New data from Consumer Reports indicate that 48% of all sunscreens tested (N=104) over 4 years did not provide the sun protection factor (SPF) promised on product labels, leaving consumers with insufficient sun protection, which could lead to long-term sun damage including wrinkles or skin cancer. Furthermore, 42% of chemical sunscreens (n=85) and 74% of mineral sunscreens (n=19) did not meet their SPF claims.
The study also reveals that more than one-third (35%) of sunscreens registered below SPF 30, which is the minimum recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Although product labels featured claims of water resistance, nearly half of the sunscreens tested failed to meet their SPF claim following water immersion.
Dermatologists can educate patients about correct sunscreen use and product labels to ensure the highest level of protection against melanoma and other skin cancers. According to a 2016 AAD survey, only 32% of respondents knew that an SPF 30 sunscreen does not provide twice as much protection as an SPF 15 sunscreen. Furthermore, only 45% of respondents knew that a higher-SPF sunscreen does not protect skin from sun exposure longer than a lower-SPF sunscreen.
The AAD has issued a list of talking points highlighting key messages that dermatologists can share with patients and/or the media when asked about sun-protection techniques and the recent sunscreen data released by Consumer Reports.