Thirty-one percent of Americans polled by the Consumer Reports National Research Center said they never wear sunscreen.  But consumers aren’t oblivious to the sun’s risks: 22% of those polled said they had been examined by a doctor for something they thought might be skin cancer.  The July issue of Consumer Reports rates 10 top-selling sunscreens to slather on, noting that there is plenty of variation among the brands tested.  Consumers should choose carefully.
                               
Forty-five percent of sunscreen users said they were “especially bothered” by getting sunscreen in their eyes, while 41% were bothered by sand sticking to their skin.  Another issue was cost, which 40% of respondents cited as bothersome.  About one-third of respondents were bothered by stains and smells that wouldn’t wash out and being unable to wash sunscreen off their hands. But with the arrival of summer, "consumers should make sure they don’t forget sunscreen.  There are plenty of options — creams, lotions, different scents — to suit every preference,” said Jamie Hirsh, associate editor, Consumer Reports.  Forty-eight percent of sunscreen users who had been sunburned in the past two years said it occurred during their first time out in the sun after months of little to no sun.  
                               
Other Survey Highlights

While the likelihood of suncreen-wearing among both men and women seems to increase the longer they plan to be in the sun, women are significantly more likely to be frequent sunscreen users.  When planning to spend two to four hours in the sun, 48% of women compared with 27% of men are likely to wear sunscreen.
 
Twenty-seven percent of parents with children under 12 years old say they never or only sometimes apply sunscreen on their children when they’re outside for two to four hours. And 14% say they don’t even apply sunscreen on their children when they’re outside for more than four hours.
 
Only one-third of sunscreen users are brand-loyal.  Thirty-three percent like a particular brand and tend to stick with it, while 62% say they use “whatever they have.”
 
Twenty-two percent of respondents say they have been examined by a doctor for something they thought might be skin cancer.  And 14% said they had been told by a doctor they were at risk of skin cancer.
 
Best Sunscreens, Plus Tips for Sunscreen Use

Consumer Reports assessed each sunscreen’s ability to protect against ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B radiation.  Many products now claim protection against both, though SPF accounts for ultraviolet B rays only.  CR’s tests also measured the sunscreens’ protection after volunteers soaked in a tub for at least 40 minutes. 
       
Consumer Reports found that most sunscreens protected well, identifying three Consumer Reports Best Buys: Walgreens Continuous Spray Sport SPF 50, Coppertone Water Babies SPF 50 (lotion) and Target Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30, whose brand name has since changed to Up & Up.   Consumer Reports notes that spray sunscreens can be tricky to apply if it’s windy. 
 
Consumer Reports offers the following tips for sunscreen use:

* Consumers should pay attention to expiration dates. If their sunscreen lists no expiration date, they should write the purchase date on the bottle with a marker.  Discard a sunscreen that’s more than two years old.      
* Apply sunscreen at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, to allow for absorption.
* Don’t rely on sunscreen alone to protect skin. Wear tightly woven clothing and a broad-brimmed hat, limit sun time, and seek shade during the hottest hours of the day.
* Don’t make purchases based on brand alone.  Past tests have shown that different formulas or SPFs within the same brand may not rate the same.

Look to Consumer Reports’ sunscreen ratings for excellent or very good choices.  High-rated products from Consumer Reports’ 2007 tests that are still available include Blue Lizard Regular Australian SPF 30+, Mustela Bébé/Enfant High Protection SPF 50, Lancôme Paris Sôleil Ultra Expert Sun Care for Sensitive Skin SPF 50 and Fallene Cotz SPF 58.  These sunscreens are more expensive on average than the current batch, which includes only drugstore-available brands.
 
Concerns About Ingredient Safety

Consumer Reports notes that nanoparticles, manufactured microscopic materials that might behave differently from regular-size particles, are sometimes used in sunscreens.  Scientific studies have raised concerns about the adverse potential effects of nanoscale ingredients in sunscreens and other products on human health.
  
In sunscreens, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, both mineral-based, are often used nano-size, in part to make them look clearer on the skin.  Manufacturers aren’t required to disclose the use of nanoparticles, but if a sunscreen ingredient label mentions either of those minerals, it could mean the presence of nanoparticles.

More information about nanotechnology can be found at http://www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.