It seems there may be a glitch in the endeavor to institute a new sunscreen rating program on SPF, or sunscreen lotions. Right now we see that there is an SPF – or sun protection factor rating on every sunscreen we buy, the most common and popular rating being the SPF 15 right now. The higher the number, as most of you well know, the more sun protection the cream or gel or spray offers, so the higher that number is on your bottle of precious sunblock, the better protected your skin is from the sun’s aging and damaging rays.
Well, the FDA has been wanting to institute a new sunblock rating system, but it seems that we may see it later now than sooner. The current sunblock rating system uses the number only to rate it’s protection against UVB rays, which are essentially the rays that burn the skin, and the rating does not currently include the rate at which the sunblock protects against UVA rays. The FDA, by instituting the new rating system, wants the new number, on a scale of 1 through 4, to rate the product on how it protects against both UVA nad UVB rays.
Although the new system was supposed to go into effect the summer of 2008 – this summer, most sunblocks will not be switching over to it for another year, so we may start to see these new ratings cropping up in fall of next year and perhaps even earlier if some manufacturers decide to comply with the ratings system before they actually have to and make a sort of preemptive strike. We all know that using sunblock is a vital part of our wrinkle and anti aging regimen, so this should be a good thing for those of us who are vigilant about taking care of our skin and protecting it from the elements.
The new system they are hoping, will be easier to understand and will include a more complete picture of how much protection a given sunscreen offers against all UV rays, not just one or the other. This way, when you buy a sunblock product, you know you are buying one that offers a full range of broad spectrum sun protection, and this sort of forces the maker’s hands at making a better, more complete product for consumers who will now gain a better understanding at how much protection it offers.
