Skin cancer is almost epidemic in the U.S. It's the most common type of cancer, with more than one million cases diagnosed each year. Using sunscreen is key to prevention. Consumer Reports' medical advisors say that there's no such thing as a safe tan. Ultraviolet B rays can damage the skin by causing sunburn. And Ultraviolet A rays can wrinkle the skin and cause cancer.
Consumer Reports tested a dozen sunscreens, including sprays, lotions, and a cream. All claim to protect against UVB rays and most against UVA rays. But the SPF number on labels only pertains to UVB rays.
Consumer Reports conducts tests at an outside lab to see how well sunscreens protect against both types of rays. Consumer Reports also tests sunscreens' claims of water resistance.
Some of the most expensive products weren't the best. But Consumer Reports found four sprays that offered very good protection, even in water.
They are:
Up & Up Sport Continuous SPF 30 (the least expensive)
Walgreens Sport Continuous
Banana Boat Sport Performance Continuous
Aveeno Continuous Protection
But be aware, tests found that almost all of the sunscreens stain fabrics.
Consumer Reports says an SPF of 30 is sufficient for most people. Sunscreen should be applied a half-hour before going out in the sun. And you need to reapply it every 2 hours and after swimming.
Long-Lasting Insect Repellents
Summertime means more time outdoors. Unfortunately, that can mean a lot more exposure to bugs, such as mosquitoes and ticks. Not only are they annoying, but mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus and deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease. Consumer Reports tested 10 repellents to see how well they protect against two types of mosquitoes and deer ticks.
Several of the repellents tested contain the active ingredient DEET—but no more than 30 percent. And others use newer chemicals like picaridin.
The Repel spray uses lemon eucalyptus oil, another chemical. And two other products claim to be "all natural"—Organic Bite Blocker Xtreme and Burt's Bees All Natural Herbal Insect Repellent. The Burt's Bees Repellent performed the worst, offering only a fraction of the protection that the others did.
In the end, six products kept mosquitoes and ticks away for at least 7 hours:
Off Deep Woods Sportsmen II
Cutter Backwoods Unscented
Off FamilyCare Smooth & Dry
3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8
Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus
Natrapel 8-Hour with picaridin
The repellents that Consumer Reports tested generally had a strong smell and left a slight residue on the skin, but the Cutter Backwoods Unscented, while it had a slight smell, left barely a hint of residue.
If you want a DEET-free repellent, Consumer Reports recommends the Natrapel 8-Hour with Picaridin or, for anyone older than 3, Repel with Lemon Eucalyptus.
