FTC FACTSfor Consumers

PRODUCTS

1-877-FTC-HELP

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR THE CONSUMER

www.ftc.gov

verexposure to the suns invisible rays

 ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet

B (UVB)  can cause skin damage.

The damage can be immediate and

long-term, with effects ranging from sunburn,

rashes, and cell and tissue damage to premature

wrinkling and skin cancer. Indeed, many skin

changes that often are identified with aging actually

result from damage by too much sun.

Any tan is a sign of skin damage. Tanning occurs

when the skin produces additional pigment

(coloring) to protect itself against sunburn from

ultraviolet rays. Indoor tanning devices also give off

ultraviolet rays that can be as harmful as those from

the sun.

To help reduce your risk of skin damage from

sunlight, try to minimize your exposure to the sun

between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the suns rays

are strongest. Even casual exposure to sunlight  driving a car, walking to the

store, taking an outdoor lunch break  contributes to cumulative lifetime

exposure. If youre out during the peak hours, wear a hat and tightly-woven

clothing that covers your body, and use maximum protection sunscreens.

Sunscreens

Sun-Protective

Clothing

TRUE OR FALSE?

Sunscreens labeled

15 and higher dont

protect you against

all the suns rays.

Suntans are a sign

of skin damage.

Sunscreens should

be used on cloudy

days.

Infants shouldnt be

in the sun at all.

Some medications

can make your skin

sensitive to the sun.

and

(All are true.)
Facts for Consumers

It’s important to understand the labeling

information on sun protection products and shop

carefully before heading to the beach, tennis

court or park. The Federal Trade Commission

(FTC) carefully monitors advertising claims in

this area and offers this information to help you

make wise purchasing decisions.

Sunscreens

Most people benefit from sunscreens with sun

protection factor (SPF) numbers of 15 or more.

The SPF number gives you some idea of how

long you can stay in the sun without burning.

For example, if you burn in 10 minutes without

sunscreen and you apply a liberal dose with a

SPF number of 15, you should be protected from

sunburn for 150 minutes. Sunscreens with SPF

numbers higher than 15 may work better for

people who are fair-skinned, live at high

altitudes, work or play outdoors much of the

day, or perspire heavily. Swimming and

perspiration reduce the actual SPF value of

many sunscreens — even those that are waterresistant — so you have to reapply the product

often.

Although sunscreens with identical SPF

numbers give you equivalent sunburn protection

from UVB rays, no sunscreen product screens

out all UVA rays. Some may advertise UVA

protection, but there is no system to rate UVA

protection yet.

Many sunscreens — even those with the same

SPF numbers — have different ingredients or

different combinations of the same ingredients.

Because some people experience allergic

reactions to various sunscreen ingredients, it’s a

good idea to test a product first by applying a

small amount to a limited area of your skin. To

get the maximum protection from your

sunscreen, apply at least one large handful about

30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply

after swimming, toweling dry or participating in

any vigorous activity that causes heavy

perspiration.

If you’re taking medication, ask your doctor or

pharmacist if your medications will make your

skin sensitive to the sun or aggravate sunburn or

rashes. Certain antibiotics, birth control pills,

diuretics, antihistamines, and antidepressants are

among the commonly used drugs that can

increase sensitivity to the sun’s rays.

Sun-protective Clothing

Sun-protective clothing offers another way to

protect skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

Sun-protective fabrics differ from typical

summer fabrics in several ways: they typically

have a tighter weave or knit and are usually

darker in color. Sun-protective clothes have a

label listing the garment’s Ultraviolet Protection

Factor (UPF) value, that is, the level of protection

the garment provides from the sun’s ultraviolet

(UV) rays. The higher the UPF, the higher the

protection from the sun’s UV rays.

The UPF rating indicates how much of the sun’s

UV radiation is absorbed by the fabric. For

example, a fabric with a UPF rating of 20 only

allows 1/20th of the sun’s UV radiation to pass

through it. This means that this fabric will reduce

your skin’s UV radiation exposure by 20 times

where it’s protected by the fabric.

Everything above UPF 50 may be labeled UPF

50+; however, these garments may not offer

substantially more protection than those with a

UPF of 50. Also, a garment shouldn’t be labeled

“sun-protective” or “UV-protective” if its UPF is

less than 15. Sun-protective clothing may lose its

effectiveness if it’s too tight or stretched out,

damp or wet, and if it has been washed or worn

repeatedly.

Special Precautions For Children

Experts estimate that a significant percentage of
Facts for Consumers

our exposure to sun occurs by age 18. That’s

why it’s especially important to apply sunscreens

with a minimum SPF of 15 to children’s skin

about 30 minutes before they go outdoors.

Reapply sunscreens after they swim, towel off or

play hard. Talk with teachers, child care

providers and camp counselors about scheduling

outdoor activities to reduce children’s exposure

to the midday sun, when the sun’s rays are most

harmful.

Infants six months and younger should be kept

out of direct sunlight altogether. Sunscreens may

irritate baby skin, and infants’ developing eyes

are particularly vulnerable to sunlight.

For More Information

To learn more about skin cancer or skin damage,

contact your family doctor, dermatologist, or:

Cancer Information Service (CIS)

1-800-4-CANCER

http://cis.nci.nih.gov

American Cancer Society (ACS)

1-800-ACS-2345

www.cancer.org

American Academy of Dermatology

P.O. Box 4014

Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014

www.aad.org

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent

fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business

practices in the marketplace and to provide

information to help consumers spot, stop and

avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free

information on any of 150 consumer topics, call

toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or

use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov. The FTC

enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and

other fraud-related complaints into Consumer

Sentinel, a secure, online database available to

hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement

agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
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Facts for Consumers

Federal Trade Commission

Bureau of Consumer Protection

Office of Consumer and Business Education

May 2001