In the News: Sunscreens and Vaccines

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Since we shared information recently on skin cancer awareness and prevention, we're sharing some related but unique information this week that has recently made the news.

New Sunscreen Labels

In 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved new labeling for sunscreen products that will finally go into effect next month. There have always been guidelines in place, but they were adopted on a voluntary basis - which meant many companies didn't adopt them at all. Using terms such as "All Day Protection" and "Waterproof" were not only misleading, they were downright inaccurate. The new guidelines are mandatory.

Here are the major changes in labeling that will help consumers buy exactly what they need, and know exactly what they're getting:

Sunblocks: No product on the market today can completely shield your skin from the sun. For this reason, sunscreens will no longer be labeled as "sunblock".

SPF level: A sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more means the product lowers the risk of skin cancer and aging. For SPFs from 2-14, this is not the case. Those products prevent sunburn at best. Sunscreen labels will have to be clear about how much SPF they provide - and whether they actually reduce your risk of developing skin cancer and curb visible aging or just prevent sunburns. The highest level of SPF allowed with the new guidelines will be 50.

One common misunderstandings that lingers today is that the higher the SPF number on a bottle of sunscreen, the better. In truth, a product with a number above 30 really doesn't add enough additional protection to make it worthwhile. That said - you should always choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

Broad Spectrum: To be labeled "broad spectrum," sunscreens must provide equal protection against the sun's two types of radiation: UVB and UVA. Both types can lead to cancer - but UVA gives you more wrinkles and UVB causes sunburns.

"Waterproof" and "sweatproof" claims will disappear . Sunscreens can only say how long they offer water resistant protection. And, the company marketing the products must be able to back up their claims with text results.

Instant protection: Sunscreens can't say they provide "instant protection" or protect skin for more than two hours unless the FDA approves the claims for the specific sunscreen in question.

There is a 2-2-2 rule that goes hand in hand with these new requirements, even though it's been around a while:

2 tablespoons. Use at least this much sunscreen on each part of your body.This is about the size of a golf ball. Rub it in until it disappears.
2 hours. That’s how often you should reapply it. Evaluate and apply more often if you're involved in active water activities such as skiing.
2 years. That’s how long you should keep it. The ingredients lose their effectiveness after 2 years. Be sure to check expiration dates if you find overstock sunscreens for sale at thrift stores.

Melanoma Vaccine

Recently, The Mayo Clinic announced that their researchers are working on a melanoma vaccine to combat skin cancer. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, with the major risk factor being exposure to UV light. Incidence rates continue to rise, with the largest increase being seen in young women.

The research has been done on mice, using a genetic combination of human DNA from melanoma cells and a cousin of the rabies virus. In early studies, 60 percent of the mice with tumors were cured in fewer than three months with minimal side effects. Human clinical trials related to this research aren't anticipated for a few more years, but the results look very promising. More information on this research can be found in the story originally shared by Mayo Clinic here.