New database tells which sunscreens are safe and effective

Jun 20 2007

According to a nonprofit research organization in the United States not all sunscreens offer adequate protection from the sun's harmful rays and some can in fact harm the skin.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) based in Washington DC, has released an in-depth analysis of the safety and effectiveness of more than 700 brand name sunscreens on sale in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

The EWG says it's online database rates sunscreen safety and effectiveness in an attempt to help fill the information gap caused by FDA’s failure to establish meaningful sunscreen standards.

The database lists products that offer the best combination of safety and effectiveness, use the safest chemicals, and which are the most effective at protecting against sunburn, and preventing long-term damage caused by the sun's UVA rays.

UVA rays are linked to skin aging, wrinkling and skin cancers.

The EWG analysis has found that of 785 sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher, 84 percent offer inadequate protection from the sun's harmful rays, or contain ingredients with safety concerns.

Some popular sunscreen chemicals were found to break down when exposed to sunlight and then need be formulated with stabilizing chemicals; others penetrate the skin and present significant health concerns.

The research is based on almost 400 peer-reviewed studies of the 17 sunscreen chemicals approved for use in the U.S., and an analysis of sunscreen ingredient toxicity linked to 60 industry and government databases on chemical hazards, along with customized, product-by-product assessments of protection from both UVA and UVB radiation.

Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at EWG, advises consumers to always use sunscreen but says 'not all sunscreens are created equal'.

Houlihan says their research shows that some products are far more effective than others, and have fewer safety issues.

She says the SPF rating on a product though helpful is only part of what a consumer needs to know and their rating system includes critical information on UVA protection, how stable the product is in the sun, and potential health hazards of the product’s ingredients.

An estimated one million plus cases of skin cancer occur each year and the EWG says people need the most reliable information available about sunscreens to help them recognize misleading and inaccurate claims on sunscreen products.

The EWG, in an attempt to redress the failure of the FDA to establish enforceable standards for sunscreen, have filed nine class-action, false-advertising lawsuits in California.

The database can be found at: http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/