Health News

Sunscreens and UVA Rays: What You Need to Know

Researchers convening here this week at the 58thAnnual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology are discussing the current methods of measuring protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays and hope that soon, consumers will be better informed about -- and protected from -- the damaging effects of the sun.

The vast array of sun protection products available to consumers today is dizzying. Most of them contain a sun protection factor (SPF) ranging from 2 to 60, which is a reflection of how well your skin is protected against ultraviolet B rays (UVB). While most sunscreen products claim to protect skin against UVB, scientists have now determined that another spectrum of sunlight, UVA, seems to contribute to skin aging and may also lead to skin cancer.

"One of the risks of having a very good sunscreen is that people can spend more time in the sun [which results in] a lot more of the UVA rays penetrating their skin," Henry W. Lim, MD, tells WebMD. The problem is that UVA rays have not been widely researched, so currently, there is no agreement among manufacturers on how to measure UVA protection factor of sunscreens, leaving consumers with mixed messages. Lim, who is chairman of the department of dermatology at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, is working hard to change that.

With industry backing and support from the AAD, he and other dermatologists are in the process of preparing a report that calls for a general consensus and recommendations from sunscreen manufacturers about SPF, UVA, and UVB. The report will be presented to the FDA in April, and Lim hopes that it will eventually provide consistency that will help consumers choose the best sun protection product.

Basically, the report recommends that any product claiming to protect against both UVA and UVB must contain a minimum SPF level of 4 and emphasize that SPF is the most important factor of sunscreen protection.

"The AAD is concerned about the well-being of the consumer," Lim says. "SPF is very important, and we're coming close to very specific [guidelines] about this."

But experts are still unclear about the link between UVA and melanoma. "The [way sunlight is linked to] melanoma in humans is not completely known at this time," Lim says, despite numerous studies that are underway to illuminate this link. Meanwhile, melanoma rates continue to rise, he says.

To help prevent melanoma and other skin cancers, Lim cautions that the use of sunscreen should be only one of the sun protective measures that consumers use. "People should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun when possible, and use a hat and other protective clothing," he says.

The AAD recommends that all individuals use sunscreen with at least SPF 15, regardless of skin color.