sunscreen

Health & Safety

Guilford County Emergency Services shares safety tips during extreme heat

4:18pm June 25, 2024

Guilford County encourages residents to learn about the difference in heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses an excessive amount of water and salt, typically due to profuse sweating. Heat stroke, the most severe heat-related illness, occurs when the body loses its ability to regulate temperature.

Mobile phone screen on the sandy beach with blue sea background

Health & Safety

Some TikTok influencers are maligning sunscreen. Here's what to know about the claims

12:44pm June 17, 2024

by Maria Godoy

Sunscreen is the best way to protect ourselves against skin cancer. But doctors are concerned by a backlash against sunscreen that is spreading on social media.

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Creative image of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 on a beach towel on the beach.

Science

This Memorial Day, here's a smarter way to use sunscreen

3:01am May 27, 2024

Each year 84,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma. About 90% of these skin cancers are linked to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Sunscreen does protect the skin, but dermatologists have found six very common mistakes people make when it comes to using it. NPR science correspondent Allison Aubrey talks to host Regina G. Barber about the science behind sunscreen and how to avoid making these mistakes this summer. They also get into which sunscreens may be better than others.

Have other science stories you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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In Europe, sunscreens are often made with ingredients that do a better job at protecting against UVA rays.

Health & Safety

Other countries have better sunscreens. Here's why we can't get them in the U.S.

7:01am May 18, 2024

by Michael Scaturro

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. and we need all the protection we can get. So why is it so hard to get newer, more effective ingredients approved here?

Using sunscreen plays a key role in protecting skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Picking the 'right' sunscreen isn't as important as avoiding these 6 mistakes

5:00am June 04, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

Sunscreen is crucial for skin protection and the SPF is important. But dermatologists say the key to good summer skin care is applying plenty of lotion and re-applying it often, even when it's cloudy.

The Connecticut-based Edgewell Personal Care Company said some samples of the Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 contained trace amounts of the cancer-causing chemical benzene.

Banana Boat recalled a sunscreen spray after detecting trace amounts of a carcinogen

1:28pm July 31, 2022

by Shauneen Miranda

The maker of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 said trace amounts of the cancer-causing chemical benzene were found in the propellant that sprays the product from the can.

Johnson & Johnson recalled five aerosol sunscreen products after finding traces of benzene. In this photo, Collin Morikawa sprays himself with sunscreen during the Workday Championship golf tournament in February.

Johnson & Johnson Recalls 5 Aerosol Sunscreens After Finding Carcinogen Traces

7:54am July 15, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

Johnson & Johnson says internal testing showed some sunscreen samples contained low levels of benzene, which causes cancer with long-term exposure.

Some sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into your bloodstream. It's not clear how much of a health concern this is, if any, but the FDA is calling for more research.

Health & Safety

Confused About Sunscreen Ingredients? Here's What We've Learned

9:00am August 04, 2019

The government asked sunscreen manufacturers do safety studies on the active ingredients in sunscreens — by November. In the meantime, what do you need to know about the goo you slather on your skin?

Skin on eyelids can be particularly susceptible to sunburns.

Health & Safety

You Missed A Spot! Patchy Sunscreen Application Leaves Skin Vulnerable To Cancer

4:27pm April 03, 2019

by Rebecca Ellis

As the spring sunshine brightens up, researchers caution: Don't skimp on sun protection, especially on the sensitive eyelids.

Fish swim in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Key West just voted to ban the sale of sunscreens with chemicals linked to coral bleaching.

Environment

Key West To Ban Popular Sunscreen Ingredients To Protect Coral Reef

1:31pm February 06, 2019

by Matthew S. Schwartz

Sunscreens containing the chemicals linked to coral reef bleaching will be banned from sale in Key West, the city commission voted 6-1 Tuesday night. Industry officials say the link isn't proven.