Why the US has fewer sunscreen options
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Having lived in
London most of my life, I’m not used to regular sunny weather. So this
being my first summer living in the US, finding a good sunscreen was
high on my priority list.
But the options here are limited. In
Europe and other parts of the world, people have access to more
sunscreens than in the US. The key difference is that in Europe,
sunscreens are regulated as a cosmetic, which allows manufacturers to
use and combine ingredients in ways that offer more protection against
the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. In the US,
sunscreens are regulated as an over-the-counter drug, which means
they’re subject to more restrictions. Sunscreens available in the US protect
against ultraviolet rays called UVB, the type that causes
sunburn. However, most aren’t as good at blocking UVA rays,
which penetrate deeper into the skin and can lead to cancer. European
sunscreen formulas contain ingredients that provide better protection
against both UVA and UVB, but US manufacturers don’t have access to
those additional molecules. | |
The US Food and
Drug Administration says it needs more data to assess whether those
additional ingredients are safe and effective, but some scientists and
research groups have argued that the delay has left Americans with fewer
options to protect themselves.
Manufacturers have been trying to get new ingredients approved in the US for several years with little success. And even the 2014 Sunscreen Innovation Act,
which was meant to speed the approval process for new products, hasn’t
made much difference. The FDA has acknowledged those issues and has been
conducting its own research into sunscreen safety as part of a proposal
to update its regulatory standard on the products.
The
agency's understanding of these lotions and sprays has advanced.
Scientists used to think that sunscreen would sit on top of the skin,
but the FDA recently
found that six active ingredients used commonly in sunscreens in the US
were all absorbed into the bloodstream at high levels, and remained in
the body for extended periods.
That shouldn’t be cause for panic
though. Without further testing and additional data, the FDA said it's
unclear whether finding that something is absorbed through the skin
means it's unsafe, and the agency continues to recommend using
sunscreen and taking other sun-protective measures. The FDA has proposed
recognizing the active sunscreen ingredients zinc oxide and titanium
dioxide as safe while it says it needs more data on 12 chemicals,
including avobenzone, to make a safety determination.
Adding to the mix: last year's reports about possible carcinogens in sunscreens dominated the headlines. Researchers asked
the FDA to pull some products from the market or recall certain brands.
The agency continues to evaluate sunscreen products to ensure that
they’re safe and effective, an FDA spokesperson told me on Tuesday. The
agency also advised consumers not to use the recalled sunscreens, which
are listed here.
In
the meantime, I’ll continue to buy and wear sunscreen while I’m here in
the US, but I might still bring back a bottle of my favorite UK brand
next time I’m in London.—Fiona Rutherford