How Does Your Sunscreen Stack Up?

Keloland.com
Published June 25, 2007

Spend lots of time outdoors and, chances are, you you're careful to slather on the sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. But are you really being protected by your sunscreen? A new study shows that in a surprising number of cases the answer is no. But there’s a new tool to help you find out whether yours is one of them. The long, lazy days of summer have officially arrived here in KELOLAND. But an environmental watchdog groups says don't fool yourself into thinking that slapping on coating of sunscreen is a sure bet against sun damage. In fact, their research shows not all sunscreens are created equal. Dr Sarah Sarbacker, Dakota Dermatology, says, "People who use sunscreen and are brown, and I say, 'You're brown.' And they say, 'But I use sunscreen.' And that's not the point, the point is to not get brown with your sunscreens." Still those words of warning are apparently falling on some deaf ears. According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control, more and more adults are getting scorched by the sun. Sarbacker says, "Melanoma, which again is the cancer that can spread around your body and take your life, is the one that has been linked to the more blistering burns in childhood." Part of the reason may be because new research of nearly 800 products sold in the U.S. shows 80 percent of the sunscreens on the market fail to provide the high SPF protection they claim. In fact, just one out of six was found to provide proper protection against the sun without ingredients that could cause health concerns. Your sunscreen should have two key features. Sarbacker explains, "Broad spectrum coverage, which implies it covers both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B. The second thing is stability, is that compound going to last on your skin? Is it going to break down? Is it going to stay effective." That's where this new sunscreen screening website comes in handy. It rates both the effectiveness and the safety of the products you're likely to slather on. Sarbacker says, "Skin is a great barrier, but are you going to absorb some of those particles that have broken down is the concern. And if you do absorb them is that a bad thing? Are they toxic? A carcinogen?" The top-rated products include the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which don't break down under the sun. Sarbacker explains, "They give a better overall protection." The website also shows that just because a product, like this one is popular, it doesn't necessarily mean that it works the best. Want to see how your sunscreen stacks up? We've set up a link for you through HealthBeat at KELOLAND.com. Badger Sunblock, the number one product on the website is only available online and its manufacturer says since the study was released yesterday, the product has sold out.