Memorial day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer beach season, meaning millions of Americans will be exposing their pale skin to the sun’s harsh UV rays for the first time in months. In light of that (pardon the pun,) the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reminding everyone to cover up.
Along with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, the EPA has declared May 28 “Don’t Fry Day.” As just about all of us now know, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from the sun or an artificial light source (such as a tanning bed), is the number one preventable cause of skin cancer.
This year, more new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the US than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined. Every year, more than one million Americans are affected by some form of skin cancer. As the incidence of most common cancers steadily declines, the incidence of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, continues to rise significantly. It’s now one of the most common cancers among young adults ages 15 to 29.
EPA is promoting Don’t Fry Day through its SunWise program, the nation’s largest program aimed at teaching kids about sun protection, which teaches kids to ”Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap, and Seek Shade.” Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen (SPF 15+), slap on a wide-brimmed hat, wrap on sunglasses and seek shade during midday hours. On Don’t Fry Day, many schools will be broadcasting the UV Index over their loud speakers, engaging in SunWise activities, and holding school-wide sun safety events. The UV Index is a forecast of the next-day’s peak UV radiation level for any given location in the US.
That said, a report released this week suggests that sunscreen might not be the panacea for sun protection, reports FastCompany. The Environmental Working Group says many sunscreen products on the market not only fail to protect the skin from the sun, but some even contain ingredients that might actually trigger skin tumors and lesions, according to the EWG’s 2010 Sunscreen Guide.
Just 39 (8 percent) of 500 beach and sport sunscreens tested for the guide passed EWG’s testing. The main culprit? Vitamin A, called retinyl palmitate, found in 41 percent of sunscreens, is believed to speed up skin damage and increase skin cancer risk when applied to the face, arms, legs, back and chest, according to the FDA. Many sunscreens also contain oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting compound that enters the bloodstream through the skin.
Another issue is the FDA’s failure to develop regulations for sunscreen. Guidelines are expected in the fall of this year, but manufacturers will have a full year to comply.
In the meantime, the EWG’s recommends Badger Sunscreen Face Stick, Purple Prairie Botanicals Sun Stick, California Baby Sunblock Stick and All Terrain Aquasport Performance Sunscreen. Brands to stay away from include Rx Suncare Sport Sunblock, Rocky Mountain Sunscreen High Exposure and Philosophy Shelter broad spectrum sunscreen for face and body — all of which contain Vitamin A and oxybenzone.
The full rankings are available here.
Photo by bjaglin via Flickr.