Guerry Grune Discusses USA Today Article on Lagging Approval for Sunscreen Actives

Is the US Promoting Antiquated Sunscreen Science?

Here's an article on sunscreen from USA Today that you've got to read.

As stated in the article Why the US is behind on sunscreen*, "At issue is not just whether people are using enough sunscreen, but what ingredients are in it."

Many other countries, like the EU, Australia, Japan and Korea, have advanced their sunscreen markets by approving new and improved active ingredients for sunscreen, along with lists of ingredients that are no longer acceptable to be used. 

But in the USA, there have been no updates to the approved list of sunscreen actives since the 1970's.  Many NEW actives have been submitted to the FDA for approval more than 20 years ago, and are still waiting. Wait... WHAT!?

Yes, you are still using your "Grandma's (or Mom's) sunscreen", and studies have shown that American sunscreen does not meet the rigorous standards of these other countries. All this is because of a law from 1938 that requires animal testing (we use humans) and sunscreen in the US to be classified as a drug by the FDA. Yep...A DRUG!

Many have heard the how and why of 3rd Rock Sunblock.  This is it!  Cases of Skin cancer are rising. At least TWO Americans DIE from skin cancer EVERY HOUR. We at 3rd Rock love to be outside, at the beach, on the trails, surfing, hiking, riding, swimming, climbing. To keep being able to do this without fear of the sun, 3rd Rock worked all the science we could call on and figured out how to make our Zinc Oxide active ingredient the real deal!  We go into lots of detail on the science behind 3rd Rock Sunblock. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter, watch on our YouTube channel, or check other blogs for more of that mind-blowing science-y stuff.

*Original article: "Why the US is behind on sunscreen", Michael Scaturro, KFF Health News, USA Today, Published May 17, 2024.
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