Sunscreen/Skin Cancer Facts

1. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
2. Achieving a base tan can double your risk of skin cancer.
3. Seek shade from 12-2pm when the sun is at its peak.
4. Clothing can allow in UV rays so apply sunscreen before dressing, and at least 20min before going outside.
5. Broad Spectrum protects against UVA and UVB rays.
6. Choose a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher.
7. Sunscreen IS NOT waterproof, so reapply every 2 hours.
8. Use enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass.
9. Look for “oil free” and “non-comedogenic” labels to avoid breakouts.
10. Your lips can get burned too, so apply SPF 30+ lip balm.
11. Cars are equivalent to being outside so apply sunscreen on exposed areas for long car rides.
12. UV radiation is present whether it is snowing, raining or sunny; so apply sunscreen on exposed areas year round.
13. Lotions and creams are more dependable and predictable in their coverage than spray on sunscreens.
14. You can still acquire vitamin D when wearing sunscreen.
15. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SAFE TAN. Tanned skin is a sign of UV radiation exposure, which damages our cells potentially leading to cancer.

- Valerie McDonald, Physician Assistant

Sunscreen 101: Find the One that Fits your Needs

"Sunscreen regulations have not been updated since 2011. In 2019, the FDA released a draft monograph, with a goal of updating sunscreen regulations that year. However, due to changes in the way over-the-counter-drugs are regulated, the proposal was withdrawn in the first coronavirus relief bill. The FDA is due to propose new sunscreen regulations this fall.

For over a decade, EWG’s Annual Sunscreen Guide has provided consumers with a guide to the sunscreen aisle, both in stores and online. Our research reports, comments submitted to the FDA and dialogue with sunscreen companies have helped shift the market toward safer and more effective products. Yet too many products still fail to meet our standards.

EWG’s guide continues the tradition of providing a one-stop location for finding safer, more effective products. Our annual sunscreen guide includes more than 1,800 products with SPF, including more than 900 recreational sunscreens. We have found that only about a quarter of them offer adequate protection, without concerning ingredients, such as oxybenzone, a potentially hormone-disrupting chemical that is readily absorbed by the body."

- Environmental Working Group