With two in three people expected to be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they're 70, Australia is far from laissez faire when it comes to sun protection. We have some of the world's strictest regulatory guidelines to ensure that the ingredients in SPF products are effective in our particularly harsh meteorological position.
With regards to the rest of the world, the picture is a little different. Each country has a unique set of regulations, some of which have garnered negative attention. In the US, article headlines over the years have varied from 'Why You Should Ditch American Suncreen' to 'Sunscreen Regulations Haven't Aged Well', with most including the surprising detail that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) hasn't approved any new ingredients since the late 1990s.
As a result, last week the FDA proposed new regulations to improve American sunscreens. A statement from FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, simply reads: “Since the initial evaluation of these products, we know much more about the effects of the sun and about sunscreen’s absorption through the skin. Sunscreen usage has changed, with more people using these products more frequently and in larger amounts.”
While these approvals could take months, it's a move in the right direction for the US.
Over in the UK, change is being led by consumer demand. With skin cancer incidence rates in the UK having doubled since the early 1990s, the population is becoming increasingly more conscious about health concerns related to sun exposure. This has led chemical manufacturer and distribution firm, Cornelius, to predict earlier in the week, that the next generation of sun care products will hit the big time this coming summer. Higher factor suncreams and thick, chalky formulas will be a top trend, according to Cornelius, over lighter, sleeker feeling products.
Commenting on the predictions for the UK, Cornelius personal care business manager told Cosmetics Business: "Brands must now respond with sun care products that not only provide this increased protection but also offer a pleasant skin-feel and additional feature to further enhance safety, such as water resistance.”
A number of articles that focus on sunscreen, particularly in the US, end on the (slightly) unethical note of encouraging readers to stock up on sunscreen products when overseas. But for any Aussie sun care brands looking to target a broader geographical demographic, perhaps the timing has never been better...
Reliable Aussie sunscreens: Solar D, Invisible Zinc, SunSense, Bondi Sands and Hamilton.
