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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFDA bans 'waterproof' label on sunscreens
PHOENIX -- Just in time for the first unofficial summer holiday weekend, the Federal Drug Administration has issued new requirements to help make sun-protection products more effective and less misleading.
The FDA has banned terms like 'waterproof' on sunscreen labels and Valley dermatologist James Pehoushek said there never has been a truly waterproof sunscreen.
"We always tell our patients to reapply sunscreen every two hours. This is especially true in the case of children playing in the pool. A lot of people think the water actually protects them from the sun when in truth the water magnifies sunrays," Pehoushek said.
Pehoushek said make sure any sunblock has an SPF rating of 50 plus and is labeled 'broad spectrum.' That will block about 97 percent of the sun's rays.
http://ktar.com/22/1635911/FDA-bans-waterproof-label-on-sunscreens
FirstLight
(13,360 posts)geez, it's amazing to me how we have gotten so used to our environment or atmosphere changing... I remember using baby oil and SPF 2. Last summer I had a terrible time finding something below 30..
I use the 30+ stuff on my kids to be safe, but personally I need the rays on my skin.
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)FirstLight
(13,360 posts)I have psoriatic arthritis, and the UV rays actually are good for it. During winter my doc tells me to do tanning occasionally to help with flareups. I take care not to burn or blister, and when in the sun for extended periods I wear higher protection or use shade... but the sun is good for us in relatively normal doses
HERVEPA
(6,107 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)No need to go higher. I prefer to do as much as possible to prevent skin cancer.
You only need 15 min of the "rays" for vitamin D, otherwise you're just tanning yourself to skin cancer.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)I use ones labeled as water resistant, no such thing as water proof - haven't see that labeled for years.