KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The
Environmental Working Group investigated sunscreens and says 3 out of 5 brand-name sunscreens either don't protect your skin from sun damage or have hazardous chemicals. The group looked at 1,620 sunscreens to rate the best and worst.
The EWG says there is some good news. The group published its first sunscreen guide in 2007, and the company has been pressuring manufacturers to make products that protect you from UVA radiation. The number increased from just 29% in 2008 to 70% in the latest study.
While more products have UVA protection, EWG says 1 in 9 products have dangerously low UVA protection. The FDA is proposing a 4-star rating system for UVA protection, but it has not been adopted yet. So, there is still some guesswork in choosing sunscreen.
Of all the sunscreens examined, only 6% met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness. This includes blocking UVA and UVB radiation, staying stable in the sun, and using as few products as possible known or suspected to be health hazards.
