Unfortunately, a big reason for this is that not only is sunscreen not usually used daily outside of going to the pool or the beach by most Americans, sunscreen is regulated and classified as an over the counter drug and schools legally have to treat them the same way unless a specification is made like it is in this case.
Also, A lot of younger Americans are slowly but surely adopting daily sunscreen especially because it’s trendy on tiktok. American sunscreen sucks and hasn’t had a new sunscreen chemical approved for market use in nearly 30 years due the drug regulations. America’s suncreens are quite literally worse than most other countries sunscreens which is a big factor why people don’t use them daily.
Ninja edit: I know this first hand because I take medication that causes me to burn easily, as well as have photosensitive skin conditions and it was painful to be allowed sunscreen on school grounds… in high school. Similar nonsense of having to get a doctors note to opt out of milk with the school lunch due to lactose intolerance.
I find it hard to believe that it’s regulated and classified as an over the counter drug.
Is that an American thing?
Over the counter drugs can be sold outside of a pharmacy, it’s more of a regulatory term than anything else. It mainly just means that the product needs to be labeled specifically in order to be called sunscreen, and must be tested by the FDA for its effectiveness. You can’t just mix lotion and zinc together and call it sunscreen, you need to prove it actually works.
If that’s all it means then the real problem here is the requirement the school has.
I find it hard to believe too. I’ve seen mini sunscreen bottles being given away in events. We’ll need a source for this.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/02/26/2019-03019/sunscreen-drug-products-for-over-the-counter-human-use An over the counter drug means over the counter, you can buy it and sell it fine as long as its properly labeled and tested by the FDA with their approved ingredients. It’s complicated and weird, but yes it is.
From your name, I’m gonna assume you’re American as well.
The reason why it sucks both in my opinion (as well as clinically) is because the only “safe” broad spectrum sunscreens in the US that don’t rapidly degrade are titanium dioxide/zinc oxide. Those chemicals in chemical based sunscreens that make them have that distinct smell are more than 20 years old and are highly unstable chemicals that rapidly degrade as soon as they exposed to sunlight. The protection you get rapidly deteriorates, so reapplication is extra important and even then it’s not likely with those chemicals you get a full broad spectrum coverage. There’s two main wavelengths of UV that sunscreen has to target, UVB (rays that burn you) and UVA (rays that age you), both contribute to skin cancer. American chemical sunscreens only protect against so much UVA. The most effective sunscreen in the US right now is mineral based or mineral chemical mixed.
The sunscreen agents around the world, especially in Japan and Korea and Europe are the most effective and feel like light lotion with lower rates of irritation and higher UV protection. Australian and Kiwi sunscreens are the most heavy duty in the world with the highest regulation. But you can’t legally sell these sunscreens in the US, as they contain chemicals that have been stuck in the over the counter drug approval limbo for decades. You can technically import them, but it’s not really legal to and American stores aside from specific stores that import from Europe or Asia don’t sell them. People with extreme photosensitive conditions that live near Canada often go to Canada and buy tons of sunscreen just to ship it back to themselves.
It’s a mess. The bureaucratic hell isn’t moving either. As someone who’s not only at high risk of skin cancer but living with a photosensitive medical condition, it’s deeply infuriating.
For a list of sunscreen agents that clearly separate US and the worlds, check here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen
It sucks because it’s greasy and sticky lol. You can find some that are mattifying and quite comfortable but they’re more expensive
I was gonna suggest looking into importing asian or european sunscreens, but you might get just more pissed when you realize how much better they are
Way to miss the point.
“Why do you complain because you can’t afford to eat three meals a day? Food makes me fat.”
The Neutrogena ultra mist spray is really good. It goes on clear, isn’t greasy and the high SPF ones work exceptionally well. I’ve bought it in the US at a CVS before and didn’t have to get it over the counter…but maybe that’s only a thing in some states?
Over the counter doesn’t actually always refer literally to over the counter. I’d consider a non prescribed medical item purchased from a cvs as over the counter, even if you don’t have to ask a pharmacist for it
