When we think of summer we envision the beach, the rolling waves, sand castles and sun tan lotion and sunscreen. We all are very aware of the dangers of sunburns and the increase in instances of melanoma diagnosis and related deaths (malignant melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer with an almost 100% mortality rate over 5 years) and the need to protect from the sun with sunscreens and sun tan lotions. But as of recently that has all changed. Since spring of last year (2006) numerous lawsuits have been filed challenging the claims and actual effectiveness of sunscreens, sun tan lotions and SPF’s (rated Sun Protection Factors that determine the amount of sun blockage). Basically what is at argument here is that the companies making the various sunscreen products and sun tan lotions determine the SPF for each product in a laboratory setting. The problem is that when these products are used they are used at the beach or pool and they may not be applied as effectively as in the lab or controlled clinical setting so coverage may be less than what one might assume from the bottle. This is easy to see as one person using the same bottle of sunscreen may use a third of the bottle and put it on thickly and may end up with twice the protection and no suntan. Another user may use barely any by applying a very thin coat and receive much lower protection. There is no good general education else it is very vague on most of these bottles as to how much one should actually use. Now dermatologists are stating a good 1 ounce amount (the amount of a regular shot glass) is a good standard for the correct amount for proper coverage and effective protection.
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Another problem is water proof protection that may not last as long as stated or cover as well as stated. In some of the lawsuits it was noted that children with complete waterproof sun block applied would come out of the water with tan lines when they should not be. Now this could be because the lab testing used fresh water and not salt water or it was in a stationary calm tank and not with waves, sand and debris, etc… which one would be subjected to at the beach. Another question is how hot were the lab tests temperature wise and what UV index was used? This is important as many areas of the country can easily have 100 degree plus weather and some days have higher UV radiation than others. To top it off there are different forms of UV radiation (UVA, UVB, etc…) out there in nature. Which were used for these tests? Regardless of these findings and concurrent lawsuits, dermatologists and the American Dermatological Association are recommending that we still use sunscreens and other effective sun protection. Even though the sunscreens may not be as effective as we previously thought, they are still effective and far better than nothing. Dr. Mark Rubin, and assistant clinical professor of dermatology states, “Sunscreens are still good, but what we know is that there isn’t a perfect sunscreen. That doesn’t mean, though, that the sunscreens don’t block the majority of the harmful rays.” Clearly this brings to light that we need to do more than just assume what a bottle of sunscreen or sun tan lotion states. We need to educate our selves on what the conditions tested really were, and adjust to our current conditions and use common sense. If you are in very hot weather or rough salty and sandy water like the southeast you will obvious need to apply a thicker coat and more often than someone in Maine or Oregon at a calm lake. Sunscreen may not be perfect, but next to being indoors or completely clothed it’s the next best thing we have. Article courtesy of Bestskinpeel.com TCA peel - the best skin peel you can get.
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