Raising awareness about sun safety

Greater consumer awareness about sun safety and the harmful effects of soaking up too many rays has helped boost the sun care segment, but experts will no doubt tell you that there remains much room for improvement.

(For the full report, including charts, click here.)



In fact, the findings of a new Mayo Clinic study released earlier this year found that among middle-aged men and women, 40 to 60 years old, the overall incidence of skin cancer increased nearly eightfold between 1970 and 2009.



The steepest increase in melanoma occurred in the last decade covered by the study, from 2000 to 2009. Researchers speculated that the rise might be connected to the popularization of tanning beds in the 1980s and 1990s.



There has been widespread concern in recent years about the rising incidence of melanoma, which affects 75,000 Americans annually and results in nearly 9,000 deaths.



As manufacturers and healthcare professionals continue to raise awareness of sun safety, lawmakers also are taking action. As of press time, the House passed legislation to speed up the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process for new sunscreen ingredients. The FDA has not approved a new sunscreen ingredient in nearly two decades. The Senate is expected to vote on a similar bill in September.