05.05.22
The Environmental Working Group released its newest Guide to Sunscreens. It this, its 16th guide, the group says 75% of more than 1,850 products evaluated rate poorly for skin protection from the sun, or contain ingredients that it contends could be harmful to health or heighten sensitivity to the sun’s harmful rays.
EWG says only one out of four products reviewed met its standards for adequate protection and did not contain worrisome ingredients like oxybenzone, a potential hormone-disrupting chemical.
Further, for the first time, EWG has included a section on the detection of benzene in spray sunscreens. Spray sunscreen products have been recalled because of contamination with benzene.
As previously reported by Happi.com, the trace benzene contamination was not specific to a particular brand or product, and benzene is not added to sunscreens.
EWG contends it guide rates the safety and efficacy of products advertising sun protection—such as recreational sunscreens, daily-use moisturizers with SPF and lip balms with SPF.
“Some ingredients commonly found in sunscreens have been linked to both human and environmental concerns,” said Carla Burns, EWG senior director for cosmetic science. “We slather these ingredients on our skin, but many of these chemicals haven't been adequately tested. EWG has been advocating for the Food and Drug Administration to review these ingredients for 16 years.”
The suncare category rebounded in 2021 as consumers began to travel more as covid conerned waned.
EWG’s best-scoring sunscreens contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Brands on the list include major well-known players. For example Banana Boat has three products listed as low-hazard. However, the brand also had products that did not fare as well.
Sunscreen sprays from many brands had poor ratings.
According to Burns, “despite known toxicity concerns oxybenzone is still widely used as a non-mineral active ingredient in sunscreens.” She said EWG warns consumers about the health hazards linked to oxybenzone and other potentially harmful ingredients used in sunscreens, calling the material a skin sensitizer and potential hormone disruptor that may be harmful to both children and adults.
“The sunscreen industry continues to bury its head in the sand,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “The market is flooded with products that provide poor UVA protection and use concerning ingredients. Sunscreen sales have increased dramatically, so sunscreen companies can certainly afford to conduct the studies needed to ensure their customers are safe.”
“We’re grateful the FDA continues to demand basic data on the health effects of these chemicals, but US sunscreens won’t improve until the agency sets stronger regulations.”
In September 2021, industry advocates provided statements about FDA's Proposed Administrative Order for Sunscreens.
FDA installed a new commissioner in 2022.
“Most of the products we tested reduced UV radiation by only half what we expect from looking at the SPF on the label,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., a senior scientist at EWG and lead author of the peer-reviewed research.
“Our study shows that sunscreens are not adequately effective, especially at reducing UVA radiation. And current regulations, which allow inflated SPF values and poor UVA protection, leave consumers vulnerable to harmful sun exposure,” Andrews said.
“The FDA must strengthen standards and ensure that consumers have access to products with the safest and most effective ingredients. Products with improved UVA protection are long overdue,” he added.
EWG scientists found sunscreens often fell far short of the claims of protection against UVA rays, which cause aging, immune system harms and greater cancer risks. On average, sunscreens tested in a laboratory, but not on people, provided a meager 24 percent of UVA protection, compared to the labeled SPF value.
Current US regulations and the marketplace promote SPF products that reduce sunburn, instead of sunscreens that provide better broad-spectrum protection. Most evaluations of sunscreen efficacy focus primarily on skin redness, or sunburn, caused by UVB rays. FDA rules ignore the relationship between the labeled SPF and measured UVA protection, said EWG.
EWG also says most sunscreens it reviewed failed to live up to what was boasted as protection related to UVB rays.
“Products with poor UV protection and misleading sunscreen labels could be contributing to an increasing risk of skin cancer. Broad spectrum products provide greater protection from UVA rays that are associated with skin cancer, free radical generation and immune harm,” Andrews said.
EWG’s Healthy Living App provides ratings and safety information on sunscreens and other personal care products. The nonprofit also has a EWG’s sunscreen label decoder.
EWG says only one out of four products reviewed met its standards for adequate protection and did not contain worrisome ingredients like oxybenzone, a potential hormone-disrupting chemical.
Further, for the first time, EWG has included a section on the detection of benzene in spray sunscreens. Spray sunscreen products have been recalled because of contamination with benzene.
As previously reported by Happi.com, the trace benzene contamination was not specific to a particular brand or product, and benzene is not added to sunscreens.
EWG contends it guide rates the safety and efficacy of products advertising sun protection—such as recreational sunscreens, daily-use moisturizers with SPF and lip balms with SPF.
“Some ingredients commonly found in sunscreens have been linked to both human and environmental concerns,” said Carla Burns, EWG senior director for cosmetic science. “We slather these ingredients on our skin, but many of these chemicals haven't been adequately tested. EWG has been advocating for the Food and Drug Administration to review these ingredients for 16 years.”
The suncare category rebounded in 2021 as consumers began to travel more as covid conerned waned.
EWG Ratings
“On the bright side, more than 280 sunscreens measure up to our rigorous standards,” said Emily Spilman, a science analyst with EWG’s Healthy Living Science team.EWG’s best-scoring sunscreens contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Brands on the list include major well-known players. For example Banana Boat has three products listed as low-hazard. However, the brand also had products that did not fare as well.
Sunscreen sprays from many brands had poor ratings.
According to Burns, “despite known toxicity concerns oxybenzone is still widely used as a non-mineral active ingredient in sunscreens.” She said EWG warns consumers about the health hazards linked to oxybenzone and other potentially harmful ingredients used in sunscreens, calling the material a skin sensitizer and potential hormone disruptor that may be harmful to both children and adults.
“The sunscreen industry continues to bury its head in the sand,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “The market is flooded with products that provide poor UVA protection and use concerning ingredients. Sunscreen sales have increased dramatically, so sunscreen companies can certainly afford to conduct the studies needed to ensure their customers are safe.”
“We’re grateful the FDA continues to demand basic data on the health effects of these chemicals, but US sunscreens won’t improve until the agency sets stronger regulations.”
In September 2021, industry advocates provided statements about FDA's Proposed Administrative Order for Sunscreens.
FDA installed a new commissioner in 2022.
UV Protection
In October 2021, EWG scientists in a study used laboratory tests and computer modeling to assess 51 sunscreens with SPF between 15 and 110 and found many offer just a quarter of their stated SPF protection against ultraviolet A rays, which increase the risk of skin cancer.“Most of the products we tested reduced UV radiation by only half what we expect from looking at the SPF on the label,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., a senior scientist at EWG and lead author of the peer-reviewed research.
“Our study shows that sunscreens are not adequately effective, especially at reducing UVA radiation. And current regulations, which allow inflated SPF values and poor UVA protection, leave consumers vulnerable to harmful sun exposure,” Andrews said.
“The FDA must strengthen standards and ensure that consumers have access to products with the safest and most effective ingredients. Products with improved UVA protection are long overdue,” he added.
EWG scientists found sunscreens often fell far short of the claims of protection against UVA rays, which cause aging, immune system harms and greater cancer risks. On average, sunscreens tested in a laboratory, but not on people, provided a meager 24 percent of UVA protection, compared to the labeled SPF value.
Current US regulations and the marketplace promote SPF products that reduce sunburn, instead of sunscreens that provide better broad-spectrum protection. Most evaluations of sunscreen efficacy focus primarily on skin redness, or sunburn, caused by UVB rays. FDA rules ignore the relationship between the labeled SPF and measured UVA protection, said EWG.
EWG also says most sunscreens it reviewed failed to live up to what was boasted as protection related to UVB rays.
“Products with poor UV protection and misleading sunscreen labels could be contributing to an increasing risk of skin cancer. Broad spectrum products provide greater protection from UVA rays that are associated with skin cancer, free radical generation and immune harm,” Andrews said.
EWG’s Healthy Living App provides ratings and safety information on sunscreens and other personal care products. The nonprofit also has a EWG’s sunscreen label decoder.