Consumers have been confused for years about sunscreen products. I have been telling my patients for years to use a broad spectrum sunscreen, meaning a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. Currently in order to make sure you are getting a good sunscreen to help protect against skin cancer, you have to read the small print.

The good news is that last week new rules and regulations were published by the FDA requiring sunscreen products to be tested for their effectiveness against both UVA and UVB rays in order to claim they protect against skin cancer. Until this ruling, sunscreens have only been tested for the effects of UVB rays but the risk of skin cancer is just as high with UVA rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, about 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UVA rays.

If the sunscreen passes the test, it will be labeled as “broad spectrum” with an SPF of 15 or higher and it may state they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. Sunscreens that fail the test for UVA and UVB rays or have an SPF value of less than 15 must carry a new warning that the product has not been shown to prevent skin cancer or early skin aging. Sunscreens cannot claim to provide sun protection for more than two hours without reapplication and the terms “sunblock”, sweatproof” and “waterproof” are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels. A sunscreen may claim to be “water resistant”; however, the product must specify if it offers 40 minutes or 80 minutes of protection while swimming or sweating, based on standard testing.

The new rules will not go into effect until early 2012, so it is still important to read sunscreen labels to make sure you are purchasing a broad spectrum sunscreen. And don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours!

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