Rye, NY – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today announced legislation requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish standards for sunscreen products sold in the U.S. The standards would address how much protection sunscreens must provide from ultraviolet-A (UVA) rays that cause skin cancer. No such standards currently exist, yet many products make claims about protection levels against these harmful rays.

 

“We need a uniform standard for sunscreen so consumers get the protection they need, deserve and expect,” Lowey said. “The FDA has done a good job ensuring that consumers are protected from UV rays that cause sunburn, but consumers may wrongly believe that their sunscreen is sufficiently blocking all the rays that cause skin cancer. In fact, the only thing really being blocked is the truth.”

 

Dr. Andrew Bronin, a Rye Brook Dermatologist, joined Congresswoman Lowey at the Rye Town Beach to announce the new legislation and discuss the importance of new FDA standards.

 

According to a report by the Environmental Working Group, at least 51% of the products on the market contain false or misleading claims, such as “provides all-day protection,” and “blocks all harmful rays.” An estimated 12% of sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30 do not contain any ingredients at all to protect against rays that cause premature aging and skin cancer despite some manufacturers’ claims that they do.

 

Lowey’s bill would also require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a public awareness campaign about the dangers of overexposure to the sun, ways to protect oneself, and proper use of sunscreen to maximize its effectiveness.

 

Currently, the FDA requires U.S. sunscreens to provide a certain level of protection against UVB radiation—the rays that cause both sunburn and skin cancer. The standard to measure effectiveness in the product set by the FDA is reflected in the SPF rating that appears on every single sunscreen label. However, no standards exist for protection against UVA radiation – the rays that cause skin cancer but not sunburn – leaving a critical gap exists in public health protection.

 

More than one million people in the U.S. alone are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer in the country. Despite its prevalence, skin cancer is largely preventable by avoiding the sun during peak hours in summer months and incorporating effective sunscreen use into one’s daily routine.