Most people’s knowledge about sunscreen products is limited: we shouldn’t go in the sun without it and the higher the SPF, the more protection we have. Actually, neither of those is exactly true.

There are two things to always remember;

UVA is for Aging
UVB is for Burning

Always remember your A’s and B’s!

However, there are a few more things you should know especially since things are about to change!

Mandated Changes for Sunscreen Manufacturers!

SPF ratings alone are somewhat deceptive, partly because of new scientific information and partly because the current system is misleading. This information has led to a proposal for new rules about the labeling of sunscreen products. Here’s the real scoop about what you need to know now, and what you’ll need to know in the near future!

Labeling

The current system classifies sunscreen protection with the familiar SPF (Sunburn Protection Factor). Many organizations, including the American Academy of Dermatology, claim that a sunscreen with SPF 15 would allow a person who ould ordinarily burn in, say 10 minutes, to stay in the sun for 150 minutes (10 x 15) before getting burned.

However, the FDA disputes this theory since SPF is related to the amount of solar exposure, not time in the sun, and is dependent on other factors including geographic location, time of day, skin type, amount of sunscreen applied, and rate of reapplication. However, these ratings only apply to UVB rays when, in fact, UVA rays are just as damaging to the skin, if not more.

The new rules will also require sunscreen products to display on the label a four-star rating to indicate the level of protection from UVA rays.

One star means low protection and four promises the highest level available. If a product does not offer UVA protection, the label must say ‘No UVA protection’ near the SPF. Each sunscreen product label will feature two separate ratings: stars for UVA and; an SPF number and description for UVB protection.

This reflects the current understanding in the medical and scientific communities that UVA light is just as damaging (if not more) than UVB light. Remember, UVA’s are the ultraviolet rays that tan your skin, cause skin cancer, and other damage. UVB’s are the burning rays and were previously believed to be the only rays that were destructive.

Oops, but there’s more! There’s a third kind of ultraviolet light, called UVC, that could also be destructive but it is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere so there is no need to add sunscreen protection for it.

New Rules for Marketing

The new labeling rules are very good news for the consumer. In addition to providing specific information about UVA protection, the manufacturers must now be more precise in their use of descriptive terms on sunblock labels. For instance, manufacturers can no longer use the term ‘broad spectrum’.

Some labeling will stay the same however, such as water resistant. Those sunscreens need to be reapplied after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating, and after towel drying, othrwise it should be applied every two hours.

Those labeled ‘sweat resistant’ would last for at least 80 minutes in the water.

More Advanced Sunscreens

New and better sunscreens are on the way! Some of the best products on the market today include Aveeno and Neutrogena products which use an ingredient called Helioplex. These are made with the ingredients Avobenzone and Oxybenzone, which protect against UVA and UVB rays. Other companies are sure to follow suit very soon!

The FDA is slow to bring new products to the market normally, so it’s hard to know when the new regulations will come into law. However, the new labeling system will be mandated to start sometime in the summer of 2009.

We’ll start seeing new products on the market as early as this summer as manufacturers rush to be first in line to produce the new star rated-SPF system. For the best protection, most doctors recommend at least a 3 star rating for UVA and an SPF of 30 or higher for UVB protection!

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