Most sunscreens are only one-fourth of the boasted SPF of UVA protection

A new environmental working group study found that many sunscreens have only one-fourth of their SPF protection against UVA, which increases the risk of skin cancer

In this study, EWG scientists tested 51 sunscreens with SPFs between 15 and 110

"Most of the products we tested only reduced UV radiation by half of the SPF value on the label," said Dr.

The new research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & photommedicine, uses laboratory tests and computer modeling to evaluate UV absorption

Scientists at EWG have found that sunscreens often fail to prevent UVA rays that cause aging, immune damage, and cancer, and most sunscreens also fail to protect ultraviolet rays and UVB, which causes sunburn.

On average, sunscreens tested in the laboratory rather than on humans can only provide a meager 24% UVA protection compared to the SPF value on the label

Sunscreen broad-spectrum protection is often missing

EWG's research found that the SPF value of most sunscreens is only 42% to 59% of the marked SPF value

"More worrying is the lack of adequate broad-spectrum protection, which is a public health problem," Andrews said

He said: "For a long time, the sunscreen industry has focused on promoting higher and higher SPF values ​​and UVB rays, rather than providing stronger UVA protection products

These findings echo a study released by scientists from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019 that admitted that current sunscreen standards are insufficient

Carla Burns, senior director of cosmetic science at EWG and one of the co-authors of the new study, said: "Most sunscreen products sold in the United States do not provide adequate protection against UVA and UVB

For many years, EWG has been reminding consumers of the safety and effectiveness of sunscreen

She added: "It is important to protect UV radiation in a balanced way because UV exposure can cause long-term health problems, especially harmful UVA rays, which can lead to immunotoxicity and skin cancer

Consumers got sunburned by misguided sunscreen

Most evaluations of the effectiveness of sunscreens focus on skin redness or sunburn caused by UVB rays

EWG decided to test 51 sunscreens with SPF values ​​between 15 and 110 sold in the United States to evaluate their broad-spectrum protection against two types of ultraviolet rays

Research results show that consumers are not only sunburned because of misleading sunscreen labels, but they may also increase their risk of skin cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, the incidence of new melanoma cases among American adults has tripled since the 1970s, from 7.
9 cases per 100,000 people in 1975 to 2018 22.
4 cases per 100,000 people per year
.
Although the cause is not clear, scientists have determined that risk factors include family history, indoor tanning, fair skin, freckles, moles, ultraviolet radiation, and severe sunburn
.
There is increasing evidence that long-wave ultraviolet rays are related to skin cancer
.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and the most diagnosed cancer in the United States
.
There are 4.
3 million cases of basal cell carcinoma in the United States each year; 1.
1 million cases of squamous cell carcinoma each year; and 106,000 cases of melanoma each year
.
Melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, so it deserves special attention
.

"Sunscreen products must be effective, and their ingredients must not be harmful to health
.
Our research shows that sunscreens are not sufficiently effective, especially in reducing UVA radiation, and the ingredients used in these products have not been fully reviewed for safety.
"Andrews said
.

"A thorough reform of sunscreen products and their regulatory methods is long overdue
.
But sunscreen is still an important tool to reduce UV exposure-it's just that some products are better than others," he added
.

FDA again calls on sunscreen manufacturers to provide data

In September, the FDA announced its proposed order detailing people’s lingering concerns about sunscreen
.
Due to uncertainties in the safety of the active ingredients in their products (including oxybenzone), the agency also once again called on manufacturers to provide data
.
Oxybenzone is a chemical substance that can potentially disrupt hormones and is easily absorbed by the body
.

Sunscreen manufacturers failed to respond to the FDA's 2019 call to conduct research on the health effects of sunscreens, including the extent to which chemicals in the product enter the bloodstream
.
The US Food and Drug Administration said that two new studies on the absorption of sunscreen chemicals have emphasized the need for the agency to seek more than two years of data
.

Scott Faber, EWG's senior vice president for government affairs, said: "Sunscreen chemicals like oxybenzone pose a serious health threat, but the sunscreen industry has been evading
.
We are grateful that the FDA continues to request these.
Basic data on the health effects of chemicals
.
"

EWG guidelines identify sunscreens with adequate protection

In May 2021, EWG researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of more than 1,800 products that promote sun protection, including casual sunscreens, daily sunscreen products and lipsticks with sun protection factors
.
They found that only a quarter of the products reviewed provided adequate protection and did not contain worrying ingredients such as oxybenzone
.

Faber said: "The sunscreen market is flooded with products with poor UVA protection
.
The sales of sunscreens have increased significantly, so sunscreen companies are certainly capable of conducting the necessary research to ensure the safety of their customers
.
"

Current regulations and the US market promote SPF products that reduce sunburn, rather than sunscreens that provide better broad-spectrum protection
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Therefore, consumers should take sun protection as a daily habit, cover with clothes, look for shade, plan activities near the sun, and use sunscreen when needed
.

EWG's sunscreen guide is one of the only tools that can help consumers find adequate protection products that do not contain ingredients that may cause health problems
.

Consumers can also download EWG's Healthy Life app to get the ratings and safety information of sunscreen and other personal care products at any time
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EWG's sunscreen label decoder can also help consumers find safer sunscreens
.

EWG promotes consumer choice and citizen action
.
Visit for more information
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