Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Today's FDA Action Likely Ends Most Future Sunscreen "Battles Royale"


Well, this likely ends future installments of the three year long battle I covered -- between Neutrogena and Coppertone (a legacy Schering-Plough brand), per The New York Times -- do go read it all:

. . . .The F.D.A. said sunscreens must protect equally against two kinds of the sun’s radiation, UVB and UVA, to earn the coveted designation of offering “broad spectrum” protection. UVB rays cause burning; UVA rays cause wrinkling; and both cause cancer.

The rules, which go into effect in a year, will also ban sunscreen manufacturers from claiming their products are waterproof or sweatproof because such claims are false. Instead, they will be allowed to claim that the products are water resistant for either 40 minutes or 80 minutes, depending upon test results, but nothing more. . . .

This is a much delayed, but welcome bit of clarity in the consumer health space.

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