80% of Sunscreens Don't Work & Offer Bad Effects on Body

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Sunscreen is considered to be one of the major ways to protect ourselves while we go frolicking under the sun. However, a new research has found that most sunscreens don't work and fall short of their promised sun protection. 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a statement regarding sunscreen manufacturers not keeping their promised protection. The group analyzed more than 1,500 products and found that 80% have harmful ingredients or do not provide sufficient protection against the sun's rays.

They compiled an interactive shopping guide to help consumers choose the best products to use, with more than 30 products placed in the 2015 Sunscreen Hall of Shame.

Products that were placed in the Hall of Shame were those that have potentially harmful ingredients, excessive SPF claims and inhalation risks due to their strong aerosols. Included in the list are products from Neutrogena, CVS, Coppertone, and Kroger.

"Our research confirms that not all sunscreens are created equal," Dave Andrews, a scientist at EWG, said. "Many products do not provide enough UVA protection.  Some contain hazardous chemicals such as the hormone disruptor oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A linked to skin damage. Shoppers who use our guide can find sunscreens that are not only more effective but safer for themselves and their family."

The group singled out Neutrogena, a brand that markets its line of sun protection products as the "#1 dermatologist recommended suncare brand."

"It is really quite astonishing how Neutrogena attempts to deceive shoppers with ad hype in order to sell potentially harmful products," said Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at EWG.

Lunder added: "We've turned a spotlight on bad actors like Neutrogena, but so much more needs to be done to stop companies from getting away with hyping their products at the expense of consumer health."

According to the group, Neutrogena peddles "misleading" label claims regarding SPF values that reach as high as 110. Some of its products were also found to have chemicals that can harm users. 

Sunscreens aside, a new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has shown that many Americans do not regularly apply nor use sunscreen.

According to Time Magazine, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed people regarding sunscreen use. The results showed that only 14% of men said they put sunscreen regularly and only 30% of women do, too.

"It's quite surprising, given that sunscreens are highly regulated in both Canada and U.S.," Dr. Sonya Cook, dermatologist and instructor at University of Toronto, reacted to the report via CBC Toronto.

She provided helpful tips when choosing which sunscreens to use. Cook recommends products that protect against UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of at least 30. She also said that creams and lotions are better protectants than their spray or liquid counterparts.

Whichever sunscreen is to be used, Cook suggests checking its expiry date.

"I think it's a good idea every year, do a little Spring cleaning of your sunscreens, and toss out the ones from last year and start fresh," she quipped.