The Problem with Sunscreen: Only 4 Out of the Top 10 Actually Work and Meet American Dermatological Association Standards

A lot of people rely on sunscreen to protect them from the highly harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun as well as to keep their skin tone and prevent sunburns. These people also usually rely on Amazon reviews and ratings to determine which of the millions of products available in the market today they will buy for themselves and for their family. However, this may not be the best way to determine which sunscreen to get.

According to a report from the Washington Post, there are over 6,500 different types of sunscreen available on the online marketplace that is Amazon.  However, they may not all not be that effective, as evidenced by the research from dermatology resident Shuai Xu of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. While some of these sunscreens deliver quite well, others have some pretty make or break issues.

These issues include, but are not limited to "cosmetic issues (how well the substances absorb, feel, smell or exfoliate), performance (effectiveness, tanning potential) and skin compatibility (whether it might be good for sensitive skin, rosacea, etc.)." The results of Xu's study were published in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

Xu took his study further by ranking the sunscreens available on Amazon and then further investigating on the top 65 (top 1%) of them. He then compared them to the minimum recommendations of the American Academy of Dermatology, which were being "at least SPF 30, broad spectrum, and resistant to water and sweat." Xu was surprised to find out that 40% of the top 65 sunscreens did not meet these minimum requirements.

"As doctors, we want to have some input and insight into what consumers are using, because sunscreen is a really important part of skin health," said Xu. "We think of sunscreen as a form of topical medicine. It's not a luxury product," he adds.