The FDA released sunscreen guidelines. How will these affect my sunscreen?
- By June 2012, you’ll begin to see several changes to sunscreen labels. These changes, which are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will provide you with more information about what type of UV protection a sunscreen offers, and what a sunscreen can do.
- On the label, you’ll see whether the sunscreen:
- Protects against UVB and/or UVA rays.
- Reduces the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging in addition to helping prevent sunburn, or just protects against sunburn alone.
- In order to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, the sunscreen must offer two things: broad-spectrum protection (protects against UVA and UVB rays) and an SPF of 15 or higher. Without both, the sunscreen only helps prevent sunburn.
- Is water-resistant up to 40 or 80 minutes
- Sunscreen manufacturers will no longer claim that a sunscreen is “waterproof” or “sweat proof.” This is not possible because all sunscreen eventually washes off.
- Sunscreen manufacturers will no longer claim that a sunscreen is “waterproof” or “sweat proof.” This is not possible because all sunscreen eventually washes off.