Choose Sunscreen Wisely: Not All Products As Effective As They Claim To Be

sunbathing — The British government has released a set of draft guidelines to address the sun-starved British population. One of the guideline suggests people take vitamin D supplements, in addition to eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Reuters

Nearly one-third of sunscreens available on the market do not offer the protection they claim, Consumer Reports magazine recently revealed. According to a test conducted on the commonly available sunscreens, 11 of 34 samples failed to match the claims made about the product's Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and water resistance.

During the test, Consumer Reports applied the 34 products to the backs of test volunteers who were then asked to immerse themselves in water for the same duration that the company claimed to offer waterrproof protection. Eleven times the products failed to provide the stated level of protection.

The findings could raise concerns for consumers preparing for outdoor summer activities. “Our findings are troubling because consumers may not be getting the amount of SPF protection they think they’re getting,” Trisha Calvo of Consumer Reports said.

However, the Personal Care Products Council, an industry group, discarded the findings, saying the magazine did not use a scientific testing method approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Products earning the highest ratings included La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-in Sunscreen Milk, SPF 60. Low-rated products included Vanicream SPF 50, Aloe Gator SPF 40, and Elta MD UV Aero SPF 45.

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