CVS educates consumers on sun protection

WOONSOCKET, R.I. Looking to help consumers be sun safe, CVS/pharmacy has teamed up with Jeffrey Dover, the dermatologist behind the chain’s proprietary brand skin effects, to educate shoppers on the new products that offer the best sun protection.

“Ordinary UVA sunscreen chemicals break down as soon as they are exposed to light and become practically ineffective in about one hour,” stated Dover. “It’s not just full spectrum coverage we need to be concerned with. The key is finding a product with both UVB and UVA protection that also lasts longer.”

Many consumers don’t realize that the SPF rating on the sunscreen bottle only measures UVB, so consumers should look for a sunscreen label that specifically includes UVA protection. The Food and Drug Administration is currently working on new packaging regulations that will help make labeling easier to understand.

Another common misconception is that once sunscreen is applied it offers all-day protection. New technologies have been created to help keep the key sun protection ingredients in the sunscreen formula stable so they won’t break down for hours and, therefore, do not need to be reapplied as often.

CVS suggests such products as the new Continuous Spray 45 by skin effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover, which uses Dermaplex technology. It is a photostable formula that maintains its integrity and protection levels for up to five hours of sun exposure, also offering full spectrum UVA/UVB protection.

It is also important to note the expiration date on sunscreen bottles. Most are only good for about six months, and then they lose their efficacy. Dover suggests that consumers buy a new bottle before each vacation to ensure safety.