Release #354-98

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Curt Ritter (212) 788-2971
Shonna Keogan (212) 487-4283

"Keeping cool in the summer heat shouldn't be the only concern for New Yorkers at this time of year," said Mayor Giuliani. "With skin cancer now the fastest growing type of cancer, all New Yorkers should be using sunscreen to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun's harmful rays."

Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Polonetsky were joined for today's announcement at Pier 25 in Manhattan by Dr. Vincent DeLeo, a member of the Medical Council of the Skin Cancer Foundation and Chairman of Dermatology at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital.

Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Polonetsky also released a Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Sunscreen Price Survey which found that popular name brand sunscreens, on average, cost nearly twice as much as inexpensive brands of sunscreen, even though sunscreens with equivalent Sun Protection Factors (SPF), regardless of price, can offer the same level of protection. In all, DCA inspectors surveyed the prices of 75 sunscreens at five Manhattan pharmacies.

"New Yorkers trying to protect themselves from the dangers of the summer sun may be needlessly spending hundreds of dollars on expensive brands of sunscreen and sun glasses," said Commissioner Polonetsky. "Playing it safe does not have to burn the budgets of consumers - inexpensive sunglasses and low-cost sunscreens can offer equivalent sun protection for a fraction of the price."

The Commissioner also warned consumers against subscribing to the myth that only expensive sunglasses can offer adequate protection against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light. DCA sent a $200 pair of designer sunglasses and a pair of sunglasses retailing for $5 to be tested by an optician with a Brain Power Instrument (BPI) machine. BPI tests revealed that each pair offered the same UV protection.

DCA's Sunscreen Price Survey found that the average cost per ounce for the 54 popular, name brand sunscreens surveyed was $1.77 - nearly double the cost of the 21 less expensive brand sunscreens, which sold for an average $0.89 per ounce. The most expensive sunscreen was found at CVS at 158 Bleecker Street in Manhattan, where three Bain de Soleil products (SPF 4, SPF 15, and SPF 50 for babies) each sold for $3.20 per ounce. The least expensive sunscreen was Block Up SPF 30, which sold for just $0.40 per ounce at the Duane Reade at 39 Broadway.

"A consumer who spends weekends, holidays, and at least two weeks vacation outdoors between Memorial Day and Labor Day could spend as much as $270 by purchasing `Bain de Soleil SPF 15' for $3.20 an ounce from CVS," said Commissioner Polonetsky. "By purchasing `Block Up SPF 30' from Duane Reade at 39 Broadway, the same consumer would have received the same protection and spent only $34 for the entire summer."

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunscreen is an important part of an overall sun protection program and should always be applied before going outdoors. The Foundation recommends an SPF of 15 or higher, and suggests that if you use a lotion, cream, gel or spray it should be reapplied every two hours.

The Mayor added, "Using sunscreen is only the first line of defense against the dangers of the sun. Wearing wide-brimmed hats and long sleeve shirts while out in the sun will also help reduce the risk of skin cancer, and avoiding the sun during its peak time, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is also a primary means of sun protection."

Commissioner Polonetsky also urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enact pending guidelines ensuring that sunscreen manufacturers are accurate about the SPF displayed on their products.

"A recent Consumer's Union study found that certain sunscreens labeled SPF 30 failed to deliver SPF 15 protection in tests," Commissioner Polonetsky said. "The Department of Consumer Affairs has alerted the FDA about this unacceptable practice, and we are urging them to put guidelines in place that ensure sunscreens deliver the protection that is labeled.

"Another way to ensure your sunscreen has been rigorously tested for SPF accuracy is to check for the Skin Cancer Foundation seal of recommendation," Commissioner Polonetsky added.

To help consumers protect against the dangers of the sun, Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Polonetsky also offered the following tips:

• Stay indoors at peak time. Try to stay out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when its rays are strongest.

• Cover up. Opaque clothing, especially clothing with long sleeves, can be a first line of defense against the sun.

• Don't forget your head. Wear a hat with a wide brim all the way around - a baseball cap can leave ears and neck vulnerable.

• Purchase only sunglasses with a UV sticker, and pay close attention to the size and fit of sunglasses. Ill-fitting or small sunglasses could let in unwanted, unfiltered rays from the sun.

• Protect the kids. Children receive between 50% and 80% of their lifelong exposure to the sun before they reach 18. Reducing that exposure may cut your child's risk of skin cancer later in life. Use a long-lasting sunscreen on all but the youngest. Babies should always be kept completely out of the sun.

• Be skeptical of shade. High thin clouds - and even beach umbrellas - can let most of the UV light pass through. Light-colored surfaces, such as sand or concrete, reflect a good deal of UV light.

• Check your medications. Some prescription and non-prescription drugs can heighten the skin's sensitivity to light. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you need more protection.

• Beware of sunlamps, tanning parlors, or tanning pills. They can be just as harmful as the sun.

Dr. DeLeo also advised consumers to call the Skin Cancer Foundation at 1-800-SKIN-490 for information about prevention and early detection of skin cancer, as well as for a list of products that have earned the Foundation's Seal of Recommendation which endorses safe and effective products.

To learn more about DCA and its services or to file a complaint online, consumers can visit our website at www.ci.nyc.ny.us/consumers.