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# Environmentalists Want Sunscreen Evaluation
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/environmentalists-want-sunscreen-evaluation/
- Published: 2016-08-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T21:25:36.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5136549

The Environmental Working Group is asking FDA to investigate whether ingredients and other technologies are being used to boost sunnscreen SPF claims by masking the skin reddening that the group says is the body’s warning sign of skin damage. An 8/18 [letter](https://cdn.ewg.org/sites/default/files/u381/EWG%5FLetter%5FFDA%5FSunscreen%5FAugust%5F2016.pdf?%5Fga=1.180198628.1938909237.1471536098&ref=fdaweb.com) says that such products “may encourage people to remain in the sun where, though they don’t see or sense burning, they may in fact sustain subtle or profound damage to the skin, potentially leading to cancer.”

The national environmental health organization calls on the agency to: 

- investigate the use of anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and other ingredients in sunscreen products that may increase SPF measurements without shielding the body from UV light, as well as the correlation, if any, between protection from skin reddening, immunosuppression, long-term skin damage, and cancer;
- finalize its proposed 2011 rule that would cap SPF values at 50+; and
- require companies to display the lower value obtained from measuring the sun protection factor *in vitro* and *in vivo* when determining the SPF of products.