FDA CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION - FDA Sheds Light on Sunscreens

SILVER SPRING, Md., June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking ground-breaking steps to help protect consumers from a painful and dangerous hazard of summer: sunburn and its damage to the skin. The new measures clarify the effectiveness of sunscreen products and help ensure their proper labeling and manufacture.

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Final regulations that become effective next year define the characteristics of over-the-counter sunscreens with broad spectrum protection and sun protection factor (SPF) values of 15 or higher. These products shield users against two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun: ultraviolet B (UVB), which is primarily responsible for causing sunburn; and ultraviolet A (UVA), which contributes to sunburn, skin cancer, and premature skin aging.

And among the proposed regulations is one that would require sunscreen products that have SPF values higher than 50 to be labeled as "SPF 50+." FDA does not have adequate data demonstrating that products with SPF values higher than 50 provide additional protection compared to products with SPF values of 50.

Learn more about the new FDA regulations governing OTC sunscreens at

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm258416.htm

Visit FDA's sunscreen site:

http://www.fda.gov/sunscreen

Watch a video on protecting yourself from UV radiation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f80iPEfwE80

Call up an animated audio clip on how sunscreens work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC-d9ZsnLds

For high-res images of required sunscreen labeling, visit Flickr at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fdaphotos/sets/72157626830646153/

Sound bites for media use

Video footage of short quotes on sunscreen use and labeling changes from FDA dermatologist Jill Lindstrom is available for media use. For information, contact [email protected].

Preview this video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlB6WJrfGDc 

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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration