Watch out for ineffective sunscreens: Only 1 in 4 on store shelves is safe, according to a study

With just weeks to go before the summer officially commences, there has been a gradual increase in the temperatures in the northern hemisphere, and for many it will be time to restock that all important sunscreen.

Sunscreen is crucial for protecting your skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and it’s essential that it is applied before going outdoors (ideally all year round) but especially so when the rays of the sun are at their most potent.

UV radiation is the primary cause of skin cancer, including melanoma (the deadliest form), basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma but daily and consistent use of sunscreen significantly reduces your risk of developing these cancers by blocking or absorbing UV rays before they can damage skin cells and DNA.

Sunscreen also protects against sunburn and helps moisturise the skin.

New report

However, potential sunscreen buyers may be alarmed to discover that, according to a EWG (Environmental Working Group) study, only one in four sunscreens are really safe and effective.

“Our criteria include the ability of the sunscreen’s active ingredients to provide balanced protection against both UVA and UVB rays, as well as any hazardous chemical ingredients in the product,” said David Andrews, acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a consumer organization that has produced the annual sunscreen guide since 2007.

“There are nearly 500 products we are recommending consumers seek out as their first option,” Andrews said. “We want people to wear sunscreen and at the same time recognize there are other ways to protect their skin as well — seeking shade, wearing wide-brimmed hats, lightweight long-sleeve shirts and pants and covering up your feet are very effective ways, especially if you’re concerned about sunscreen ingredients.”

“When the FDA tested aerosol cosmetics a few years ago, they found some products did have very small particle sizes that could be inhaled in the deep lung and lead to possible health harms,” Andrews said. “The same concern applies to the increasingly more popular aerosol spray sunscreens.”

According to the EWG study, only one fourth of sunscreens on store shelves in the United States deliver safe and effective protection against the harmful rays of the sun.

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