WASHINGTON – Today EWG released its 13th Annual Guide to Sunscreens, which rates the safety and efficacy of more than 1300 SPF products, including sunscreens, daily moisturizers and lip balms with SPF values. EWG researchers found that two-thirds of sunscreen products still offer inferior sun protection or contain worrisome ingredients, like oxybenzone.
In February, the Food and Drug Administration released a proposal for updated sunscreen regulations – a big step toward cleaning up a poorly regulated industry, with much-needed reforms that would better protect public health. According to EWG’s assessment, only 40 percent of the products on EWG’s list contain active ingredients that FDA has proposed are safe and effective, based on the agency’s new draft rules.
“The good news is that the FDA has reaffirmed what EWG has advocated for 13 years: Based on the best current science, the safest and most effective sunscreen active ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide,” said Nneka Leiba, director of EWG’s Healthy Living Science program. “It’s long past time that the chemicals used in sunscreens were tested to show that they will not harm our health.”
Even better news: EWG researchers found more than 260 sunscreens that meet our criteria for safety and efficacy and would likely meet the proposed FDA standards. Even the biggest brands now provide mineral options for consumers.
Oxybenzone
Research shows that oxybenzone is an allergen that is absorbed by the skin and can be detected in the bodies of nearly every American. It is also a potential hormone disruptor still used in 60 percent of non-mineral sunscreens. Earlier this month, the FDA published a peer-reviewed study in the prestigious journal JAMA that found that several active ingredients, including oxybenzone, enter the bloodstream at levels that far exceed the agency’s recommended threshold for requiring additional safety tests. In another study, American adolescent boys with higher concentrations of oxybenzone in their bodies had lower levels of testosterone.
High SPF Values
Products with claims of high SPF values are on the rise and misleading. A sunscreen with soaring SPF values may help to prevent sunburn, but it might not adequately shield skin from the harmful ultraviolet A rays that cause skin aging and possibly melanoma. The SPF value on product labels only pertains to UVB protection.
According to the FDA, high SPF products also provide a false sense of security and encourage people to prolong their time in the sun, exposing themselves to more, not fewer, ultraviolet rays. SPF values over 50+ can mislead people into thinking they are completely protected from sunburn and long-term skin damage.
“Our understanding of the dangers associated with UVA exposure is increasing and of great concern,” said Leiba. “It is critical for a sunscreen to provide balanced, broad spectrum protection. Products with zinc oxide especially protect well against harmful UVA and UVB rays.”
“Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to sun damage,” said Carla Burns, a research analyst at EWG. “Just one blistering sunburn early in life can double the risk of a person developing melanoma later in life. A good SPF product is one you’re going to use every day and reapply at least every two hours.”
This year’s easy-to-use Guide to Sunscreens includes a list of the best-rated sunscreens for kids.
The FDA has finally acknowledged that the standards it uses to evaluate sunscreen products need to be updated. EWG emphatically supports the strong language in the agency’s proposed sunscreen rules, because it will best protect public health. The agency is required to finalize its sunscreen monograph by the end of the year.
Although wearing sunscreen is important, it is only one part of a sun safety routine. People should also protect their skin by choosing clothes, hats and sunglasses with coverage, staying in the shade, and avoiding the peak midday sun.
EWG’s guide helps consumers find products that get high ratings for providing broad-spectrum protection and that are made with ingredients that pose fewer health concerns.
Here are more quick tips for choosing better sunscreens:
- Check your products in EWG’s sunscreen database and avoid those with harmful additives.
- Avoid products with oxybenzone. This chemical penetrates the skin, gets into the bloodstream and affects normal hormone activities.
- Steer clear of products with SPF higher than 50+. High SPF values do not necessarily provide increased UVA protection and may fool you into thinking you are safe from sun damage.
- Avoid sprays. These popular products pose inhalation concerns.
- Stay away from retinyl palmitate. Government studies link the use of retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, to formation of skin tumors and lesions when it is applied to sun-exposed skin.
Shoppers on the go can download EWG’s Healthy Living app to get ratings and safety information on sunscreens and other personal care products. Also be sure to check out EWG’s sunscreen label decoder.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
