TUESDAY July 1, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- About 85 percent of the sunscreens on the market are not good enough to protect against skin damage from ultraviolet rays, according to a new report.

Sunscreens are commonly used by millions of Americans in hopes that these products help prevent premature aging of the skin and development of skin cancer by blocking the UV rays that can be beneficial or harmful depending upon the dose.

The new report, by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, says that 85% of sunscreen either inadequately protect against the damage caused by the sun's rays or contain chemicals that pose excess hazard.

Authors of the report say that the problem is compounded by the fact that the Food and Drug Administration does not have standards for testing and labeling sunscreens leaving the manufacturers to make a wide array of unjustified wild claims about their products.

Based on an analysis of hundreds of studies on 952 name-brand sunscreens, the EWG has found the most popular ones were actually the worse and none of market leader Coppertone's 41 sunscreen products met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness. Banana Boat and Neutrogena, the second and third largest manufacturers, got only one out of 103 products recommended by EWG.

Sunscreen lovers may not have to be disappointed, however.   EWG says there are 143 products consumers can use that offer a very good sun protection with ingredients and pose only minimal health risks if any.

The top 28 recommended are listed below:

Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30

Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+

California Baby Sunblock Stick Everyday/year-Round, SPF 30+

California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+

Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30

Marie Veronique Skin Therapy Sun Serum

Lavera Sunscreen Neutral, SPF 40

Vanicream Sunscreen, SPF 35

Vanicream Sunscreen Sport, SPF 35

California Baby Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance, SPF 30+

California Baby Sunscreen Lotion Everyday/year-Round, SPF 30+

UV Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Sun Science Sport Formula, SPF 30

California Baby Sunscreen Lotion Natural Bug Blend, SPF 30+

UV Natural Sunscreen, Sport, SPF 30+

UV Natural Sunscreen, UV Golf / Ultra

Soleo Organics Sunscreen all natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Lotus Moon Sage Sun Protective Creme -, SPF 25

Healing-Scents Live Long Sunscreen, SPF 25-30

Caribbean Sol Solguard, SPF 25

Kabana Skin Care Green Screen Organic Sunscreen - Skin Tone Tinted, SPF 22

B. Glen Natural Clay Sunscreen 25

Kabana Skin Care Green Screen Organic Sunscreen - Fragrance Free, SPF 20

Cosmesis Dermatologist Sunblock, SPF 30

Arcona Reozone, Protect, SPF 20

Arcona Tinted Reozone, Protect, SPF 20

L'uvalla Certified Organic L'UVAlla Certified Organic Sunscreen Face/body, SPF 20

Sun Science Hydrating Sun Mist, SPF 30

For more information, read http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/summary.php

Editor’s note: Wearing sunscreens may reduce the necessary exposure to the sun rays potentially leading to increased risk of developing many more serious types of cancer and other chronic diseases.  And the most dangerous skin cancer often occurs on parts of the body that are normally not exposed to the sun.