sunscreen news stories on Newser

Sunscreen Pill In the Works

Rob Quinn — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:02:00 CDT

Coral from Australia's Great Barrier Reef has yielded a compound that could put a lot of sunscreen makers out of business. Researchers discovered that algae living in the coral created a compound that acts as a sunscreen to protect both the algae and the coral from the sun's rays. They...

In US, Skin Cancer More Common on Left Side

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:03:05 CDT

Before you roll your car windows and set out on a summer road cruise, consider this: People in the US are more likely to get skin cancer on their left side, perhaps because of driving, new research shows. While driving, the left arm gets more UV. In cases where skin...

FDA Bans the Term 'Sunblock'

Kevin Spak — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:05:05 CDT

You’ll never put on sunblock again. The FDA rolled out its long-awaited changes for sunscreen labels today, banning the word “sunblock” along with the terms “waterproof” and “sweat-proof.” From now on sunscreen can only boast that it’s “water-resistant” and specify whether users should reapply after 40 or 80 minutes of...

Sunscreen May Promote Skin Cancer Growth

Kate Schwartz — Sat, 29 May 2010 06:35:59 CDT

Sunscreen may not be the great protector it's cracked up to be: A study of 500 of the most popular sunscreen products found that nearly half may actually promote the growth of skin cancer. That's because they contain some form of vitamin A, which may accelerate the rate at which...

French Resort Seeks Sun Lotion Appliers

Jane Yager — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:41:52 CDT

If you're young, good-looking, and speak French, you might qualify for ultimate summer job: strolling the beaches of France with samples of sunscreen, offering to rub the product into the shoulders of attractive sunbathers. And then there's the pay: $1,160 a week. The gig, being offered by a French...

Txting Sunscreen Rmnders Werx :)

Harry Kimball — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:40:31 CST

Just 20% of adults use sunscreen regularly, a distressing number for skin cancer specialists. But far more can receive text messages, and people who receive a daily text message instructing them to slap on the Coppertone are surprisingly likely to pay attention. More than half followed through when they received...

A Guide to SPFs, From 4 to 233

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:26:24 CDT

The development of SPF 100+ sunscreen has led to confusion for some consumers—or at least that's Zev Borow's excuse for a tongue-in-cheek guide to the wide world of sun protection, in the New Yorker : SPF 4: “You’re joking, right? This is some kind of joke? 4? We make this...

Sunscreen-Slathered Americans Lack Vitamin D

Rob Quinn — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:45:39 CDT

Three-quarters of adults and teens in the US aren't getting enough vitamin D, according to a new study. The report suggests increased use of sunscreen has contributed to a steep rise in deficiency of the vitamin, which is mainly absorbed through sunshine. African Americans are particularly at risk because the...

Hippo Sweat Key to Phat Sunscreen

Rob Quinn — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:02:06 CDT

Scientists puzzling over how hippos can loll around in the sun all day without getting burned believe they may have hit upon the next big thing in sunscreen, Discovery News reports. The animals secrete a substance that protects them from burns by scattering light. Researchers hope to someday recreate the...