Thermonuclear Protection
No... I am not talking about North Korea.
I am talking about sunscreen. The SPF label applies only to UVB, which is what gives you sunburn. But, it is the UVA that tans your skin and gives you cancer. The FDA has proposed new labeling for sunscreen.
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FDA Aims to Upgrade Sunscreen Labeling
On this page:
* What do "UVA" and "UVB" stand for?
* The Four-Star System
* Sunscreen Not the Only Option
* Changes With SPFs, Too
FDA wants the labeling on your sunscreen to tell you more about protection against the sun's harmful rays.
Under a new regulation, the agency has proposed that sunscreen labeling be expanded to provide
* a four-star rating system that informs consumers how well the product protects them against "Ultraviolet A" (UVA) light.
* Information on other ways people can limit their risks to dangers posed by overexposure to sunlight.
What do "UVA" and "UVB" stand for?
UVA and UVB are types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun. Although the atmosphere's ozone layer shields us from most of this radiation, the UV light that gets through can cause problems.
UVB light is primarily responsible for sunburn. UVA light penetrates the skin more than UVB light does, and causes tanning. Both types of UV light contribute to premature skin aging, skin cancer, and other types of skin damage.
Currently, sunscreen labels are required to carry a "Sunburn Protection Factor" (SPF) value that informs potential users how well the product protects against UVB light. [...]
I am talking about sunscreen. The SPF label applies only to UVB, which is what gives you sunburn. But, it is the UVA that tans your skin and gives you cancer. The FDA has proposed new labeling for sunscreen.
---
FDA Aims to Upgrade Sunscreen Labeling
On this page:
* What do "UVA" and "UVB" stand for?
* The Four-Star System
* Sunscreen Not the Only Option
* Changes With SPFs, Too
FDA wants the labeling on your sunscreen to tell you more about protection against the sun's harmful rays.
Under a new regulation, the agency has proposed that sunscreen labeling be expanded to provide
* a four-star rating system that informs consumers how well the product protects them against "Ultraviolet A" (UVA) light.
* Information on other ways people can limit their risks to dangers posed by overexposure to sunlight.
What do "UVA" and "UVB" stand for?
UVA and UVB are types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun. Although the atmosphere's ozone layer shields us from most of this radiation, the UV light that gets through can cause problems.
UVB light is primarily responsible for sunburn. UVA light penetrates the skin more than UVB light does, and causes tanning. Both types of UV light contribute to premature skin aging, skin cancer, and other types of skin damage.
Currently, sunscreen labels are required to carry a "Sunburn Protection Factor" (SPF) value that informs potential users how well the product protects against UVB light. [...]