Yes, You Should Use Sunscreen. But Which One?
Bottles of sunscreen for sale in 2007 after UV ratings were introduced.
Photographer: EMILY HARRIS/BLOOMBERG NEWSHi, it’s Anna in Virginia. Happy Fourth of July to those in the US. Before you head out for hot dogs and fireworks, I’ll tell you all you need to know about sunscreen. But first...
Let’s start with the obvious. Despite what influencers touting misinformation on TikTok say, please use sunscreen. That said, there are so many choices. I’ve done a lot of reporting on sunscreen in the past couple of years, so let me help. Here’s what you should consider before making a pick.
1. What do US regulators say?
Americans have basically had the same options in the sunscreen aisle for decades because the US Food and Drug Administration requires comprehensive research to get new ones approved. Several years ago, FDA researchers discovered that chemical sunscreen ingredients like octocrylene, oxybenzone and avobenzone make it into the body’s bloodstream at higher levels than originally thought and linger for extended periods, even after one use. The agency’s leaders said they couldn’t consider chemical sunscreens safe until the industry gave them more data. We haven’t seen that yet. Mineral sunscreens, like zinc and titanium dioxide, are considered safe.
2. What’s the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens?
Chemical sunscreens absorb ultraviolet rays. Mineral sunscreens sit on the skin and reflect UV rays. Both should have a sun protection factor of at least 30.