New-wave sunscreens

THE REST OF THE WORLD BENEFITS FROM A VARIETY of sunscreen active ingredients and effectiveness rating systems that aren't available in the U.S. The Food & Drug Administration has promised to give U.S. consumers more options, but sunscreen ingredient suppliers contend that the agency is dragging its feet. For example, almost three years ago, chemical companies applied to FDA for permission to sell three new sunscreen active ingredients under expedited review procedures. They are still waiting. Six years ago, FDA promised manufacturers and formulators that it would advise them on an acceptable measuring system to let consumers know how effectively a sunscreen formulation blocks UV-A rays. The industry is still waiting. Today, consumers buying sun protection lotions and creams can get some sense of how these products protect them from sunburn-causing UV-B rays by reading the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating, which has long been in place to indicate the ability of sunscreens ...