FDA announces changes to sunscreen labels

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today several long-awaited changes to sunscreen labels. But you won't see the changes until next summer since most manufacturers have a year to start adhering to the new regulations.

Here are some of the language changes you will eventually see on sunscreen labels:

• Broad spectrum. Products that protect against both UVB rays (the kind that cause sunburn) and UVA rays (the kind that cause wrinkles and premature aging of the skin) will be labeled "broad spectrum." Previously, the FDA only had Ratings for UVB rays—the familiar sun protection factor (SPF) ratings.

• Cancer and wrinkles claims. Sunscreens that are "broad spectrum" and have a SPF 15 or higher will be able to say on their label that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, when used as directed. Products with SPF values between 2 and 14 can be labeled "broad spectrum," but can't say they reduce the risk of cancer and wrinkles.

• Water-resistance times. Labels will have to say how long you can expect the declared SPF to last while swimming or sweating, either 40 minutes or 80 minutes. And they can't say that the products are "waterproof" or "sweatproof."

"Today's announcement will take a lot of the guesswork out of reading sunscreen labels," says Michael Hansen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. "The FDA's introduction of a broad spectrum test and associated labeling will require the sunscreen makers to first prove that their product provides such protection, and further, it will weed out the sunscreens that make broad spectrum claims without any evidence," he said.

The FDA is also proposing that their finalized document on sunscreens limit the maximum SPF value on sunscreen labels to "50+." Dr. Hansen applauds the FDA for taking this step and says, "Our guidance has been that above 30 SPF, there's not much more protection. We think the 50 SPF limit is a good step. Our concern is that consumers might mistake an SPF of say 100 to provide twice the protection of an SPF 50, when in fact the increased protection is only incremental."

It's no secret that most skin cancers are linked to too much time in the sun. "Not only should consumers regularly apply and reapply sunscreens with Broad Spectrum and SPF of 15 or higher, they should also limit sun exposure," says Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Stay safe in the sun this summer and check out our top-rated sunscreen picks, which are based on our tests of 22 sunscreens. We tested for both UVA and UVB protection.

Sources
FDA Sheds Light on Sunscreens [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]

FDA Announces Changes to Better Inform Consumers About Sunscreen [PR Newswire]

—Nicole Sarrubbo