| Over one million new cases of skin cancer are | | | | UVB rays and do not indicate protection from UVA |
| diagnosed annually. It is estimated that one in five | | | | rays. A sunscreen with a high SPF may provide |
| Americans will develop skin cancer and 90 percent of | | | | adequate protection from UVB rays but offer little or |
| those cancers will be the result of exposure to | | | | no protection from UVA exposure. Make sure the |
| ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and tanning beds. | | | | sunscreen you use contains both UVB and UVA |
| UV rays penetrate into the dermis and generate free | | | | protection. Approved UVA sunscreens include: |
| radicals that can alter our DNA, the genetic material of | | | | avobenzone, benzophenone-3, oxybenzone, |
| all living cells. | | | | octocrylene, menthyl anthranilate, |
| In reasonable amounts, exposure to the sun is | | | | butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane, and zinc oxide. |
| beneficial. Natural sunlight has a germicidal effect and | | | | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released |
| produces vitamin D in the skin. UV radiation can be | | | | a new Sunscreen Monograph on August 27, 2007. |
| used to treat rickets, psoriasis, and acne. Exposure to | | | | The FDA proposal provides a rating system for UVA |
| UV rays also stimulates the skin's production of | | | | sunscreen products on a scale of one to four stars. |
| melanin, which causes a tan and helps protect the skin | | | | One star indicates low UVA protection, two stars |
| from further damage. But deep tanning is another | | | | indicate medium protection, three starts indicate high |
| matter, and although a deep tan may look healthy, it is | | | | protection and four starts indicate the highest UVA |
| really a sign that the skin is under attack from UV | | | | protection available in non-prescription sunscreen |
| radiation. | | | | products. |
| Erythema, or redness of the skin is an inflammatory | | | | Many sun protection products claim to use |
| response, which usually appears within six hours of | | | | non-chemical sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc |
| exposure to UV rays. The degree of redness is an | | | | oxide. Although these inorganic sunscreens are still |
| indication of the amount of damage done to the skin. | | | | chemicals, they protect by physically reflecting UV |
| With each blistering sunburn, the chance of developing | | | | rays. Traditional organic sunscreens protect by |
| skin cancer is increased by 10 percent. Smoking also | | | | chemically absorbing UV rays. Inorganic sunscreens |
| increases UV damage because of the formaldehyde | | | | decrease the potential for skin irritation and sensitivity |
| produced in cigarette smoke. | | | | that can be caused by organic sunscreens, especially |
| Sunlight is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. | | | | at the high concentrations required for higher SPFs. |
| Sunlight is made up of varying wavelengths of | | | | There is also some concern about unwanted chemical |
| electromagnetic radiation. About 35 percent is visible | | | | reactions that may take place on the skin when |
| light, 60 percent is infrared radiation, and 5 percent is | | | | organic sunscreens absorb UV rays. |
| made up of UV rays. UV wavelengths range from | | | | Although UV radiation is often referred to as UV light, |
| 200nm to 400nm and are further divided as follows: | | | | UV rays are above the visible spectrum of light. UV |
| UVC rays (from 200-290 nm) are the most energetic, | | | | radiation is invisible and not really light at all. Since you |
| but are the least penetrating. UVC rays are not a | | | | can't see the UV rays that cause sunburn, it's |
| concern because most UVC radiation is blocked by | | | | advisable to protect yourself from the sun even on |
| ozone in the atmosphere and never reaches the earth. | | | | cloudy days. Although clouds block visible light, they |
| UVB rays (from 290-320nm) are often referred to as | | | | offer little protection from damaging UV rays. |
| the burning rays and are the UV radiation wavelengths | | | | Self-tanning products make it possible to tan safely |
| most responsible for causing erythema and tanning. | | | | without the sun. Self-tanners contain the ingredient |
| Erythema is used to measure the effectiveness of | | | | dihydroxyacetone that reacts with the proteins on the |
| sunscreens and indicate the sunscreen's ability to block | | | | skin's surface to turn them golden brown and simulate |
| UVB rays. This measurement is known as the Sun | | | | a natural tan. |
| Protection Factor (SPF). | | | | The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) current ruling |
| An SPF 2 blocks 50 percent of UVB rays, which | | | | regulating the manufacture and labeling of sunscreen |
| allows you to stay in the sun twice as long as you | | | | products became effective on January 1, 2003. A new |
| would be able to without any protection. Increasing the | | | | proposed FDA ruling will make some changes and |
| SPF increases the protection. An SPF 15 blocks 93.3 | | | | improvements in the current regulations. |
| percent of UVB and an SPF of 30 blocks 96.9 percent | | | | 1. There is currently no acceptable definition of the |
| of UVB. But notice that doubling the SPF does not | | | | term "Broad Spectrum" and no standard test for UVA |
| double the protection. In this case, it only increases | | | | protection. The new FDA ruling will provide a four star |
| UVB protection by 3.6 percent; at higher SPFs, the | | | | rating system for UVA protection. |
| increase is even less. Although doubling the SPF | | | | 2. Consumers who want maximum sun protection |
| doesn't double the protection, it does greatly increase | | | | often purchase the product with the highest SPF. Most |
| the potential for sensitivity due to the increase in the | | | | are not aware that SPFs over 30 provide little added |
| concentration of active ingredients. UVB sunscreens | | | | protection and greatly increase the concerns |
| include: ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl | | | | associated with high concentrations of organic |
| salicylate, homosalate, octocrylene, | | | | sunscreen ingredients. The maximum SPF claim |
| phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, benzophenone and | | | | allowed on the product label is currently SPF30 or |
| titanium dioxide. | | | | SPF30 plus. The new FDA proposal raises the ceiling |
| UVA rays (from 320-400nm) are the longest | | | | on SPF values to 50+. For maximum protection, apply |
| wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation and the closest to | | | | sunscreen 20 minutes before going out in the sun. |
| visible light. UVA is commonly known as "black light." | | | | Apply evenly and generously and reapply every hour. |
| UVA plays only a minor role in erythema and tanning, | | | | 3. Since there is no official definition of the term |
| so although its affects may not be as obvious or | | | | "natural" and all sunscreen products contain chemicals, |
| acute as UVB, UVA exposure is every bit as | | | | and terms "natural," "non-chemical," and "chemical free" |
| damaging. UVA wavelengths are the least energetic, | | | | are considered false and misleading and are not |
| but penetrate the deepest. Since UVA penetrates into | | | | approved. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are inorganic |
| the dermis, it contributes substantially to chronic sun | | | | chemicals. |
| damage. | | | | 4. Because all sunscreens allow some UV rays to |
| Remember that SPFs only indicate protection from | | | | penetrate the skin, the term "sunblock" is not approved. |