Alternative Health Blog

Last summer, the Environmental Working Group published an updated report on the effectiveness—make that both effectiveness and ineffectiveness of sunscreen products. It’s worth a refresher look as the summer season is about to officially begin, full dose of rays and all. The news is not positive if Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutragena is on the product label.

EWG first made its mark rating fruits and vegetables for pesticide residue, publishing a highly viewed list of Top 10 best and worst (let’s just say Chilean grapes did not fare well). The Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group has moved on to a deep and informative cosmetics database over the last few years, including a monster sunscreen report first published in 2007.

While that report and consumer reaction prompted the Food and Drug Administration to pledge tougher standards for sunscreen makers, not much has changed. Cynics might say it took the FDA 30 years to even look hard at sunscreen products, so who are we to expect action from one red-hot summer to the next?

EWG discovered found that “15 percent of sunscreen products with an SPF rating of 15 or higher offer inadequate protection from UV rays, or have ingredients that either are known health hazards or have not been tested for safety.” You can check out EWG’s report, including it’s list of more than 100 recommended sunscreen products at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/

The top-selling sunscreen company, Coppertone, was a major disappointment. None of Coppertone’s 41 sunscreen products met EWG’s criteria for safety and effectiveness. Plus, only 1 of 103 products from Neutrogena and Banana Boat, the second- and third-largest manufacturers, are recommended by EWG. 

Among the brands highly rated by EWG were Keys Soap Solar, Trukid, Spectrum, California Baby (three products in the top 10), Badger, Marie Veronique, Lavera and Vanicream.

Of course, along with applying sunscreen before heading out into the sun, make sure to reapply on long days outside. If you want to get some vitamin D from the sun—a reasonable idea given emerging research—10 to 20 minutes on the face and forearms is enough for people with lighter skin and maybe up to 30 minutes for darker skin. Use sunscreen otherwise and don’t take your vitamin D seeking to a point of sunburn. In any case, remember the mid-day sun has the potential to do the most damage on summer days.

If you feel particularly sun-sensitive, stick with sunscreens given the EWG thumbs up and keep that hat on. 

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.