FDA approves new regulations for sunscreen labels
May 22nd, 2009 joshua
The Food and Drug Administration has approved new rules for labels on bottles of sun screen. The new rules will inform consumers about UVA rays protection, which have been linked to skin cancer and aging.
Currently, bottles of sunscreen track their effectiveness by using an SPF numbers system. Under the new rules, no sun lotion will be allowed to promote an SPF higher than 50, and if it does, must prove its efficiency in a year.
Also, the new rules will prohibit manufacturers from claiming its product is “sunblock” “waterproof” “sweat-proof” and can offer “all-day protection”.
Studies have shown that no sun lotion can totally block the sun’s rays and that equally, none of them are waterproof.
The new rules for UVA rays addresses the concern that those specifically, can lead to skin cancers and aging of the skin, even though they aren’t linked to sunburns like UVB rays.
The debate on UVA ray protection has lasted more than a decade, but no one in the industry could devise a way to evaluate protection levels.
