US Sunscreens Lag Behind Global Standards Amidst Heatwave Concerns
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As a severe heatwave grips the United States, concerns are rising about the effectiveness of American sunscreens compared to those available in other countries.
With a “heat dome” bringing extreme temperatures and humidity to over 200 million Americans, health officials are urging people to stay out of the sun, stay hydrated, and apply sunscreen. However,many experts suggest that US sunscreens may not provide the same level of protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays as products sold in Europe and south korea.
While US sunscreens are generally effective at blocking UVB rays, which cause sunburn, studies indicate they often offer weaker protection against UVA rays, which contribute to skin cancer and premature aging. A 2017 study revealed that only about half of US sunscreens met European standards for UVA protection.
Regulatory Differences Blamed for Sunscreen Disparity
Experts attribute this disparity to regulatory differences. In the US, sunscreen is classified as an over-the-counter drug, requiring each active ingredient to undergo a lengthy regulatory approval process with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This process includes rigorous safety requirements and animal testing.
Critics point out that the FDA has not approved a new UV-filter for sunscreen in over two decades. Dermatologist Adewole Adamson told NPR: “the issue for me isn’t the safety of the sunscreens we have. It’s that some of the chemical sunscreens aren’t as broad spectrum as they could be, meaning they do not block UVA as well. This could be alleviated by the FDA allowing new ingredients.”
In contrast, countries like France, South Korea, the UK, and Japan have approved a wider range of UV-filtering ingredients, allowing for more advanced sunscreens. one such ingredient is bemotrizinol, which is considered one of the safest and most vetted chemicals on the global market, but remains unapproved by the FDA. Swiss sunscreen company, DSM-Firmenich, is seeking FDA approval for it.
dermatologist Dr Nazanin Saedi Tld told Axios that a decision is not expected before 2026, urging consumers to stock up on sunscreen for the summer.
FDA Defends US Sunscreen Standards
In a statement, an FDA spokesperson asserted that “many currently marketed and widely available sunscreen products in the US provide excellent broad-spectrum coverage and are effective in preventing sunburn and reducing the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun, when used as directed with other sun protection measures.”
The spokesperson added, “The fact that sunscreen ingredients are available in other countries does not mean that the critically important safety questions about these ingredients are well understood, or that they provide greater efficacy or safety than sunscreens lawfully sold in the US. In many other countries, sunscreens are regulated differently and may not be required to have the data that FDA, and other experts, consider necessary to fully evaluate the safety of sunscreen ingredients.”
Political Pressure for Change
In 2023, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke out about the quality of US sunscreens compared to elsewhere, encouraging Americans to contact their representatives in Congress to address the issue.
“US sunscreens are far behind the rest of the world and our regulations aren’t necessarily making our sunscreens better or safer – but it doesn’t have to be this way!” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Republican senator Mike Lee agreed with the New York representative, stating, “There is no left or right when it comes to UV light” in a post on social media.
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Congress to modernize sunscreen regulations and allow non-animal testing alternatives for regulatory approval.
Dermatologists Still Recommend Sunscreen Use
Despite the concerns, dermatologists emphasize the importance of wearing sunscreen. Dr Robert Kirsner, a dermatologist with the Sylvester Thorough Cancer center at the University of Miami, told CBS that the sunscreens available in the US are still considered safe and effective when used properly.
Experts recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and wearing it every day, even on cloudy days.
For those seeking the safest products in the US market, experts advise looking for physical, or “mineral,” sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
