Truths and myths in sunscreen labeling

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has prioritized skin cancer prevention efforts in 2018, as photoprotection measures adopted by the general public remain suboptimal. A large proportion of patients lack understanding of primary prevention methods for skin cancer, and mistruths in advertising may contribute significantly to this deficit. Sunscreen labels are often stacked with multiple claims of seemingly high significance, making it difficult for patients to differentiate their validity when selecting a sunscreen. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published its monograph in 2011 to address these controversies in sunscreen labeling, but the reliability of several other claims remain unclear. In this article, we discuss several claims commonly made on sunscreen labels, and address the truths and mistruths surrounding them.