Experts say...

Some Sunscreens Are Useless

by: Sharon Kirkey

Many sunscreens on the market provide little protection and may even contribute to skin cance, medical experts at a symposium on diseases related to ultra-violet radiation said Wednesday.

And the concerns they raised have prompted the federal government to consider tougher regulations.

Dr. David McLean, a University of British Columbia dermatologist, says lotions with a sun protection factor (SPF) of less than 15 shouldn't be allowed on the market because they're not providing sufficient protection.

The SPF numbers on sunscreens indicate how effectively the product prevents sunburn. The higher the number, the better the protection.

Sunscreens with numbers less than 15 provide some protection against ultraviolet B radiation, which causes sunburn and skin cancer. But they provide virtually no protection against ultraviolet A. New evidence shows ultraviolet A rays penetrate deeper layers of skin, making it leathery and wrinkled, and may interfere with the ability of skin cells to repair damage.

So, while you may not be burning, you're on your way to becoming a "California raisin," McLean says. "What you end up with is a 30-year old with 90-year old skin."

Some products claim to provide complete blocking for both types of solar radiation.

About 50 national and international experts have been meeting in Ottawa to assess the risk of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and suggest ways to reduce the risk of such diseases as skin cancer.

Dr. Jason Rivers, a Vancouver dermatologist, says our love affair with the sun is costing taxpayers dearly. About 50,000 new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in Canada this year. Of which, 540 will die.

Rivers, chairman of the Canadian Dermatology Association's sun awareness campaign, estimates it will cost about $50 million to treat those cancers.

Anyone -- no matter how dark skinned -- can develop skin cancer. McLean says no one should use a sunscreen with a SPF under 15. He recommends 30.

But he and others agree changes in behavior -- not sunscreens -- should be the first line of defense.

McLean says public education should be targeted at children. A blistering sunburn in childhood doubles a child's chance of developing skin cancer later in life.

Sharon Kirbey, medical writer for Citizen, a Canadian magazine.
Old magazine clipping. Date not available.

Article in Erla's Online Fileroom for Consumer Information and Awareness