The sky just opened up outside. Rain is coming down in buckets. The Nats game? Well…. But trust me, the sun’ll come out tomorrow. And tomorrow, the Friday before Memorial Day, is Don’t Fry Day. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are all encouraging Americans to take a few simple steps to protect their health and prevent skin cancer throughout the summer.
FDA has issued new labeling rules for sunscreen products:
- Sunscreen can be labeled “broad spectrum” if it protects against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.
- “Broad Spectrum” Sunscreen products may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used as directed with other sun protection measures.
- Any product that is not “Broad Spectrum,” or has an SPF below 15, must have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.
- Water resistance claims on the front label must indicate whether the sunscreen remains effective for 40 minutes or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating.
- Seek the shade when the sun’s rays are strongest; avoid sunburns, intentional tanning, and use of tanning beds; use extra caution near reflective surfaces like water and sand.
- Wear sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Check the UV Index, an hourly forecast of UV radiation.
- Read the full press release.
- EPA sun safety tips.
- FDA sunscreen labeling rules.
- CDC skin cancer prevention efforts.
- National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention.
1969-2014. As a child, Kelly was founder and president for life of the “Clean Plate Club.” Later, in college, she ate pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 6 days straight. Third-generation Washingtonian Kelly caught, cleaned and cooked her own seafood. She saw centers–convention, capital, shopping–rise and fall. And she could probably tell you what restaurant “used to be here,” but she never met the President. This refined (finicky?) fed found the ways and means to fine dine with a good wine.