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Sunscreen Agents  (Topical)

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Contents of this page:

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

  • A-Fil25
  • Aquaderm Sunscreen Moisturizer41
  • Aquaray Sunscreen34
  • Bain de Soleil All Day For Kids30
  • Bain de Soleil All Day Sunfilter31
  • Bain de Soleil Mega Tan26
  • Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee33
  • Bain de Soleil Sand Buster33
  • Bain de Soleil SPF + Color26
  • Bain de Soleil Tropical Deluxe33
  • Banana Boat Active Kids Sunblock34
  • Banana Boat Baby Sunblock34
  • Banana Boat Dark Tanning45
  • Banana Boat Faces Sensitive Skin Sunblock34
  • Banana Boat Protective Tanning45
  • Banana Boat Sport Sunblock34
  • Banana Boat Sunblock42
  • Banana Boat Sunscreen49
  • Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment for Lips49
  • Blistex Medicated Lip Conditioner49
  • Blistex Regular49
  • Blistex Ultraprotection10
  • Bullfrog Body29
  • Bullfrog Extra Moisturizing29
  • Bullfrog For Kids29
  • Bullfrog Original Concentrated29
  • Bullfrog Sport28
  • Bullfrog Sunblock41
  • Catrix Correction20
  • Catrix Lip Saver41
  • Chap-et Sun Ban Lip Conditioner49
  • Chap Stick51
  • Chap Stick Sunblock49
  • Chap Stick Sunblock Petroleum Jelly Plus49
  • Coppertone All Day Protection57
  • Coppertone Kids Sunblock57
  • Coppertone Lipkote Lip Balm41
  • Coppertone Moisturizing Sunscreen41
  • Coppertone Moisturizing Suntan13
  • Coppertone Sport34
  • Coppertone Sport Ultra Sweatproof41
  • Coppertone Tan Magnifier Gel58
  • Coppertone Waterbabies Sunblock27
  • Curel Everyday Sun Protection41
  • Dermsol34
  • DML Facial Moisturizer Cream41
  • Durascreen34
  • DuraScreen37
  • Eclipse Lip & Face Protectant49
  • Eclipse Original Sunscreen16
  • Eucerin Dry Skin Care Daily Facial39
  • Formula 405 Solar59
  • Hawaiian Baby Faces Sunblock22
  • Hawaiian Tropic Baby Faces19
  • Hawaiian Tropic Baby Faces Sunblock28
  • Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning60
  • Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning with Sunscreen20
  • Hawaiian Tropic Just For Kids61
  • Hawaiian Tropic Land Sport33
  • Hawaiian Tropic Plus19
  • Hawaiian Tropic Plus Sunblock23
  • Hawaiian Tropic Protective Tanning Dry62
  • Hawaiian Tropic Protective Tanning49
  • Hawaiian Tropic Self-tanning Sunblock41
  • Hawaiian Tropic Sport Sunblock28
  • Hawaiian Tropic Sunblock63
  • Hawaiian Tropic Water Sport44
  • Herpecin-L Cold Sore51
  • Johnson's Baby Sunblock Extra Protection38
  • Johnson's Baby Sunblock38
  • Johnson's No More Tears Baby Sunblock55
  • Maxafil Cream17
  • Mentholatum Lip Balm51
  • Neutrogena Chemical-Free Sunblocker54
  • Neutrogena Deep Glow32
  • Neutrogena Intensified Day Moisture46
  • Neutrogena Light Glow32
  • Neutrogena Lip Moisturizer41
  • Neutrogena Moisture Untinted & with Sheer Tint 41
  • Neutrogena No Stick Sunscreen12
  • Neutrogena Sunblock64
  • Nivea Sun34
  • Noxzema Moisturizer46
  • Oil of Olay Daily UV Protectant Beauty Fluid46
  • Oil of Olay Daily UV Protectant46
  • Oil of Olay Moisture Replenishment46
  • PreSun Active Clear34
  • PreSun For Kids34
  • PreSun Lip Protector49
  • PreSun Moisturizing49
  • PreSun Moisturizing Sunscreen with Keri35
  • PreSun Sensitive Skin34
  • PreSun Spray Mist34
  • Presun Spray Mist for Kids35
  • Q.T. Quick Tanning32
  • Ray Block49
  • Shade Oil-Free Gel13
  • Shade Sunblock57
  • Shade Sunblock Oil-Free34
  • Shade UVA Guard6
  • Shade Waterproof Sunblock27
  • Softsense Skin Essential Everyday UV Protectant41
  • Solbar PF41
  • Solbar PF Liquid29
  • Solbar PF Ultra29
  • Solbar Plus7
  • Solex A15 Clear49
  • Stay Moist Moisturizing Lip Conditioner49
  • Sundown Sport Sunblock55
  • Sundown Sunblock38
  • Sundown Sunscreen40
  • TI Screen Baby Natural54
  • TI Screen27
  • Total Eclipse Moisturizing Skin Lotion48
  • Total Eclipse Oily and Acne Prone Skin Sunscreen15
  • Tropical Blend Dark Tanning65
  • Tropical Blend Dry Oil14
  • Vaseline Extra Defense for Hand and Body41
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Active Sport41
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Baby Moisturizing Sunblock 38
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Blockout Moisturizing36
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Lip Therapy41
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Moisturizing Sunblock34
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Moisturizing Sunscreen33
  • Vaseline Moisturizing Sunscreen41
  • Vaseline Ultraviolet Daily Defense for Hand and Body 41
  • Waterbabies Little Licks34
  • Waterbabies Sunblock12

In Canada—

  • Bain de Soleil All Day Sunblock30
  • Bain de Soleil Long Lasting For Kids30
  • Bain de Soleil Long Lasting Sport Sunblock31
  • Bain de Soleil Long Lasting Sunblock30
  • Bain de Soleil Long Lasting Sunfilter31
  • Bain de Soleil Mega Tan26
  • Bain de Soleil Orange Gelee33
  • Bain de Soleil SPF + Color29
  • Blistex Medicated Lip Conditioner49
  • Blistex Medicated Lip Conditioner with Sunscreen24
  • Blistex Sunblock49
  • Blistex Ultraprotection10
  • Can Screen 400 Sunscreen6
  • Chap Stick Sunblock Lip Balm49
  • Coppertone Dark Tanning8
  • Coppertone Lipkote41
  • Coppertone Sport34
  • Coppertone Waterbabies Sunblock27
  • Coppertone Waterproof Sunblock Lotion11
  • Johnson's Baby Sunblock Extra Protection38
  • Johnson's Baby Sunblock38
  • Johnson's No More Tears Baby Sunblock55
  • Ombrelle Sunscreen6
  • Photoplex Plus Sunscreen3
  • Pond's Daily Replenishing Moisturizer46
  • Presun Clear5
  • Presun Creamy Sundown Sunscreen49
  • Presun1
  • Presun Sunscreen66
  • Presun Sunscreen for Kids5
  • Shade Waterproof Sunblock27
  • Solbar Liquid32
  • Solbar50
  • Solbar Plus50
  • Solbar Shield34
  • Sundown Broad Spectrum Sunblock38
  • Sundown43
  • Sundown Sunscreen41
  • TI - UVA - B Sunscreen41
  • Tropical Blend Waterproof49
  • Vaseline Baby Sunblock55
  • Vaseline Broad Spectrum Sunblock4
  • Vaseline Intensive Care Baby Sunblock38
  • Vaseline Kids Sunblock34
  • Vaseline Lip Therapy41
  • Vaseline Sports Sunblock41
  • Vaseline Sports Sunscreen41
  • Vaseline Sunblock35
  • Vaseline Sunscreen41
  • Waterbabies Sunblock12

Note:

For quick reference, the following sunscreen agents are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.
This information applies to the following medicines
1.  Aminobenzoic Acid, Padimate O, and Oxybenzone (a-mee-noe-ben-ZOE-ik AS-id, PAD-i-mate Oh, and ox-i-BEN-zone)*
2.  Aminobenzoic Acid and Titanium Dioxide (a-mee-noe-ben-ZOE-ik AS-id and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
3.  Avobenzone, Octocrylene, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (a-voe-BENZ-one, OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)*
4.  Avobenzone and Octyl Methoxycinnamate (a-voe-BENZ-one and OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate)*
5.  Avobenzone, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (a-voe-BENZ-one, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)*
6.  Avobenzone, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Oxybenzone (a-voe-BENZ-one, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
7.  Dioxybenzone, Oxybenzone, and Padimate O (dye-ox-i-BEN-zone, ox-i-BEN-zone, and PAD-i-mate Oh)
8.  Homosalate (hoe-mo-SAL-ate)
9.  Homosalate, Menthyl Anthranilate, and Octyl Methoxycinnamate (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, and OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate)
10.  Homosalate, Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
11.  Homosalate, Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Oxybenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)*
12.  Homosalate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
13.  Homosalate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Oxybenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
14.  Homosalate and Oxybenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate and ox-i-BEN-zone)
15.  Lisadimate, Oxybenzone, and Padimate O (lis-AD-i-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and PAD-i-mate Oh)
16.  Lisadimate and Padimate O (lis-AD-i-mate and PAD-i-mate Oh)
17.  Menthyl Anthranilate (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late)
18.  Menthyl Anthranilate, Octocrylene, and Octyl Methoxycinnamate (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-toe-kri-leen, and OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate)
19.  Menthyl Anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Oxybenzone (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
20.  Menthyl Anthranilate and Octyl Methoxycinnamate (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late and OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate)
21.  Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Octyl Salicylate (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate)
22.  Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
23.  Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Oxybenzone (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
24.  Menthyl Anthranilate and Padimate O (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late and PAD-i-mate Oh)*
25.  Menthyl Anthranilate and Titanium Dioxide (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
26.  Octocrylene and Octyl Methoxycinnamate (OK-toe-kri-leen and OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate)
27.  Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
28.  Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
29.  Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Oxybenzone (OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
30.  Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzone, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
31.  Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
32.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate)
33.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Octyl Salicylate (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate and OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate)
34.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
35.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, and Padimate O (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and PAD-i-mate Oh)
36.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, Padimate O, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, PAD-i-mate Oh, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
37.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, Phenylbenzimidazole, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
38.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
39.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Phenylbenzimidazole, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
40.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
41.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Oxybenzone (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate and ox-i-BEN-zone)
42.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzone, and Padimate O (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and PAD-i-mate Oh)
43.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzone, Padimate O, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone, PAD-i-mate Oh, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)*
44.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzone, and Titanium Dioxide (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
45.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Padimate O (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate and PAD-i-mate Oh)
46.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Phenylbenzimidazole (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate and FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole)
47.  Octyl Salicylate (OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate)
48.  Octyl Salicylate and Padimate O (OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate and PAD-i-mate Oh)
49.  Oxybenzone and Padimate O (ox-i-BEN-zone and PAD-i-mate Oh)
50.  Oxybenzone and Roxadimate (ox-i-BEN-zone and rox-AD-i-mate)*
51.  Padimate O (PAD-i-mate Oh)
52.  Phenylbenzimidazole (FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole)
53.  Phenylbenzimidazole and Sulisobenzone (FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole and sul-i-soe-BEN-zone)
54.  Titanium Dioxide (tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
55.  Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide (tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide and zink OX-ide)
56.  Trolamine Salicylate (TROLE-a-meen sal-i-SIL-ate)
57.  Homosalate or Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, and Oxybenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate or OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, and ox-i-BEN-zone)
58.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenylbenzimidazole and Trolamine Salicylate (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole, and TROLE-a-meen sal-i-SIL-ate)
59.  Aminobenzoic Acid, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzone, Padimate O, and Titanium Dioxide (a-mee-noe-ben-ZOE-ik AS-id, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone, PAD-i-mate Oh, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
60.  Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Padimate O, and Phenylbenzimidazole (OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, PAD-i-mate Oh, and FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole)
61.  Homosalate, Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, and Titanium Dioxide (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
62.  Homosalate, Menthyl Anthranilate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenylbenzimidazole and Sulisobenzone (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, FEN-il benz-i-MI-da-zole and sul-i-soe-BEN-zone)
63.  Homosalate, Menthyl Anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone, and Titanium Dioxide (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and tye-TANE-ee-um dye-OX-ide)
64.  Menthyl Anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate and Oxybenzone (MEN-thil AN-thra-ni-late, OK-toe-kri-leen, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate and ox-i-BEN-zone)
65.  Homosalate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Oxybenzone, and Padimate O (hoe-mo-SAL-ate, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and PAD-i-mate Oh)
66.  Avobenzone, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate, Oxybenzone and Padimate O (a-voe-BENZ-one, OK-til meth-ox-ee-SIN-a-mate, OK-til sal-i-SIL-ate, ox-i-BEN-zone, and PAD-i-mate Oh)*
‡  Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
§  Generic name product may be available in Canada
*  Not commercially available in the U.S.
†  Not commercially available in Canada

Category


Description

Sunscreen agents are used to prevent sunburn. Limiting your exposure to the sun and using sunscreen agents when in the sun may help prevent early wrinkling and skin cancer. There are two kinds of sunscreen agents: chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreen agents protect you from the sun by absorbing the ultraviolet (UV) and visible sun rays, while physical sunscreen agents reflect, scatter, absorb, or block these rays.

Sunscreen agents often contain more than one ingredient. For example, products may contain one ingredient that provides protection against the ultraviolet A (UVA) sun rays and another ingredient that protects you from the ultraviolet B (UVB) sun rays, which are more likely to cause sunburn than the UVA sun rays. Ideally, coverage should include protection against both UVA and UVB sun rays.

The sun protection factor (SPF) that you find on the label of these products tells you the minimum amount of UVB sunlight that is needed with that product to produce redness on sunscreen-protected skin as compared with unprotected skin. Sunscreen products with high SPFs will provide more protection against the sun.

Sunscreen agents are available in the following dosage forms:



Before Using This Medicine

If you are using this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For sunscreen agents, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to any of the sunscreen agents. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to artificial sweeteners (e.g., saccharin [Sweet and Low]); anesthetics (e.g., benzocaine [Americaine], procaine [Novocaine], tetracaine [Pontocaine]); oral antidiabetics (diabetes medicine you take by mouth); hair dyes containing aniline or paraphenylenediamine; sulfa medicines; thiazide diuretics (a certain type of water pill); cinnamon derivatives used in flavorings, medicines, perfumes, or toothpastes; or to any other substances, such as foods or preservatives.

Pregnancy—Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding—Sunscreen agents have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children—Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun. Sunscreen agents should not be used on infants under 6 months of age because of increased chance of side effects. Children 6 months of age and older should be kept out of the sun or have limited exposure to the sun. Sunscreen agents with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 should be applied during exposure to the sun. Lotion sunscreen products are preferred for use in children. Alcohol-based sunscreen products should be avoided because they can cause irritation.

Older adults—It is believed that the elderly, who spend little time in the sun and use sunscreen agents frequently, may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency (which may result in bone disease and fracture), although this has not been proven. To help you get enough vitamin D, it is recommended that you eat food rich in vitamin D, such as fortified milk or fatty fish. Your doctor may also advise you to take vitamin D supplements. Check with your doctor about this.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines and products should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines or products may be used together even if an interaction may occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine or other product that is to be applied to the same area of the skin.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of sunscreen agents. Make sure you tell your health care professional if you have any other medical problems, especially:


Proper Use of This Medicine

Sunscreen agents are for external use only. These products usually come with patient directions. Read them carefully before using any product.

In choosing the sunscreen product, you may consider the following:

Skin Type (complexion)Appropriate
Sunscreen Agent
Very fair—Always burns easily; rarely tansUse SPF 20 to 30
Fair—Always burns easily; tans minimallyUse SPF 12 to 20
Light—Burns moderately; tans gradually (light brown) Use SPF 8 to 12
Medium—Burns minimally; always tans well (moderate brown) Use SPF 4 to 8
Dark—Rarely burns; tans profusely (dark brown) Use SPF 2 to 4

Before every exposure to the sun, apply an appropriate sunscreen product that protects you against ultraviolet sun rays. For maximum sun protection, sunscreens should be applied uniformly and thickly to all exposed skin surfaces (including the lips, using lip sunscreen or lip balm). Sunscreen products containing aminobenzoic acid, lisadimate, padimate O, or roxadimate should be applied 1 to 2 hours before sun exposure. Other sunscreen products should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure, unless otherwise directed by the package instructions. Lip sunscreens should be applied 45 to 60 minutes before sun exposure.

Because most sunscreens are easily removed from the skin, you should reapply these products liberally every 1 to 2 hours for adequate protection. You should reapply sunscreen especially after swimming or heavy perspiration. Lip sunscreens should be reapplied liberally at least once every hour while you are in the sun and also before and after swimming, after eating and drinking, and during other activities that remove it from the lips.

Keep sunscreen products away from the eyes.

Some sunscreen agents contain alcohol and are flammable. Do not use near heat, near open flame, or while smoking.

Dosing—

Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average dose of sunscreen agents.

Storage—

To store this product:


Precautions While Using This Medicine

If rash or irritation develops, stop using the sunscreen and check with your doctor.

Sunscreen agents containing aminobenzoic acid, lisadimate, padimate O, or roxadimate may discolor and stain light-colored fabrics yellow.

In addition to using sunscreen agents, it is advisable to minimize exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daylight savings time) when the sun is at its strongest. Take extra precautions also on cloudy or overcast days and around reflective surfaces such as concrete, sand, snow, or water, since these surfaces can reflect the sun's damaging rays. Wear protective clothing including a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants. Sunglasses also should be worn to avoid sun damage to the eyes (cataract formation). Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlors because these can damage the skin and eyes as direct sunlight can.


Side Effects of This Medicine

Side Effects of This Product

Along with its needed effects, sunscreen products may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the product. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.


Revised: 04/02/1996

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