Is your sunscreen safe? What doctors say about the new EWG rankings

New sunscreen effectiveness report

The Environmental Working Group evaluated more than 2,700 sunscreen products in its latest annual safety and efficacy study, issuing approval ratings to 550 of them.  FOX 13's Kylie Jones reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - The Environmental Working Group evaluated more than 2,700 sunscreen products in its latest annual safety and efficacy study, issuing approval ratings to 550 of them. 

The evaluation combined health hazard data with protection metrics to score each product on a scale of 1 to 10. 

Sunscreen testing guidelines

What we know:

The Environmental Working Group looked at five distinct categories to determine the safety and performance of thousands of sunscreens. Researchers analyzed health hazards based on industry, academic, and government toxicity databases alongside UVB protection, UVA protection, and ingredient stability in the sun. Products received an overall score from 1 to 10, with a score of 1 representing the lowest potential hazard to the consumer. 

Unlisted product evaluation

What we don't know:

The study does not identify every safe and effective sunscreen available on the market. Medical professionals point out that the specialized grading scale relies on high stringency criteria established by the organization. They note it remains unclear how many unlisted options are fully safe for daily use despite missing the top approval tier. 

Active ingredient recommendations

By the numbers:

Medical experts recommend looking for specific percentages of active ingredients when evaluating sun blockers. Christan Martone, a physician assistant with USF, advises seeking out formulas containing zinc or titanium dioxide. 

"The active ingredient being a zinc or titanium dioxide, anywhere between 12% and 20%," Martone said. 

She also noted that protective returns diminish at higher levels. 

"After SPF 50, you're only getting incremental increases of protection," Martone said. "So, if you're out at the beach, doing things out in the sun, we generally recommend SPF 50. Just for day-to-day use, SPF 30." 

Expert medical consensus

What they're saying:

Doctors emphasize that the annual report serves as a helpful baseline rather than a strict ban on other products. 

Dr. Vernon Sondak, chair of the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, stated that consumers do not need to discard unlisted items. 

"There are plenty of sunscreen products that aren't on the top of their list, in their highest category, that I use all the time and have no qualms about using," Sondak said. 

Sondak explained that the specialized scoring system measures specific parameters but does not automatically mean alternative products are dangerous. 

"It's not that they're not effective," Sondak said. "It's either that they have different ingredients, different rating scales, other than the high stringency that they have put in there." 

He added that proper application is more vital than chasing high rankings. 

"Do I have to throw it out because it didn't make the top list? Absolutely not," Sondak said. "You just have to use it right, and the best sunscreen is still the one you put on."