Sunscreen Manufacturers Struggle to Make Changes
PHILLIPS: Just in time for the start of Florida, the fed was supposed to lay down the law on sunscreen labels. New rules won't be taking effect after all. Not until the summer of 2012 is a dim memory. We have Elizabeth Cohen here to shed a little light.</s>ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The sunscreen industry was told a year ago you have a year to make this happen, and they're saying we can't. They are saying, oh, no, we can't get it done, because the changes required to the label are expensive and involves repackaging and resizing and we can't do it. But I will tell you, Kyra, some members of Congress and advocates are saying, come on, you had years and you knew it was coming from years ago and why couldn't you have gotten yourself together.</s>PHILLIPS: And what changes are eventually coming?</s>COHEN: And you know, these are actually really interesting and I must say as a mom who buys a lot of sunscreen for four very pale bodies --</s>PHILLIPS: Me, too.</s>COHEN: And that it will shed some light as you said. Take a look. If it wants to be called broad spectrum, if that is something that the product wants to claim, it has to cover both UVA and UVB, because right now, you can say that and not cover both of those.</s>PHILLIPS: Did you say broad spectrum on the bottles or on the --</s>COHEN: Well, sometimes a sunscreen will say we are a broad spectrum.</s>PHILLIPS: Interesting. I never noticed that.</s>COHEN: Now they are saying if you claim that, you have to protect against the UVA and the UVB rays both of which can affect your skin. The second thing it has to do is to is that there has to be a warning on the label if it is under 15, because right now you can sell it under 15 and call it sunscreen and they are saying to put a warning, because it is not high enough. Also, they have banned the use of sun block, waterproof or sweat proof, because let's face it, you can never block the sun 100 percent, and really, what can be sweat or waterproof? I mean, it is -- those never made sense to me, and you can put the stuff on and spend time in the water and it is still all there.</s>PHILLIPS: How often do you reapply?</s>COHEN: You are supposed to reapply certainly when you get out of the water, but when you see waterproof, you think, I can go in and out of the water, but that not the case and that is why they want to see the change in there.</s>PHILLIPS: So, why the delay?</s>COHEN: They say that the delay is because it is so much work to get these, this packaging changed. You know how drugs have something called a drug facts and it has a label on the ingredients on the back.</s>PHILLIPS: Yes.</s>COHEN: They will have to do that even on things like a lip balm that has a sunscreen, and they say it is a lot of text to get into relatively small packages and it is going to be difficult to do. Again, people have challenged that, and, you know, who knows what will result.</s>PHILLIPS: And so until December?</s>COHEN: Until December when these labels changed, you can be an empowered sunscreen purchaser and keep all of the things in mind, that you want a product that is UVA and UVB that protects against both of the rays. Don't buy one that is one or the other, and it does not make sense. Protect against everything. Look for SPF of 30 or higher. And 30 is perfectly fine, but you don't want below 30, and also, do not spray children. They have the spray.</s>PHILLIPS: I saw that there is a spray and then it says rub it in. Then what is the point, get the lotion.</s>COHEN: They can breathe in the particles and you are better off using a lotion.</s>PHILLIPS: Good point. Or just dress them from head to toe in a big hat and long sleeves.</s>COHEN: Yes on the beach, what fun.</s>PHILLIPS: And they will look like dorks, but that is whole other story. Thank you, Elizabeth Cohen. Don't be just enlightened consumer, but an empowered patient, and check out Elizabeth's blog or, of course, buy her book.