The following statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottleib, MD, addresses the new FDA actions to keep consumers safe from the harmful effects of sun exposure, and ensure the long-term safety and benefits of sunscreens:
“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Current estimates are that one in five Americans are at risk of developing skin cancer in their lifetime. Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet (UV) light has a direct impact on a person’s risk of developing skin cancer — despite age or skin type. Most cases of melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — can be attributed to ultraviolet exposure. We also know that the effects of exposure to UV radiation — whether from the sun or indoor tanning beds — are cumulative. They add up over one’s lifetime.”
