Dermatologist calls sunscreen report "discouraging."

WebMD reported that, according to a report by the watchdog organization Environmental Working Group (EWG), three out of five brand-name sunscreen "products either don't protect the skin from sun damage sufficiently, contain hazardous chemicals, or both." This year's report, called EWG 2009 Sunscreen Guide, "is the third annual from EWG, which investigated 1,572 sunscreens, lip balms, and daily moisturizers with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, typically the minimum recommended."

The study "was triggered, according to EWG, because the FDA has not set comprehensive safety standards for sunscreens. The agency has set guidelines for UVB protection but those for UVA are pending." In response to the report, dermatologist Sandra Read, MD, a "member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology," said that "she finds the report discouraging, but" stated that "she hopes it will raise awareness of the need for sunscreen." For its part, a sunscreen industry spokesperson called the report "flawed."

THE CLAIM:

Sunscreens Can Increase the Risk of Melanoma

THE FACTS:

Is it possible that a product meant to protect against skin cancer might actually cause it?
Several intriguing studies have investigated claims that zinc oxide and other compounds in some sunscreens might have harmful effects. Some laboratory studies, for example, have shown that zinc oxide and titanium oxide — intended to block ultraviolet rays — can create free radicals in the presence of sunlight, leading to cell damage. Others point to research showing a general rise in melanoma cases over the years, particularly in people who use sunscreen.
But that may be misleading. For these compounds to cause harm, they must penetrate skin cells, and research by health officials in Australia, which has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, found that doesn’t happen. “The weight of current evidence is that they remain on the surface of the skin and in the outer dead layer (stratum corneum) of the skin,” they wrote in one report.
In other studies, researchers followed thousands of people, looking for connections between melanoma and sunscreen. They found no evidence of greater risk. They also noted that people who sunbathe often or have greater sun sensitivity are more likely to use sunscreen, possibly explaining the associations in earlier studies.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
Studies suggest zinc oxide and other compounds in sunscreen do not damage cells or increase melanoma risk.

Columnists advise consumers on acetaminophen risks.

Melinda Beck writes in the Wall Street Journal (7/7) Health Journal column, "Whether or not the Food and Drug Administration decides to limit sales of acetaminophen, consumers should know this: It's easy to take more than the recommended daily dose without realizing it. The margin between a safe dose and a potentially lethal one is small. The first symptoms of acute liver failure caused by an overdose seem like the flu and don't set in for several days, by which time it may be too late to save your liver and consequently your life."

Beck also writes that acetaminophen grew "in popularity in large part because of its reputation for safety," but "pain experts say that reputation for safety may be lulling consumers into complacency. Some consumers don't think twice about popping more than the recommended amount and don't bother to read the ingredients on familiar over-the-counter products."

Similarly, in the New York Times (7/7, D5) Well column, Tara Parker-Pope poses some questions and answers regarding the FDA panel's recommendations, the news of which "left many consumers confused and alarmed." For instance, Pope asks whether consumers should "switch to other types of over-the-counter pain relief" and answers: "Emphatically, no. Every drug has risks and side effects, but over all the risk of acetaminophen to any individual is low."

Pope also says the main lesson from the panel's review was that because "acetaminophen is in so many products, consumers need to be vigilant about reading labels, and they need to keep track of how much of the drug they are ingesting daily."