SUNSCREEN LOTIONS - And the Protection Lies!

Health
Jul 6 2016, 3:36 pm ET
Many Popular Sunscreens Don't Meet Guidelines, New study Finds
by Meghan Holohan                                         
That sunscreen you love might not be the sunscreen you really need.
A new study in JAMA Dermatology finds many of the most popular sunscreens sold on Amazon don't provide proper protection.
"There is a gap in consumer knowledge on sunscreen," Shuai Xu, co-author and a resident in dermatology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said.
To understand what sunscreens people actually use compared to what they need to prevent burning, the researchers looked at the most popular sunscreens on Amazon — the top 1 percent, or 65 products. Then, they checked the labels to see if the products lived up to American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) guidelines. The dermatologists' group recommends people use sunscreens with three important qualities:
1. Broad spectrum, meaning protection against ultraviolet A rays — which make up 95 percent of the UV spectrum and are most associated with wrinkling — and ultraviolet B rays, which cause sunburn and are stronger at midday and in the summer. Both types of rays can cause skin cancer.
2. Water resistant — no sunscreen is "water proof" but water resistant means you can go up to 80 minutes in the water before you need to reapply.                    
3. SPF of at least 30
By simply examining the labels, Xu found 40 percent — 26 of 65 — of the products did not meet AAD requirements. Most products that failed to meet the standards, 72 percent, did so because they were not water resistant.
 
"When trying to identify a really successful sunscreen product, having that feature is really beneficial," Xu said.
But he noted the study includes a wide variety of sunscreen products. Many of the popular ones are actually makeup or lotion.                   

"Sunscreen as a product class is something greater than what you wear at the beach," he said. "Something that you use daily as part of your makeup regime, I don't think that needs … to be water resistant."
"You can't necessarily think of only product performance; it's got to feel nice, too."
When considering sunscreen, people choose products that have "cosmetic elegance," meaning they feel good on the skin. People eschew products that feel greasy, chalky or heavy. Understanding what people like remains important for dermatologists trying to encourage patients to wear sunscreen regularly.
"You can't necessarily think of only product performance; it's got to feel nice, too," said Xu.
The study did not test whether the SPF on the label matched the SPF in the product. The FDA requires companies to put their products through tests before they can claim a certain SPF, but recent reports have called labeling accuracy into question.
A Consumer Reports study found 28 of 60 sunscreens tested did not match claims on the label, while a class action lawsuit alleges Banana Boat Kids SPF 50 actually only had an SPF of 12.69.

The top 10 most reviewed and highly-rated sunscreens on Amazon, and whether they meet the AAD criteria:

1. EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 — No
   
2. Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen Silk Hydration SPF 30 — Yes
   
3. Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive SPF 30+ — No
   
4. SPF 30 daily oil-free face moisturizer — No
   
5. Neutrogena Age Shield Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 110 — Yes
   
6. EltaMD UV Physical SPF 41 — Yes
   
7. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 55 — Yes
   
8. Neutrogena Sunscreen Ultra Sheer Stick SPF 70 — Yes
   
9. Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture SPF 35 — No
   
10. Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion — No
    

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/many-popular-sunscreens-don-t-meet-guidelines-new-study-finds-n604811

Raggamuffin wrote:It's common sense to use sunscreen and not keep it for years - I thought everyone knew that.

You'll soon know if your sunscreen is effective or not. The best thing is to keep in the shade as much as possible, and cover up.

Raggamuffin wrote:It's common sense to use sunscreen and not keep it for years - I thought everyone knew that.

You'll soon know if your sunscreen is effective or not. The best thing is to keep in the shade as much as possible, and cover up.

eddie wrote:I used to think that it was bit of lie, as lots of expiration dates are, but when I had children I never took a chance.

eddie wrote:It is pretty disgusting 4ever. I find that we are told lies more and more lately.

It's like Pepsi cola and their bottled water. They've now had to label it "PSW" (Public Water Source)

eddie wrote:Happens here too. People are so ignorant of the sun, it's beyond belief.
I don't take my children out in the midday sun - when they're little and I'm on holiday, we do something in the shade.

4EVER2 wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:It's common sense to use sunscreen and not keep it for years - I thought everyone knew that.

You'll soon know if your sunscreen is effective or not. The best thing is to keep in the shade as much as possible, and cover up.

Excellent; apply to baby/toddler's skin according to package direction and then just leave them out to play as they will want to in the sun/water/snow - BRILLIANT. 
Genius thinking and the reason that we have to be warned about pulling plastic bags over our heads ...some humans just don't grasp that "COMMON SENSE" isn't genetically a instant given just because you are a HUMAN! 

eddie wrote:Happens here too. People are so ignorant of the sun, it's beyond belief.
I don't take my children out in the midday sun - when they're little and I'm on holiday, we do something in the shade.

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:Happens here too. People are so ignorant of the sun, it's beyond belief.
I don't take my children out in the midday sun - when they're little and I'm on holiday, we do something in the shade.

One thing I've noticed is that in this country there's a distinct lack of sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - mineral sunscreens. They're less likely to cause a reaction than chemical ones and they're better IMO. You can get them in the US but they're like gold dust here. I also wonder why hand parasols are not more available here. You can get ones for pushchairs and that's about it.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

One thing I've noticed is that in this country there's a distinct lack of sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - mineral sunscreens. They're less likely to cause a reaction than chemical ones and they're better IMO. You can get them in the US but they're like gold dust here. I also wonder why hand parasols are not more available here. You can get ones for pushchairs and that's about it.

So many people don't even have the parasols for their prams! I mean, the mothers are totally ignorant.
I've hinted to mums over parks before, "Oohh he's getting a bit red, looks like sun burn..?"
Because you actually want to say "Look at your burnt and hot kid you stupid Fuckwit!!"

They don't take too kindly to straight talk.

eddie wrote:So many people rely on the sun to make them feel they look good. A few of my friends literally need to be brown or they don't feel as attractive. In the winter the fake lotion comes out or they go on sunbeds.

I actually don't mind not being brown. I'm a yellow colour anyway from my dad's side of the family so I tan quickly. I don't sit in the sun abd I have never used a sunbed.
I look younger than all my tanned friends too, and when they say "Wow your skin is so nice!" I think, well so would yours be if you didn't burn it every chance you get

eddie wrote:When I say 'yellowy colour' I'm not jaundiced

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:When I say 'yellowy colour' I'm not jaundiced

I know what you mean.

You probably have an olive-toned skin. I have a pinky-toned skin - the kind which doesn't tan well.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I know what you mean.

You probably have an olive-toned skin. I have a pinky-toned skin - the kind which doesn't tan well.

You're an English Rose Rags. my daughter has the same skin so she is literally covered as soon as a small piece of sunlight shows. My son has skin like mine...... but younger and smoother

SEXY MAMA wrote:Ultra sun is the best one out there.