The Food and Drug Administration issued its first regulations for sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug intended to reduce sunburn risk more than 30 years ago. Critics of the F.D.A have asserted not only that its standards have fallen behind research on skin care and cancer, but that the agency has allowed manufacturers to make vague and misleading marketing claims. Recently, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut’s attorney general, sent a scathing letter to the agency claiming that unclear sunscreen labels and inflated marketing were placing people at risk.
Last month, the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit group in Washington, found that a variety of popular sunscreens lacked sufficient broad protection against the sun’s harmful rays. In an investigation of 786 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group found widespread evidence that many products on the market are not safe and effective. The Environmental Working Group concluded that one of every eight high-SPF sunscreens failed to protect from UVA radiation.
Find out how to protect yourself and your family from cancer causing UV exposure: See the best and worst lists here.
