazards. They’re also all available from big box chain stores or Amazon.
Sunscreen shortcomings
For 20 years, EWG researchers have tested U.S. sunscreen products and reviewed the results of other studies to verify sun protection performance.
“The findings don’t create a lot of confidence in relying solely on SPF values to measure protection accurately,” says their review, which said the independent tests revealed shortcomings with the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements for UVA protection from sunscreens.
An EWG peer-reviewed study also found a number of sunscreens sold in the U.S. provide inadequate UVA protection, compared to the listed SPF’s claim.
“This gives sunscreen users a false sense of protection, which can lead them to use less sunscreen than they need and risk overexposure,” the group says.
In addition to not protecting you well from dangerous sunburns, some products are harmful to marine life, which EWG did not evaluate. In general, mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, especially those with non-nano particles, are considered less harmful to coral reefs and other marine life than chemical sunscreens.
What’s the best sunscreen for maximum protection?
So, which products cover you best from the sun’s harmful rays? According to EWG, these are the safest, most cost efficient top seven, all available on Amazon or at stores like Walmart and Target, as well as their EWG verified site, for under $20 (though they caution that prices can change).
(Note: EWG charges $250 and sliding scale licensing fees to companies who can afford them to cover research and evaluation costs. If a company cannot afford the fees, they are still evaluated and included in the EWG verified program.)
Before qualifying for the stricter EWG verified label, a sunscreen product must be rated green, as opposed to yellow or red. Those rated “green” include some more familiar names, including Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Stick, SPF 50+; Black Girl Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30; Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Stick, SPF 40; and Neutrogena Mineral Tinted Sunscreen, Medium, SPF 30.
You should also consider waterproof ratings and broad spectrum protection, according to experts, depending on where you’re headed in the sun.
Does sunscreen expire?
The short answer is yes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that sunscreen remain at its original strength for at least three years, according to Mayo Clinic. That means you can use leftover sunscreen — but only for that amount of time.
Some sunscreens include an expiration date, and that’s considered the date that they’re no longer effective. Throw away sunscreen that is past its expiration date. If you purchase sunscreen that doesn’t have an expiration date, write the date you bought it on the bottle, and then throw it away once three years have passed.
Other ways to help: Sun protection shirts, hats, etc.
Hats, loose-fitting long sleeves and other clothing can also protect you, as well as staying in the shade and drinking plenty of fluids. But a painful sunburn isn’t the only risk of having fun in the sun.
Know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and move anyone showing symptoms to a cool location, loosen or remove clothing, give small sips of water and apply damp cloths to pulse points. Call 911 right away if you suspect heat stroke, which can be fatal.
How does EWG come up with this list?
David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group, said sunscreen ratings are “based on a comprehensive review of the most current, peer-reviewed scientific literature, government databases and data from international regulatory agencies.”
“We assess ingredients for both health hazards — such as hormone disruption, developmental toxicity and allergic reactions — and for their efficacy in protecting against UVA and UVB radiation,” he said. “Sunscreen efficacy is modeled based on the active ingredients and the usage percentage for each formulation.”
Janet Wilson is senior environment reporter for The Desert Sun and co-authors USA Today Climate Point. She can be reached at jwilson@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Many sunscreens offer way less protection than advertised. So which ones work?
Reporting by Janet Wilson, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
