UVA Protection

There is No Rating Scale for UVA in the U.S.

I regret to inform you that in the U.S., we do not have a quantitative UVA rating scale like we do for UVB (i.e. the SPF). Establishing a UVA standard has been very difficult and controversial, involving debate over multiple UVA testing methods. Until recently, we didn’t even have a UVA standard. But in 2011, the FDA issued a new law on how manufacturers may report UVA protection (FDA Final Monograph for Sunscreens).

Look for the words “Broad Spectrum SPF” on the label. The claim ‘Broad Spectrum’ protection means the sunscreen offers UVA and UVB protection.

A manufacturer can only claim ‘Broad Spectrum’ on its label if the product has fulfilled the FDA’s broad spectrum test, which is based on meeting a critical wavelength. If a manufacturer has not met the requirements, it may not display ‘Broad Spectrum’ on the label.

Note that this does not mean the product has actually been tested by the FDA. The FDA never tests products for efficacy or safety before a product goes to market. In the U.S., OTC cosmetics are not subject to product testing like drugs are.

The FDA had considered a 4 star rating system, but in the end this was not approved. So when we see a product labeled ‘Broad Spectrum,’ we know we have some UVA protection. The tricky part is that we don’t know how much, and most ingredients provide only partial UVA protection. Some ingredients are definitely better than others. The next section goes over which ones.

UVA Rating Systems in Other Countries

A few countries do have a quantitative UVA rating system. Japan uses the PA+++ scale, Australia uses the PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) scale, and the UK uses the Boots 5 star rating system. Understanding and comparing these systems is quite technical, so it will be addressed in a future post.