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Fdas Sunscreen Recommendations
Fdas Sunscreen Recommendations
Fdas Sunscreen Recommendations
FDAs sunscreen
recommendations
The US Senate just approved a bill to
speed up the FDAs approval of sunscreen
ingredients. Heres guidance, cautions,
and SPFs, decoded.
MARY BETH NIERENGARTEN, MA
CONTEMPORARYPEDIATRICS.COM
OCTOBER
2014
special report
TABLE
t ERMS
TERM
FDA REGULATION
SPF
Broad spectrum
Water
resistance
P ro d u c ts n e e d in g to be re a p p lie d a fte r 40 m in o f
s w im m in g o r s w e a tin g , o r im m e d ia te ly a fte r d ry in g o ff,
s h o u ld be la b e le d w a te r re s is ta n t.
P ro d u c t n e e d in g to be re a p p lie d a fte r 80 m in o f s w im m in g
o r s w e a tin g , o r im m e d ia te ly a fte r d ry in g o ff, s h o u ld be
la b e le d v e ry w a te r re s is ta n t.
Waterproof or
sweatproof
C a n n o t be used on labels.
Immediate use
or prolonged
protection >2 hr
P ro d u c ts a re d iffe re n tia te d as w a te r
re s is ta n t o r v e ry w a te r re s is ta n t based
on h o w w e ll th e y re ta in s ta te d SPF a fte r
u n d e rg o in g im m e rs io n te s tin g .
Abbreviations: FOA, US Food and Drug Administration; nm, nanometer; SPF, sun protection factor; UV, ultraviolet; UVA, ultraviolet A; UVB, ultraviolet B.
Food and Drug Administration5; US Food and Drug Administration.6
P re v e n tiv e m e a s u re s
u s e d w it h s u n s c re e n s
Along w ith selecting an appropri
ate sunscreen to prevent sun d am
age, children and their parents should
be advised to follow several simple
instructions that can m inim ize the
risk of sun damage. Several organiza
tions, including the FDA, emphasize
the need for adhering to other preven
tive m ethods along with sunscreen
use to provide the best sun protection.
Most of these measures prioritize the
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CONTEMPORARYPEDIATRICS.COM
OCTOBER
2014