New standards for sunscreen testing
USA - UVA ultraviolet radiation is just as harmful as UVB when it comes to causing skin cancer and premature aging of the skin; and up to now, it hasn't been required to test sunscreens for UVA protection. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently announced the new proposed standards for formulating, testing and labeling UVA protection for over the counter sunscreen drug products.
These changes are expected to take at least 12 months to implement; and will be indicated by a system of labeling that runs from one to four stars. Peter Zahner, inventor of MelanSol sunscreen, says he's familiar with the test method he believes the FDA will be using - the Persistent Pigment Darkening Method (PPD), which is said to produce very realistic UVA results. MelanSol has already been tested according to the new FDA rules, and contains primarily zinc oxide and some titanium dioxide in the form of natural mineral pigments, which tests have shown to provide protection over the full UVA and UVB spectrum.
Source: eMediaWire.com
