It’s no secret that the rest of the world has more advanced sun protection formulas than we do in the States. With decades of slow-moving FDA approvals and the continued presence of chemicals in our formulas that are banned across the pond, dermatologists agree that U.S. sunscreens have much catching up to do.
Featured Experts
- Janine Hopkins, MD is a board-certified dermatologist with practices in Southlake, TX and Monroe, LA
- Joel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Omaha, NE.
- Daniel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Omaha, NE
- Dr. May Hall is a board-certified dermatologist based in Hopkinsville, KY
Is the U.S. Behind on Sunscreen?
“Yes, the United States is not innovating in sunscreens due to the FDA’s lack of approval of any new sunscreen ingredients in over three decades,” explains Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have good sunscreens here. I recommend products such as Tizo 3 Age Defying Tinted Face SPF 40 ($45) and Colorescience Total Protection No Show SPF 50 ($45).”
The FDA’s slow action on sunscreen regulations doesn’t just impact the approval of new ingredients—it also means some potentially harmful ones remain on the market. “Even products that you think would be good sun protection can be packed with ingredients like fragrances and preservatives that you don’t want,” says Monroe, LA dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD. “In Europe, they’ve banned a lot of the chemicals that we still see regularly in U.S. sunscreens.”
What Do Experts Want From U.S. Sunscreens?
“New ingredients are desperately needed,” says Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD. “Additionally, better studies on the impact of chemical sunscreens and those that are sprayed, with particular attention to children. Until we know the end result of chemical sunscreens, I am recommending physical sunscreens for children and pregnant women, but I would love to have better data.”
We have seen a noticeable shift towards mineral sunscreens in recent years, a trend that’s likely to continue. In addition, experts anticipate more combination products, with sun protection offering other skin benefits like a boost of moisture or antioxidants.
“I would like to see U.S. sunscreens embrace a wider approach to sun protection,” says Dr. Hopkins. “Not just in formulations, which can and should offer other kinds of environmental protection in addition to UVA/UVB. We can combine sunscreens with antioxidants to do that now. In other cultures, particularly in Japan and South Korea, sun protection is a multi-step process that has become a fashion style. From carrying umbrellas to hats with UPF protection, these are all ways to increase sun protection that don’t rely on remembering to reapply.”
And getting people to reapply is one of the biggest hurdles sunscreen has. “The hope is always that people will use sunscreen correctly and reapply every two hours, but we know that most people don’t do that,” Hopkinsville, KY dermatologist Dr. May Hall explains. “Even when people do reapply, it’s often not enough. That’s why we teach the two-finger technique, which is the appropriate amount for the face.”
Shop a thoughtfully curated selection of sun protection essentials below, from hats and umbrellas to under-eye patches and dermatologist-approved SPF formulas.
