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June 2007
Vol VIII
Issue No. 6
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The Real And Lasting Dangers Of The Improper Use
Of Sunscreens
By: Terry Breese
When NASA asked our company,
the Solar Protective Factory (SPF), to submit samples of
our Ultraviolet (UVA & UVB) blocking fabrics for testing in 1997 we were
shocked that they had even heard of us and our efforts to
develop sun protective fabrics. We began providing
fabric to NASA to outfit children with extreme UV allergies/reactions
with sun-protective suits. With NASA's cooling technology
and our fabric hundreds of children were able to play outside
in the daylight for the first time. We have been thrilled
to help.
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However, we have watched with alarm as the
skin cancer rate continues to climb in the U.S. We
knew more people were using sunscreen than ever before so
why the increase?
WHY, INDEED?
Because most SUNSCREENS DON'T PROTECT AS PROMISED.
Over
the past ten+ years we have watched the sunscreen industry
slide into, in our opinion, false and misleading labeling
and advertising. We
complained to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) that
the topical anesthetics that were being added made people
feel like they could be in the sun longer because they didn't
feel the burn. |
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Then they
added anti-inflammatory agents so you wouldn't see the burn
as readily.
We told the American Cancer Society (ACS) that this was creating
a false sense of safety in the sun while adults and, especially,
children were getting an ever-increasing dose of UVA and
UVB.
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The fact that sunscreens (mostly) don't work in the water
and need constant reapplication fell on deaf ears. (The number
of skin cancer cases is dramatically increasing every year
and the age of onset is getting younger and younger.) |
The Real And Lasting Dangers
Of The Improper Use Of Sunscreens
My partner in SPF and I have worked with the FDA, FTC, CPSC
and spent more than ten years working with the American Society
of Testing and Materials (ASTM) to develop testing protocol
and standards for UV protective fabric and apparel. During
this time we have attended many AAD and ACS events. Most
of these events were subsidized by large pharmaceutical companies,
especially sunscreen manufacturers.
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| It was clear that the AAD and ACS (along with
the Skin Cancer Foundation) were not interested in addressing
any of our concerns about their major contributors. We
were frustrated that no one was holding the sunscreen companies
accountable for creating a false sense of safety for users
of their sunscreen lotions. We found ourselves at odds with
much of the medical community and most of the major pharmaceutical
companies. |
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| Last year, unbeknownst to us, a major law firm filed a class
action suit against the major sunscreen companies who they
alleged were engaging in false and misleading labeling and
advertising. (We even found that our Honorable Supreme Court
Chief Justice, John G. Roberts, lobbied the FDA in 2000 and
2001 on behalf of the Cosmetics Association regarding sunscreen
labeling.) |
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Woohoo! We thought something was going
to be done to inform the public the truth about the efficacy
of most sunscreens. We don't want to give the impression
that all sunscreens are bad or inadequate. There are
a few that provide excellent protection, but to be effective
they must be used very judiciously. |
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The Real And Lasting Dangers Of The
Improper Use Of Sunscreens
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| The law firm failed to get an injunction in December, 2006
to force the sunscreen companies to be truthful in their
labeling and advertising. While the attorneys continue
their battle we feel it's very important to alert people
to very real and lasting dangers of the improper use
of sunscreens. We still actively support the use of
sunscreen but feel people should be told of the consequences
of over-reliance on them. We even sell sunscreen on
our website www.sunprotectioncenter.com but
they must meet our standards of protection. (Hint: zinc oxide
+ nanotechnology = real protection)
Yes, we do have an agenda of our own that is to promote
the use of sun protective clothing. We test all of
our products to meet the American ASTM standards and have
them certified by an independent laboratory, International
UV Testing Laboratory. It is located at Auburn University
in Alabama. www.auburn.edu/~slatebl/index2.html
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Another "get out in the sun" season is fast
approaching and millions of people will be relying on sunscreens
for protection. We wish they could be told how to practice "safe
sun" for themselves and, especially, their children. The
correct application of an effective sunscreen, along with
UV protective clothing and eyewear will go a long way toward
reducing the skin cancer risk we are all facing. I
have enclosed some of information I have about this subject
(I know of a few scientists who are not funded by the pharmaceutical
companies).
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