Changes Coming Soon to Your Sunscreen Lotion Label

The Food and Drug Administration is working to finalize changes to the labeling of sunscreen lotions that will give sun worshipers more information about what kind of protection they are getting.

As part of the new FDA rules, which could go into effect later this year, makers of sunscreen will be required to put on the label the amount of ultraviolet A (UVA) protection that is provided. While UVA rays are not a cause of sunburns, they do contribute to sun-related skin aging and skin cancer.

Sunscreen manufacturers also will be barred from claiming sun protection factors (SPF) of more than 50+. Some brands of sunscreen that boast SPF in excess of 50+ may no longer be available as a result of the new FDA cap on SPF.

Some Words to be Banned

Terms such as “sunblock,” “waterproof,” “sweat-proof,” and “all-day protection” will no longer be allowed on sunscreen labels, since the FDA said the words can misrepresent the sun-screening protection provided and give users a false sense of security.

“No product can completely block out the rays from the sun and no product is completely waterproof,” the FDA said. “And labels will have to advise consumers to limit their time in the sun, wear protective clothing, and reapply sunscreen at a minimum of every two hours, especially after swimming or perspiring.”

The stricter FDA rules for sunscreen labeling may be enacted later this year, but manufacturers would have 18 months to comply with the regulations, officials said.

Star Rating System

In 2007, the FDA announced a proposed four-star rating system for sunscreens. One star represented low UVA protection and four stars represented the highest UVA protection available in an over-the-counter product. The starts would appear near the SPF rating of the sunscreen on the product’s label, the FDA said.

The agency reportedly has not decided whether to make the star rating system part of the upcoming labeling rules.

No related posts.