Look for Changes on Sunscreen Labels this Summer

For years there has been talk about making changes to sunscreen labels to get rid of misleading information and it has finally come to pass. This summer, consumers should notice some differences on product labels when they’re out shopping for sunscreen.

One change? Broad-spectrum.

In order to make the change, if the sunscreen is broad-spectrum - it has to have a proportional amount of UVB and UVA protection. UVB rays will only protect the skin against burning. It is UVA rays that protect against aging.

One thing you shouldn’t look for, however, is “waterproof.” Despite many sunscreen manufacturers touting their product as waterproof, the truth is that no sunscreen was truly waterproof and manufacturers will no longer be able to make the claim. Sunscreen manufacturers will now be required to replace “waterproof” with “water-resistant” and actually specify the length of time that you are protected in the water, whether it be 40 minutes or 80.

The FDA is also considering placing a cap on the max SPF, which would be 50-plus. The idea behind the cap is to make the labels as accurate as possible, and there is no evidence to prove that anything higher than 50 can offer better protection.