No More SUNBLOCK!

New Sunscreen Rules In Brief

Under the sunscreen rules announced by the FDA on June 14:

• Sunscreens must pass broad-spectrum UVA testing and have at least an SPF 15 to include the claim that they protect against skin cancer and premature aging on their label.  The broad-spectrum test is a pass/fail test based on the critical wavelength value of 370 nm.
• Sunscreens can claim to be water resistant for either 40 minutes or 80 minutes; "waterproof," "all-day protection," and "sweat proof" claims will no longer be allowed, nor will use of the term "sunblock."
• Sunscreens that do not pass the critical wavelength test and do not have at least an SPF 15 will have a warning in the drug labeling starting that the product will only protect against sunburn and not skin cancer or premature aging.

Tanning Tax

The House of Representatives has approved a 10% excise tax on the use of indoor tanning beds. With more than 3.5 million estimated cases each year, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US. There is research that proves the link between skin cancer and the UV rays associated with indoor tanning.

First exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75%!!

People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma - and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma!!

Read the complete article on the Skin Cancer Foundation website by clicking the link above.

Enjoy the weekend and don't forget your SPF!!

Fast Fact - Skin Cancer

More than 62,000 people develop melanoma in the United States and 8,400 die annually from it. More than 1,000,000 people a year develop non-melanoma skin cancers - basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC). Both can cause significant damage and disfigurement.