Donkeys and Elephants and Delegates,oh my!
Check out the most popular
Why 84% of Sunscreens Don't Work
newsweek.com — A new study reveals that 84% of sunscreens don't offer sufficient protection from the sun. How to find the right one. It found that many of the most popular sunscreens break down quickly in the sun or are not blocking many harmful UV rays.
Bukowsky- 827 diggs
- digg it
- philostrato, on 07/03/2008, -1/+7Inneresting. Thanks, Bukowsky.
- ironeus, on 08/01/2008, -0/+12That's a surprisingly high figure.
- elnerdo, on 07/03/2008, -0/+8Crazy! I was just reading about this on wikipedia two weeks ago. (Someone challenged my understanding of how sunscreen worked, so I went on a wikipedia frenzy).
From what I understand, standards in Europe require sunscreen manufacturers to ALSO say the effectiveness of sunscreen against UVA.- ligyron, on 07/03/2008, -2/+4I'd be careful with Wikipedia disputes. It wouldn't be uncommon for someone to make your life a living hell (death treats, calling your house, etc) if you interfere with an article they frequent.
- dragon76, on 07/04/2008, -1/+7As a licensed esthetician, SPF is NOT what they say it is. SPF is actually a lot like voodoo. This article clearly skirted around what SPF actually means. SPF is how long (in minutes) after you would normally get sunburn that you can stay exposed to the sun without having to reapply the product. SPF of 30 only blocks 4% more UVB rays than SPF of 15 on average and after 30 it's negligible.
You really shouldn't be spending more than 45-60 minutes in the sun a day with exposed skin, period. It is perfectly safe and actually healthy to have 20 minutes TOTAL of sun exposure a day, that's the amount of time it takes, on average, to get the sun's vitamin D producing effects. Lots of people forget the time they walk from place to place during sun exposure and the real kicker is that most people do not apple sun protection correctly.- rakous, on 07/04/2008, -2/+8I am so glad that I apple sun protection correctly.
- canewediggit, on 07/03/2008, -3/+64don't care about the story, i just feel the need to digg anything w/ that awesome darwin/lincoln b-boy stance pic attached.
- shutaro, on 07/03/2008, -0/+20It needs an explosion or something in the background... So it looks like Lincoln are Darwin just kicked some major ass.
- Steaminx, on 07/03/2008, -0/+5No pigment?
- EmperorAwesome, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Pale Force.
- basye, on 07/03/2008, -1/+7Buy Australian sunscreen, they are light years ahead of the US in education and testing for skin cancer.
- EntropyNine, on 07/03/2008, -0/+5lol @ Lincoln vs. Darwin.
- Croecop, on 07/03/2008, -0/+3So what is the best one to buy in the US?
- ShadowFoxxx, on 07/03/2008, -0/+4That's it, I'm never going out in the sun again.
- funkyjunk3, on 07/03/2008, -0/+10The basement seems like a perfect environment for me, anyways.
- OC73, on 07/03/2008, -1/+3You're Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs?
- funkyjunk3, on 07/03/2008, -1/+4Not only do a lot of sunscreens not work, many of them contain chemicals that aren't healthy. Sure, they won't kill you if you put them on, but they won't exactly help you either: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreen ...
. - Canadaa, on 07/03/2008, -12/+3Good God people are paranoid over stupid things
- skidme, on 07/03/2008, -0/+11Like....cancer? Are you high? Skin cancer is no laughing matter.
- Thepirateking, on 07/03/2008, -0/+1you mean like little things like I don't tan, I just burn to a crisp and have to deal with a week of feeling itchy and ill as the outer layers of my skin crack and peel off, and I have to watch out if I scratch or I tear holes in myself till I bleed? Yeah I worry about my sunscreen.
- FlynnRocks, on 07/03/2008, -7/+1Who needs sunscreen, I will just drink tea to remove any sun damaged skin and protect myself from skin cancer.
- skidme, on 07/03/2008, -0/+2Actually, I'm pretty sure anti-oxidants protect from chemical oxidants by neutralizing them, rather than by killing damaged cells.
- SamPollock, on 07/04/2008, -3/+1OWNAGE FLYNN!!!!!!!!!!!
SEE WHAT A BITCH THIS GUY SOUNDS LIKE!!!
WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT THIS *****, TEA DOES NOTHING FOR YOU!
- bodegit, on 07/03/2008, -3/+4Actually some say the medical benefits of sunlight outweigh the harm.
- EdwardsNH, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Sure... to a point. Going out at 3pm for half an hour? Sure. Going out at 11am for 3 hours? Cover up.
- bigsteve3OOO, on 07/03/2008, -7/+3wear appropriate clothing and limit your exposure and you don't need that crap. why put chemicals on your body when you don't need to?
- AgentX640, on 07/03/2008, -0/+7You must not do a lot of "outdoor" activities.
- bigsteve3OOO, on 07/03/2008, -1/+1I am outdoors every day for hours. I kayak; run; mountain climb; hike; and, camp all summer but I know how to limit my exposure so I don't put chemicals on my skin.
- diecastbeatdown, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2bigsteve probably has darker skin than some of us.
- theImmodiumGuy, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0Sunblock causes cancer, anyway. It's a well known fact.
- foofightrs777, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1I love going to the beach in a parka!
- AgentX640, on 07/03/2008, -0/+7You must not do a lot of "outdoor" activities.
- superkendall, on 07/03/2008, -2/+9No discussion though about how too much blocking may also be bad - exposure to sunlight helps production of vitamin D in the body. Is UVA part of that process at all?
In general people who stay out of the sun entirely may be endangering health just as much as people who get moderate amounts of sunlight, including UVA... - huntr2, on 07/03/2008, -4/+1184% of statistics are made up on the spot.
- funkyjunk3, on 07/03/2008, -4/+2158.2% of all statistics are totally bogus.
- Bukowsky, on 07/04/2008, -0/+984% of Diggers who leave comments never even READ THE ARTICLE!
- happycat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0Come on everyone, all together...."F*ck you, Frank!"
:)
- franklyzappa, on 07/03/2008, -1/+12***** I've been rubbing sunscreen in my eyes for years and I haven't seen the sun ever since.
- funkyjunk3, on 07/03/2008, -5/+1[epicfail]
hahaha, well yo mama's so fat, she can't see the sun behind her nose.
[/epicfail]
- funkyjunk3, on 07/03/2008, -5/+1[epicfail]
- dantidote, on 07/03/2008, -2/+19I've been in Arizona for a week, and I'm still snow white. My sunscreen works way too well.
- XxModestMousexX, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1You sure you're not albino?
- EdwardsNH, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1Dugg for posting a comment on Digg with the proper use of "too".
- rwallen, on 07/03/2008, -0/+8For those who dont want to read 3 pages, the winners are:
Badger SPF 30, Peter Thomas Roth Titanium SPF 30, and Lavera Sunscreen Neutral SPF 40, received top marks- skyz, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1peter thomas roth makes a face powder spf 30
for miami beach it's a real saving face
- skyz, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1peter thomas roth makes a face powder spf 30
- VirtualSobriety, on 07/03/2008, -7/+2So after looking at the actual database, I found the Sunscreen I typically use, Coppertone Continuous Spray got a very bad score...
The score, as determinded by toxicity in things like NON-MAMMALIAN cells
And a Limited potential of toxicity???
This...is a joke...
You have some sort of real evidence, like say actual evidence that these chemicals affect HUMAN cells, or even say...MAMMALIAN cells, then send me a link...
You know Potassium is good for you in small doses, and KILLS YOU if you have too much? Where is the Database on levels of Potassium in various brands of Banana...I am (not) outraged that the FDA would allow a chemical (potassium) that in unreasonably large doses would kill a healthy adult! OUTRAGED!!! (not really!)
I'm more outraged that I pay for the FDA to exist than I am that huge amounts of a chemical that exists in tiny amounts in a product I use rather infrequently for 4 months out of the year can kill lizards! - captainaviator, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1I'll just stick to my Crisco
- Sunscreen, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2I'm part of the 16%. ;)
- BrownManUPS, on 07/04/2008, -4/+1What is the little green strip on the digg number?
- Hangly, on 07/04/2008, -0/+4It means yer friends done dugg it.
- atarijedi, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Badger sunscreen will put hair on your chest... lots of it!
- Tusa, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2...and as usual, the author ignores the truly effective UV-blocking materials used in some sunscreens which effectively never break down: the inorganics, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. They also provide protection across a broader spectrum, particularly when combined.
- htan, on 07/04/2008, -1/+9htan's one-page edition
Sunscreens were seriously burned this month, when a new ranking of more than 700 sunscreen products found that 84 percent did not provide adequate sun protection. The study, conducted by Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington-based nonprofit, looked at over 400 peer-reviewed articles on sunscreen ingredients. It found that many of the most popular sunscreens break down quickly in the sun or are not blocking many harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Rankings in the July 2007 issue of Consumer Reports revealed a similar problem: not all sunscreens are created equal. Rather, they found that sunscreens with the same sun protection factor (SPF) ran the gamut from "excellent" to "poor" in their overall ability to block ultraviolet rays.
Dermatologists, however, are not buying it. "Currently, there are no truly effective ways to measure the strength of UVA protection in sunscreens," says Hensin Tsao, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard University. While sunscreens have begun using labels like "broadspectrum" to indicate comprehensive UVA/UVB protection, no federal guidelines regulate how sunscreens can use the term and what level of protection it indicates. Says Darrell Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University, "Anyone can put the words broadspectrum on a bottle so there's no easy way for the consumer to understand the labeling."
Overexposure to either UVA or UVB rays can lead to serious consequences—8,000 Americans die of melanoma each year, a form of skin cancer often caused by too much UV-exposure. "There are all these reasons to use sunscreen but this labeling is making it hard to do so correctly," says Rigel.
Looking for particular characteristics that aren't on the label, he says, can help make sunscreen decisions easier and smarter. Here are tips for navigating the sunscreen aisle:
SPF still matters: While SPF does not say everything about a sunscreen, it should still be an important factor in selection. Rigel suggests never going lower than 30.
Be ingredient savvy: Unlike SPF, there is no quick and easy number to indicate a sunscreen's strength in blocking UVA rays. The best way to tell whether you are getting adequate UVA protection is to take a look at the ingredients. There are two ingredients that Rigel says are a good indication that you're UVA-safe: aveobenzone or parsol 1789.
Stay stable: While UVA-blocking ingredients are important, they also tend to cause the sunscreen to break down faster in the sun. This is why a third element is also necessary: ingredients to stabilize the sunscreen. Neutrogena with Helioplex Technology or anything with Mexoryl are Rigel's top choices for stable sunscreens.
Check the rankings: The new EWG database allows consumers to compare sunscreens on different characteristics—without scanning labels for complex chemicals. Overall, Badger SPF 30, Peter Thomas Roth Titanium SPF 30, and Lavera Sunscreen Neutral SPF 40, received top marks. This does not that mean they are perfect, cautions Houlihan, but that they will do the best in keeping you sun safe.
Apply early and often: If you apply sunscreen when you start feeling the heat, you're already too late. "Some people only think about sunscreen when they start feeling warm," says Martin A. Weinstock, professor of dermatology at Brown University. "Meanwhile, they've gotten a dangerous dose of UV long before then." He recommends putting on sunscreen a half hour before heading outdoors and reapplying every few hours.
Want a tan? Fake it: "It's best not to bathe yourself in carcinogens to make a fashion statement," says Weinstock. A change in skin color is always an indication of heavy exposure to UV rays. The safest and best color, Weinstock says, is the one you were born with.
Listen to your mother: No matter how well a sunscreen ranks, Houlihan cautions that there "isn't a perfect product or ingredient and there isn't perfect knowledge that sunscreen can do enough to completely protect us from skin cancer. It's important to not only use sunscreen but also follow the safety tips we've been told again and again." Those safety tips—make sure to cover all areas liberally, stay out of the sun at peak hours, and, most importantly, keep skin covered with hats and light clothing—combined with a safe sunscreen should give you one less thing to worry about when enjoying that day at the beach.
While many people rely solely on SPF when selecting a sunscreen, these rankings show that the single number only tells half the story. SPF measures a sunscreen's ability to block UVB rays. But it says nothing about its strength against UVA rays, an equally damaging form of radiation that causes wrinkles and, more seriously, skin cancer. And unlike UVB rays that cause sunburns, UVA rays do not leave an immediate mark.
"We don't have a physical, visible way to know if we're protected against UVA radiation," says Jane Houlihan, vice president of the Environmental Working Group (EWG). "Your skin looks fine, you're not burnt, and you could have a massive dose of UV radiation."
The issue is largely in the labeling—the Food and Drug Administration does not have any regulations on how sunscreens can accurately indicate their level of UVA protection, no quick and easy number like SPF. The agency began developing guidelines in 1978 but they have largely been at a standstill since 1999, when today's requirements were finalized.
In a statement this month, the FDA reports that a new regulation addressing UVA protection is "currently in its final clearance" and will likely be released by the end of the summer. Until those guidelines take effect, the FDA stands by its previous assertion that "approved sunscreens are safe and effective when used as directed."
now that wasn't so ***** hard, now was it, Newsweek?- WRXFiles, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1Dugg for the last line!
- Hangly, on 07/04/2008, -2/+1How did Newsweek get on the front page? ***** off Newsweek!
- Brandileigha, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1Oh great!.I've been relying on the "prevention is the best medicine" thought when concerning my skin..
Just tell me which suncreen works? - terajoule, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Sunblock 5000. Just apply a pint to your body and you're good for hours. CAUTION: Frequent use will cause skin cancer.
- TheMachine1, on 07/04/2008, -0/+8The Earth is the best Sun block. Go outside at night time only.
- GiggleStick, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1The moon works well also, but unfortunately you only get an eclipse on the order of decades, depending on where you live.
- skyz, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1do you think parasols could make a comeback ?
- Evilena, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Now for a scientific argument supporting topless sunbathing.
Sunlight can reduce breast cancer
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Bre ... - RainSerpent, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2You know that sunscreens will always sell better that tanning oils. Fear always sells more than fact. How can you sell an ointment to babies, little children, and older people?
If you accept the fact that we have all migrated from Africa; that we all became lighter in skin to absorb more from the suns rays. Then you know that those people with lighter skin need to absorb more of the sun's natural rays. The more that a population migrates from the equator, the lighter their skin becomes...
The reason that skin cancer has become such a focal point of western science is that everyone was tanning in the 60's and that is when the first data became available. This is mostly people who where genetically predisposed to the skin cancers in the first place. - yyymilitia, on 07/04/2008, -0/+016% of the time it works everytime
- yourbrokenoven, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1as it only takes me 30 minutes in direct sunlight to begin to sunburn, i've been using sunscreens of every variety for over 20 years. i have yet to find one that doesn't work. but then again, i wear something in the neighborhood of spf 50 (i've read that the highest true protection is spf 45 or so, and that the spf 80's that were out in the late 80's weren't really that strong.) moral of the story, don't go with the wimpy spf 15 or 20. get the 50 and be done with it, stay in the shade, wear long sleeves, and drink plenty of water. and frequently reapply, even if it says it's waterproof. no matter what the label says, SOME always washes off.
- happycat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0Same here, I find most block enough UV so I don't burn quickly. Slap on SPF 15 and I can be outdoors for an hour or two.
The one thing that I've always wondered about is what exactly is sunscreen made out of, and have any tests been done on the ingredients that it contains that block the UV light? Since sunscreens are not ingested, they don't require as much testing, yet we're more than willing to slap on layer after layer all summer long. Some of that stuff must get absorbed into our bodies.
- happycat, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0Same here, I find most block enough UV so I don't burn quickly. Slap on SPF 15 and I can be outdoors for an hour or two.
- nigirimon, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0Do a search on vitamin D deficiency. It's linked to things much worse than melanoma. You're probably benefiting if you sunscreen does not work very well. Just limit you time in direct sunlight during mid-day hours and you'll be fine.
- lennybird, on 07/04/2008, -0/+2Did you know the _good_ all natural European sunscreen that WORKS, is banned here in the states? I love our chemical-ridden *****.
- ddaw735, on 07/04/2008, -0/+0I have built in sunscreen haha.
- HisShadow, on 07/04/2008, -0/+1SPF 50 Baby waterproof saved my ass in Kawaii. It stayed on for hours and allowed me to stay in the sun all day.
- birdcity, on 07/04/2008, -1/+1UVB that causes tanning or sunburn, and UVA that’s responsible for skin cancer and aging. Many sunscreens claim to block both, but actually provide UVB protection only
According to this analysis from Environmental Working Group (EWG), findings of the CDC study indicate that Oxybenzone reacts negatively with sun exposure and have negative impacts on our bodies such as:
- triggering possible allergic reactions by sun exposure.
- forming free radical chemicals that may be linked to cell damage.
- disrupting the hormone system.
- absorbing through the skin in significant amounts.
- accumulating in the fatty tissues in the body for many days.
- helping other chemicals penetrate the skin.
http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/guides/66.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen
http://www.skin-whitening-product.com/sunscreen-fa ... - Berkana, on 07/07/2008, -1/+1The sunscreens that say "broad spectrum" protection don't have the problems the article points out. They block both UV-A and UV-B.
The Digg Toolbar for Firefox lets you Digg, submit content, and keep track of Digg even when you're not on the Digg site. Download the official 
© Digg Inc. 2008 —
Content posted by