FDA Announces New Sunscreen Labeling Guidelines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made it mandatory for all sunscreen manufacturers to mention on the labels whether the product protects from skin cancer as well as sunburn.

The American Academy of Dermatology has reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked all sunscreen manufacturers to revise their sunscreen labels making it mandatory for them to mention whether the product protects from skin cancer as well as sunburn. The label also needs to contain information on whether the sun screen is water resistant or not.

The Environmental Working Group conducted a survey, which shows that nearly all sunscreens are now adhering to the new FDA standards. However, there are still some products that are being labeled as sun protection factor, or SPF, with a rating higher than 50, which reportedly gives users a false sense of security.

"The high SPF numbers are just a gimmick," Marianne Berwick, professor of epidemiology at the University of New Mexico, told the AP. "Most people really don't need more than an SPF 30 and they should reapply it every couple of hours."

"Sunscreen has always been an important tool in the fight against skin cancer, and these new regulations will greatly improve the consumer's ability to make smart decisions -- at a glance -- about a product's effectiveness simply by reading the label," dermatologist Dr. Zoe Draelos, a consulting professor at the Duke University School of Medicine, said.

"Everyone, regardless of skin color, can get skin cancer, which is why it is important for people to properly protect themselves from the sun's harmful rays," Draelos said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release.

A sunscreen needs to be reapplied, as the effect wears off after two hours. The FDA's requirement of water resistance labeling will also be helpful in restricting the harm. They need to be 'broad spectrum' protective meaning that the sunscreens need to screen out both ultraviolet A and B rays.

Slathering oneself in sunscreen does not mean that one can bake in the sun, seek shade under an umbrella or a hat, warn dermatologists.

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