Our Photobiology Committee
Every product that a manufacturer submits for the Seal of Recommendation is rigorously reviewed by a committee of renowned photobiologists – experts in the study of the interaction of ultraviolet radiation and the skin. The entire committee must be completely satisfied with the testing results in order for a product to be granted the Seal. The members of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Photobiology Committee are: Chairman Warwick Morison, MD, professor of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Medical School (pictured, left); Henry W. Lim, MD, chairman, Department of Dermatology at the Henry Ford Medical Group; John Epstein, MD, clinical professor of Dermatology, Department of University of California Medical School in San Francisco; Heidi Jacobe, MD, assistant professor, Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Steven Q. Wang, MD, director, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New Jersey.THE SEAL OF RECOMMENDATION CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SETTING THE STANDARD IN SUN PROTECTION GUIDELINES
New York, NY, January 14, 2005 – Twenty-five years ago a suntan was the ultimate accessory. Little did sun worshippers know that they were damaging their skin and risking their lives -- more than 90 percent of the million new cases a year of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.
In 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation became the first organization to recognize that there needed to be a change in attitude about sun exposure and increased awareness of the importance of protection. That year, as part of a nationwide public awareness campaign, the Foundation established its Seal of Recommendation program, which has since become a respected standard for the safety and efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) protection products. The Seal of Recommendation is awarded to UV protection products with a minimum Sun Protection Factor/Ultraviolet Protection Factor (SPF/UPF) of 15 that meet the most rigorous scientific requirements in the industry today.
“Twenty-five years ago, few people knew about the dangers of excessive, cumulative sun exposure,” says Perry Robins, MD, President and Founder of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation is widely recognized both in the United States and abroad as an indicator that a UV product is safe and effective. Consumers who buy a product with the Seal can rest assured that they are getting a superior sun protection product.”
The Seal of Recommendation not only verifies the claimed SPF of a product, but secures corroborative independent data that the product does not produce any adverse reactions such as contact irritancy or phototoxicity. If a product makes water-resistant claims, these also have to be supported. Additionally, a product manufacturer must annually submit an adverse reaction form showing that there are no reported problems with photoallergy and contact allergy.
The Seal of Recommendation Review Process
Every product that a manufacturer submits for the Seal of Recommendation is rigorously reviewed by a committee of renowned photobiologists – experts in the study of the interaction of ultraviolet radiation and the skin. The entire committee must be completely satisfied with the testing results in order for a product to be granted the Seal. The members of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Photobiology Committee are: Chairman Warwick Morison, MD, professor of Dermatology, John Hopkins Medical School; Henry W. Lim, MD, chairman, Department of Dermatology at the Henry Ford Medical Group; John Epstein, MD, clinical professor of Dermatology, Department of University of California Medical School in San Francisco; Heidi Jacobe, MD, assistant professor, Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Steven Q. Wang, MD, director, Dermatology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New Jersey.
The Foundation initially created the Seal program for SPF 15+ sunscreens, but as sun protection technology has advanced it has expanded the program to include sun-protective products in a number of categories such as sunglasses, sun-protective clothing, umbrellas and awnings, UV window film, UV laundry additives, and sunroof materials.
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