What you need to know about sunscreen
Finally, the sun has come out of hiding. Dust off the sunscreen bottles before going out to say hello.
But it's important to know what's actually in the banana-smelling goop you are slathering on. It's easy to forget sunscreens are considered drug products regulated by the federal government as are cosmetics and other over-the-counter products like antiperspirants and cold medications.
According to a new survey of 1,000 sunscreen users from the Consumer Reports National Research Center, about 43 percent of the sunscreens tested offered protection below their advertised sun protection factor level. Going further, nearly three-quarters of sunscreens touted as "natural" fell short of the labeled SPF. Two claiming to be SPF 50 tested as SPF 8.
That doesn't mean sunscreen is ineffective; it just means consumers need to ask questions.
"Overall, I think these products are very safe," said Dr. Daniel Hussar, a professor of pharmacy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. "It's important to, first of all, read the directions for use and then follow them as closely as possible."
Many people will just toss sunscreen into their shopping cart and not think twice about it, but it's important to keep a few key points in mind before taking it home.
Here's what you need to know:
Invest in broad spectrum
Ultraviolet radiation peaks midday, according to Environmental Working Group.
Most of the earlier sunscreens just protected against ultraviolet B rays, Hussar said. These shortwaves cause skin reddening and sunburn that damage superficial skin layers.
Ultraviolet A rays – though they do not cause sunburn – are more intense and penetrate deeper skin layers, increasing the risk of melanoma. UVA rays are also present in tanning booths.
Find a sunscreen that touts broad spectrum UVA/UVB coverage, Hussar said.
STORY: 11 ways to kick off summer
Sunscreens expire
Check the dates printed on the lotion, cream or spray.
If you left your tube in the car or your beach bag and it was repeatedly heated up, it may lose its potency, especially if you save it from one year to the next.
Reapply, then reapply again
Towels, pool water and sweat can all wash away sunscreen. It's important to reapply lotion or spray after toweling off or in hot, humid weather.
Typically products that have an SPF of 30 offer adequate protection. Just because a sunscreen may have a higher SPF doesn't mean it's OK to stay out in the sun for an extended period of time without reapplying.
"Sometimes we overestimate the degree of protection they provide," Hussar said.
How a sunscreen is used also matters. A spray, for instance, may be more easily evenly distributed, but it is least tested in terms of sun protection, he said. If using a spray, rub the material into the skin as well.
"That increases the penetration into the outer layer of the skin," Hussar said.
A product in the form of a stick is easy to control and apply consistently.
Know what the ingredients mean (generally)
Most sunscreen ingredients are unpronounceable, Hussar said. Instead of trying to figure out which ingredient is better than another, when in doubt, ask a pharmacist. Pharmacists are familiar with the ingredients used and also hear comments from purchasers of various products.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists more than 20 active ingredients in varying percentages that can be included in over-the-counter sunscreen products. For example, avobenzone can be included at up to 3 percent; oxybenzone, up to 6 percent; and zinc oxide, up to 25 percent.
Ultimately, the sunscreens that are applied to the skin are not going to be absorbed to the extent where they will cause additional problems, Hussar said.
That being said, there is a growing concern with the active sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone because some people have had allergic reactions. But it is difficult to recognize because the allergic rash is similar to a sunburn.
Another benzone – avobenzone – on the other hand, is a beneficial active chemical ingredient that protects against both UV A and B rays, he said.
STORY: Skin cancer prevention helps avoid treatment
Carefully assess 'natural' products
After crunching four years' worth of data, Consumer Reports found that 74 percent of the mineral or "natural" sunscreens tested did not meet their SPF claim, compared with 42 percent of chemical sunscreens.
However, those products tend to be used on more sensitive tissue because they contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide, which provides a barrier against the sun for the skin. Ask a pharmacist about a particular brand if there are any questions or doubts of a brand's effectiveness.
How it is used is often more critical than the actual ingredients.
"Many of these products will provide adequate sun protection," Hussar said.
Jen Rini can be reached at (302) 324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.