By Stephanie Vaccaro, Special Writer
Choosing the best sunscreen to protect yourself and your kids can be a little overwhelming. The Environmental Working Group released its annual Sunscreen Guide, listing the best and worst among more than 1,800 options; the Food and Drug Administration has introduced new measures to assist consumers; and the American Cancer Society has issued a guide for a thorough approach to sun protection this summer.
Sunscreen guide
In May the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that aims to harness the power of public information to protect public health and the environment, released its annual top sunscreen guide, available at breakingnews.ewg.org/2012sunscreen.
Top among them were sunscreens with zinc or titanium. The EWG did not select any sprays or powders or products that contained oxybenzone or vitamin A. Finding themselves in the hall of shame were: Banana Boat Kids Quik Blok Sunblock Spray Lotion, SPF 35 with 4 percent oxybenzone and Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70+ with 6 percent oxybenzone.
Regulating sunscreen
The FDA released new measures regarding sunscreen in June that will simplify the process and offer consumers a more accurate picture of the sun protection they’re getting.
The measures include the following:
* Devising standards for testing to determine the effectiveness of sunscreens that companies must undergo and print the results on the product’s label
* Proposing regulation that would cap the SPF value on labeling at SPF 50
* Requesting data regarding the safety and effectiveness for sunscreen in particular doses
* Drafting guidance for sunscreen makers regarding how to test and label their products going forward
Dr. Lydia Velazquez, in FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Regulation Development, said in a statement released by the FDA, that the measures were necessary because, “our scientific understanding has grown. We want consumers to understand that not all sunscreens are created equal.”
The regulations also include a standard for which products can be labeled as offering “broad spectrum” coverage, meaning that it provides both UVB and UVA protection. Products that fail to meet the standard of broad spectrum protection, and with SPF values from 2 to 14, will have to carry warning labels that read: “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.”
When a manufacturer wants to indicate that its product is water resistant on the front label, it must list the length of time it will remain so. Only two times are permitted on the label: 40 minutes or 80 minutes.
The FDA’s regulations are impacting the terminology permitted as well. Sunscreens will no longer be able to refer to themselves as: waterproof, sweatproof or sunblocks. Nor can they claim to become effective immediately or provide more than two hours of protection without submitting data and receiving approval from the FDA.
Although the regulations are now in effect, the FDA has given manufacturers until Dec. 17, 2012 for compliance in order to prevent a short of sunscreen on the shelves this summer.
The hope of the FDA is that the implementation of these new regulations will help consumers make more informed choices regarding skin protection.
Sun protection
The American Cancer Society has a quick way to think of skin protection: Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap. * Slip on a shirt.
* Slop on sunscreen.
* Slap on a hat.
* Wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them.
The organization recommends giving some consideration to your wardrobe. Some fabrics offer more protection than others — darker colors and tightly woven fabric tend to offer more protection, as will swimsuits made with sun-resistant fabric.
Also, dry fabric protects your skin more than wet fabric. A good test of fabric is to see if light can pass through it — if so, the UV rays can as well. The ACS reported the common confusion regarding the increase in the filtering power of SPFs.
An SPF 45 is not three times stronger than an SPF 15. Rather, an SPF 15 filters about 93 percent of UVB rays, an SPF 30 filters about 97 percent, and an SPF 50 filters about 98 percent.
Because no one sunscreen can promise 100 percent protection, the ACS recommends combining these methods for the best sun protection.
Clothing and hats
Often when we think about sun protection, we forget our scalps, the tips of our ears and the back of our necks until they get burned. Incorporating hats into your summer attire can offer you added protection.
Clothing manufacturer Coolibar designed the SUNTECT brand, which comprises clothes made with sun protective fabrics. The manufacturer guarantees its wares offer Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), a measure of rating fabrics, of up to 50+. For more information see www.coolibar.com/suntect.
Both Columbia and Patagonia make UPF 50+ clothing as well. Patagonia uses the standards set by Australia and New Zealand, where sun protection is of vital importance given the ozone depletion. For more information see www.patagonia.com or www.columbia.com.

