A ranking of more than 500 sunscreen products found that 92 percent did not provide satisfactory sun protection in terms of safety and efficacy. The study, conducted by Environmental working Group (EWG), a Washington-based nonprofit organisation, points the finger at a surge in exaggerated SPF claims above 50 and new disclosures about potentially hazardous ingredients.
Products with high SPF rating give a false sense of security resulting in users staying out in the sun longer with a single application and get burned when the products' chemicals break down, wash off or rub off on clothes and towels. The result is that they absorb more UVA radiation and they get the same number of sunburns as unprotected sunbathers.
As early as 2007, the FDA published draft regulations that would disallow companies from labeling sunscreens with a rating over SPF 50+. The agency feels that anything higher than SPF 50+ would be "inherently misleading" given that "there is no assurance that the specific values themselves are in fact truthful..."
The second key issue with sunscreens these days is two products found in many sunscreens.
The FDA has been investigating a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, found in 41 percent of sunscreens as it is suspected to accelerate skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk when applied to skin exposed to sunlight.
The other is oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting compound found in about 60 percent of the 500 sunscreens analysed. The product enters the bloodstream through the skin barrier. Biomonitoring surveys have detected oxybenzone in the bodies of 97 percent of Americans tested.
So what is recommended in order to stay safe in the sun? Some of these recommendations include selecting and using sunscreen well, as well as other options for sun protection available.
1. Look for minerals zinc or titanium dioxide in the sunscreen
2. Avoid high SPF.Stay with SPF 15-50+ as suitable for your own skin type. Use SPF 30+ for beach and pool and reapply often
3. Water-resistantfor beach, pool and exercise
4. Apply early. Martin A. Weinstock, professor of dermatology at Brown University recommends the application of sunscreen half an hour before heading outdoors and reapplying every few hours.
5. Apply in sufficient amounts. Studies show that people apply on average just a quarter of the required amount. Sunscreen efficacy drops rapidly on under-application so it is recommended to observe the instructions on the packaging.
6. Reapply often. Sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off and rub off on towels and clothing.
7. Use clothing and hats. One study found that melanoma risk was cut by 52 percent for parts of the body usually covered by clothing during summer outdoor work (Holman et al 1986). EWG believe shirts and hats are the best sunscreen for all. Use UPF50+ rated swimwear and shirts and hats effectively
8. Make shade by putting up an umbrella, locate a picnic spot under the tree, take a canopy to the beach. Infants are best kept in the shade as they lack tanning pigments (melanin) to protect their skin
9. Plan around the shade. Unless you really need to, schedule your outdoor visits to avoid the mid-day sun. UV radiation peaks at midday, when the sun is directly overhead.
10. Sunglasses are essential. These are not just a fashion accessory but are necessary to keep your eyes from the UV radiation, a cause of cataracts.
Nana OKADA is the owner of Ocean Paradise, a specialist swimwear retailer in Singapore that has been retailing swimwear for women and children for over 15 years. Fashion, function and family are keywords behind the extensive collection of swimwear and accessories that number 80 brands from all over the world.
Over the years, the retailer has gained popularity with those in the know, who appreciate the range of fashion-forward swimwear and extensive sun protective collections. Ocean Paradise has developed into a highly respected name for the family and was awarded the Expat Living Reader Award in 2009.
http://www.oceanparadise.com.sg/
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