Sunscreen and Suntan Products
Sunblock and Sunscreen Gels, Creams, and Liquids
Sunblocks, Sunscreen Gels, Creams, and Liquids (also known as suntan lotions) are lotions, sprays or other topical products.
They help protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. By filtering out the harmful UV radiation in sunlight, sunscreen products help to reduce sunburn and other skin damage, ultimately leading to a lower risk of skin cancer. Some sunscreen products allow the skin to tan without burning.
Sunscreens work by including active ingredients that absorb or reflect the UV radiation in sunlight before it reaches the skin. The effectiveness will depend on the types of ingredients used and the amount that is added to the product. UV radiation in sunlight is divided into several ranges depending on the wavelength. UVB radiation, which covers the wavelength range between 290 and 320 nanometers, causes sunburning and skin cancer, whereas UVA radiation, which covers the wavelength range between 320 and 400 nanometers, damages the skin with more long-term effects, by contributing to premature skin aging and wrinkling.
Sunburn protection is measured by the Sun Protection Factor - or SPF. The SPF of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen; the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against sunburn, which is caused primarily by UVB rays. The SPF indicates the time a person can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburn with a sunscreen applied relative to the time they can be exposed without sunscreen. For example, someone who would burn after 12 minutes in the sun would expect to burn after 2 hours (120 min) if protected by a sunscreen with SPF 10. In practice, the protection derived from a particular sunscreen also depends on factors such as:
• The skin type of the user
• The amount applied and frequency of re-application
• The water-resistance of the product
• Activities in which one engages (swimming or exercising)
The safety of Sunscreen Gels, Creams, and Liquids is established by selection of ingredients that are safe and suitable for this purpose. In addition, these products are screened for photoirritancy, photosensitization, and photomutagenicity. Product safety is also established though strict adherence to the principles of Quality Assurance and Good Manufacturing Practices. This includes testing the compatibility of the product with packaging as well as shelf-life stability.
Sunscreens are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs. As such, they must be shown to be safe and effective and the active ingredients must be approved by FDA.
Find out more about FDA regulation of OTC Sunscreen products
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
The FDA requires that Sunscreen and Suntan bear warning statements if these products do not contain sunscreen active ingredients and/or provide only marginal sunburn protection. It is very important to follow the directions on the label and to only use these products in a safe manner.
Link to FDA discussion about Suntan products (scroll down to section on Suntan Products):
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/FreePubl...
The FDA has not yet established a measure for protection against UVA radiation. The agency is currently considering the best approach for communicating UVA protection to consumers and the test methods that companies will have to use to measure UVA protection.
Finally, the safety of products is monitored in the market-place through reports of consumer comments and complaints. Companies include a phone number on their products where comments or complaints may be reported.
Find out more about Sunscreen products
American Academy of Dermatology information:
http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/Sunscreens....
Skin Cancer Foundation:
http://www.skincancer.org/
They help protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. By filtering out the harmful UV radiation in sunlight, sunscreen products help to reduce sunburn and other skin damage, ultimately leading to a lower risk of skin cancer. Some sunscreen products allow the skin to tan without burning.
Sunscreens work by including active ingredients that absorb or reflect the UV radiation in sunlight before it reaches the skin. The effectiveness will depend on the types of ingredients used and the amount that is added to the product. UV radiation in sunlight is divided into several ranges depending on the wavelength. UVB radiation, which covers the wavelength range between 290 and 320 nanometers, causes sunburning and skin cancer, whereas UVA radiation, which covers the wavelength range between 320 and 400 nanometers, damages the skin with more long-term effects, by contributing to premature skin aging and wrinkling.
Sunburn protection is measured by the Sun Protection Factor - or SPF. The SPF of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen; the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against sunburn, which is caused primarily by UVB rays. The SPF indicates the time a person can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburn with a sunscreen applied relative to the time they can be exposed without sunscreen. For example, someone who would burn after 12 minutes in the sun would expect to burn after 2 hours (120 min) if protected by a sunscreen with SPF 10. In practice, the protection derived from a particular sunscreen also depends on factors such as:
• The skin type of the user
• The amount applied and frequency of re-application
• The water-resistance of the product
• Activities in which one engages (swimming or exercising)
The safety of Sunscreen Gels, Creams, and Liquids is established by selection of ingredients that are safe and suitable for this purpose. In addition, these products are screened for photoirritancy, photosensitization, and photomutagenicity. Product safety is also established though strict adherence to the principles of Quality Assurance and Good Manufacturing Practices. This includes testing the compatibility of the product with packaging as well as shelf-life stability.
Sunscreens are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration as Over-The-Counter (OTC) drugs. As such, they must be shown to be safe and effective and the active ingredients must be approved by FDA.
Find out more about FDA regulation of OTC Sunscreen products
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
The FDA requires that Sunscreen and Suntan bear warning statements if these products do not contain sunscreen active ingredients and/or provide only marginal sunburn protection. It is very important to follow the directions on the label and to only use these products in a safe manner.
Link to FDA discussion about Suntan products (scroll down to section on Suntan Products):
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/FreePubl...
The FDA has not yet established a measure for protection against UVA radiation. The agency is currently considering the best approach for communicating UVA protection to consumers and the test methods that companies will have to use to measure UVA protection.
Finally, the safety of products is monitored in the market-place through reports of consumer comments and complaints. Companies include a phone number on their products where comments or complaints may be reported.
Find out more about Sunscreen products
American Academy of Dermatology information:
http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/Sunscreens....
Skin Cancer Foundation:
http://www.skincancer.org/
