http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/science/15sun.html
Many of you have probably heard about the new FDA regulations on labeling sunscreen, which are to go into effect next year. Above is an article with the details on what the new labels mean and how it will better benefit consumers when making decisions on how to protect themselves against harmful UVA and UVB rays. The FDA also bans manufactureres from marketing their sunscreen products as "waterproof" or "sweatproof", which are misleading terms and proven to be false.
1. As a consumer, were you surprised by the misleading marketing used by suncreen manufacturers? Were you aware of the effects of UVA versuses UVB rays or that sunscreens are not completely sweat or water proof? How did this misleading information affect your purchases in the past?
2. Why do you think the FDA delayed regulating sunscreen for over 30 years? Do you believe their new policies will be helpful to the public? Do you forsee any problems with the new laws in labeling?
3. Until now, manufacturers made claims of "sweatproof" and "waterproof" or SPF of over 50 to sell their products. How should sunscreen manufacturers market their products so as to beat out the competition in the future?
1) As a consumer I was not surprised that sunscreen manufacturers misled the market. Companies will do anything to get their product to sell. I do understand the effect of UVA versuses UVB rays. UVA effect the upper layers of skin, whereas UVB effect deeper layers. I was also aware that sunscreens were not entirely waterproof or sweatproof. Being fair-skinned I wear alot of sunscreen at the beach. I figured sunscreens were not all waterproof because after many applications while swimming, I would still be burnt. After noticing not all sunscreens were entirely waterproof, I mainly focused on the SPF labeling. I was also told somewhere by someone that any SPF above 30 was bogus.
ReplyDelete2) I think the FDA tool so long to address the issues of sunscreen because over just recently over last few years skin cancer has increased with the use of tanning beds and hotter summers with more sun exposure. I think the new policies will make it harder for consumers to determine which sunscreen to purchase. Without the label of "waterproof" or "sweatproof" what makes another sunscreen different from the other?
3) I think sunscreen manufacturers will have to depend on other thinks like is it spray on or lotion, or safe for sensitive skin or not, and also the packaging will have to be alot bolder and more eye-catching.
1) As a consumer I was not surprised that the sunscreen manufacturing were misleading. It was obvious that the sunscreen was not waterproof or sweat-proof because if that was the case why would we have to reapply it every so often? I did not know the difference between UVA and UVB rays and I find that interesting. However, in the past when I would train for tennis everyday for 7 hours in the sun, I would buy sweat-proof, but ironically I would get sunburned everyday.
ReplyDelete2) I agree with Jane that it has taken the FDA a long time to address this issue because skin cancer is unfortunately more "popular" and less people are taking good care of their skin. I do not see that there will be a big problem with the new labeling because each sunscreen has the same purpose initially.
3)I think the sunscreen manufacturers will have to make the labeling more eye catching and put other characteristics on the label that make it different from the other sunscreens on the shelf.
I'm not surprised by the misleading information currently on sunscreen. I think the closer you start looking at products and ads, the more you will see we are being manipulated by the producers to purchase their products, whether it's healthy for us or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the FDA "delayed" regulation so much as I believe it took them more than 30 years to actually completely understand all that they were trying to enforce.
Back in 1978, we (as a population, not me particularly) were using baby oil in the sun with mirrors boards, much like car sunshades, held in front of our faces to get more color. By 1988, we realized that wasn't healthy and started searching for some protection without losing color. We'd settle for an SPF of 8 as a compromise because we weren't yet willing to give up the color with an SPF of 15. By 1998, we realized we needed something that would last longer in the water or when playing beach volleyball or tennis or golf. Now, we want it all because we don't want our children to suffer through the same cancers we are enduring. Thus the evolution (dates are approximate).
It takes people getting sick to find out something is wrong, and then it takes many people getting sick to find a reason, and then it take many more people getting sick to find a cure or a solution.
The only problem I have with the new system is I think we may still be sold a bill of goods in that the UVA protection must "be in proportion" to the UVB protection, but the article did not state as to what that proportion would be. With that regard, I believe I would have preferred the number/star rating.
I believe people are smart enough to read the labels as long as it as clear as it is now. We know what to look for because we are already looking for it. I'm happy with the clarification that there is little difference between a 50, 75, and/or 100. I like that the dermatologists are involved in the evolution of the marketing. I believe the dermatologists may need to market the difference between SPF numbers, because we know the sunscreen producers will not. They like the confusion. People naturally think more is better and are willing to shell out more money for a larger SPF number because with a higher number, it has to be better. Isn't that what the marketing teams are telling us?
My mom got diagnosed with skin cancer when I was in high school so I was aware of how misleading the labels could be. I think more people need to be aware of the lack of additional effectiveness of spf's higher than 50. I agree that the delay was due to lack of knowledge of skin cancer and how to prevent it. Its only been recently that people started considering the health of their skin. There has to be some form of labeling that is eye catching to the target group. Sunblock companies are also going to have to find something that sets them apart, when I was little Coppertone introduced sunblock with color which I though was amazing as a 5 year old.
ReplyDelete1. As a consumer, were you surprised by the misleading marketing used by suncreen manufacturers? Were you aware of the effects of UVA versuses UVB rays or that sunscreens are not completely sweat or water proof? How did this misleading information affect your purchases in the past?
ReplyDeleteAs a consumer I am very shocked to discover that for years the suncreen industry had been misleading their consumers through false advertising. I have never personally used sunscreen but as a consumer I will now check other products that I use to ensure that they are FDA approved. It is really mind boggling to discover that products can be marketed within the US without certain restrictions on falsification.
2. Why do you think the FDA delayed regulating sunscreen for over 30 years? Do you believe their new policies will be helpful to the public? Do you forsee any problems with the new laws in labeling?
In my opinion the FDA had not been involved in the regulation of suncsreen because there had not been enough research to fully understand what elements within suncscreen will trully provide full protection. Now with advanced scientific studies the FDA is able to identify those effective elements and ensure consumer awareness.
3. Until now, manufacturers made claims of "sweatproof" and "waterproof" or SPF of over 50 to sell their products. How should sunscreen manufacturers market their products so as to beat out the competition in the future?
Now suncreen manufacturers can market there products by expressing UVA and UVB blockage as well as marketing there bottles with a large FDA approved label in order to out compete their competitors.
Thank you for the comments, everyone. When I initially saw this on the news, I was really shocked about the misleading information on these bottles of sunscreen since laws are out there to protect consumers from false advertising! My first thought was where was our protection from such claims as 'waterproof' and 'sweatproof' on bottles of sunscreen when it has been proven that no such claims are valid. In fact, I usually bought sunscreen based on SPF (although I didn't even pay attention to UVA vs. UVB protection) and their ability to stay on when I began to sweat or got wet since I did not want to continually reapply it. I feel incredibly mislead and now it leaves me wondering how I will pick one brand of sunscreen vs. another since any SPF level will now be FDA regulated. I guess it will be based on price for the most part since I prefer the highest level of SPF that I can safely wear. However, if one of these brands/manufacturers can ligitimately come up with a sweat or water proof sunscreen, I am sold!
ReplyDelete1. I actually was not surprised. It seems like every summer I buy a few different brands trying to figure out which one actually works best. I was not aware of the difference in UVA and UVB, but I did know that there is no way they can be completely water proof. In the past I have always bought either SPF 30 or 50. I had also read somewhere about the SPF above 50 really not being any better.
ReplyDelete2. I think just like a lot of other skin products, it has taken a lot of time and experiments to improve its effectiveness. The new policies will require more specific labeling that will help the public choose the sunscreen that best fits their needs. There could be some confusion for some who are not sure the scale in which the sunscreen is being rated, so there should be a website on the label that can give more details about the UVA and UVB scale.
3. Now marketers will compete with the length of time the sunscreen works most effectively before it needs to be reapplied. They will also concentrate more on the ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays. They could have dermatologist recommended on the label to reassure consumers they are buying a product that is protecting them from the dangers of skin cancer.