Sun Protection and Sunscreens (cont.)
Can sunscreens cause a skin reaction?
Yes. In some people, sunscreens containing PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) can
actually heighten the risk of suffering from sunburn. Other ingredients in
sunscreens may also increase the risk of a skin reaction in certain people.
Anyone can determine the suitability of a particular sunscreen without risk of
serious harm by:
- clothing his or her body fully except for a small patch of skin;
and then
- applying the sunscreen to the skin patch and exposing it to
sunlight.
- If a reaction occurs, the user should not use that product. He or
she should try another product.
Should everyone use sunscreen protection?
As a general rule, babies 6 months of age or younger should not
have sunscreen applied to their skin because their bodies may not be
capable of tolerating the chemicals in sunscreens. Instead, they
should be kept away from sun exposure.
Everyone over 6 months of age should use a sunscreen regularly
unless they and their doctors decide it would be better to protect
the skin in other ways.
Can the labels on sunscreen products be trusted in the U.S.?
In the past, no. In an effort to make sunscreen labels more
reliable and useful, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999
issued new labeling regulations for over-the-counter sunscreens.
According to the new FDA guidelines, sunscreen labels will be
prohibited from making claims that are considered unproven or
absolute such as "waterproof" and "all-day protection."
The FDA will also no longer permit a product to be called
"sunblock." (Sunscreens don't block out all of the sun's rays.)
Manufacturers must also list the active sunscreen ingredients in
their products on the label.
Next: Do all tanning products contain sunscreens? »
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