Meanwhile in the Netherlands there is a government supported program to explain children why suncream is a must to use to reduce cancer risk. They even offer it for free or so.
That read like NotTheOnion at first.
Why was this ever a thing? I mean, is “It’s because the FDA regulates sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug.” actually still relevant? You can’t just buy sunscreen in a supermarket in the US? Or is this only in regards to children?
You can buy it in a supermarket, because it’s sold “over-the-counter”, meaning you don’t need a prescription to get it. The FDA regulates it because it has a medical purpose. This law was just brain dead.
Aaaaah, okay, sorry, totally mis-understood what that means, I thought it means freely available but has to be bought in a pharmacy. Thanks. :)
Wow, this makes me so sad. Wtf why would the state have anything to do with it? Why wouldn’t the laws protect the people?
If i had to guess, its to stop parents potentially suing school boards, some foresight that didnt come to fruition maybe
Edit: someone explained in the comments, classifeid as an over the counter drug for some reason
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?
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.
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.
Not really, schools have to be highly restrictive of anything thats remotely classified as a “drug” due to the war on drugs.
deleted by creator
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
I’ve used them too
Way to miss the point.
“Why do you complain because you can’t afford to eat three meals a day? Food makes me fat.”
What point did I miss? He thinks they suck. So do I. I was. Curious his reason
I see what you mean now. I think the parent poster is referring to the effectiveness of the American made sunscreen.
I find out American sun screens to be oily and sticky. I rarely use them as you have to apply them constantly.
I just cover up to avoid the sun if I’m worried about it. I don’t fret over it to much. I need the vitamin d
They aren’t as cosmetically elegant as other formulas that other countries have as well.
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
I find it ironic that you mentioned cvs for your example.
A surf store, or a clothing store works be better examples.
OTC is weird term. It means over the counter but there is no counter anymore. It just means you don’t need a prescription
I find skin cancer icky and gross.
deleted by creator
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
I agree with you. I didn’t realize there were alternatives.
I can’t stand sunscreen. So I wear long sleeve, pants, etc when I’ll be out in the sun and don’t want exposure.
Got to wonder who’s making enough money off of shitty sunscreen sales to ensure no competition get approved (can’t think of any other reason this is the case for you Americans, other than corruption)…
I don’t even think it’s corruption, it’s likely just a ton of bureaucracy completely fucking shit up. The FDA is completely busted in the way how the approve and manage things.
What the fuck is wrong with America?! Land of the free huh
It’s an insurance thing. If they say no sunscreen they can’t then mix up sunscreens or sunscreen and something else and cause a reaction they would then be liable for.
I didn’t look into it but I imagine there’s language to make the parent responsible for indelibly labeling the sunscreen with name of student parent and contact info.
Children aren’t treated like humans here. They’re treated like prisoners.
Just seen an advert from CNN via the 1980s on youtube, “invest in this, invest in that, invest in children our most precious natural RESOURCE”
they are resources to be invested in apparently
Coincidentally, another group who should be treated as humans but aren’t.
Wow, I wanna die
WE KNOW, you can stop telling everyone
This is uplifting news?
The bar is low. Quite low.
Uplifting news from the US are from the upside down world.
No one got shot over it.
And guns, I’m assuming.
Guns was probably okay to bring to school anyway…
“Land of the free”
They needed a doctor’s note before? Why?
I posted it in a comment in this post, but it’s likely because sunscreen in the US is classified and treated as an over the counter drug.
But I don’t need a doctor’s note to buy over the counter drug…
You do if you are a minor in school and intend on bringing it to school. You will have to store it in the nurses office as well to prevent it from being “shared.” It’s as absurd as it sounds, and this policy has been applied to inhalers and other prescription medications that should be on person as well and has caused deaths as a result. Cough drops are considered over the counter as well. It also applies to pain medication.
High school girls getting caught giving each other paracetamol/tylenol for period pain and being suspended as a result isn’t an isolated thing either.
That’s just fucking nuts!
Its to keep idiots from making a rule against it.
That topic actually hurts…
bruh
Are you all OK over there?
This is about as uplifting as stories about kids selling lemonade to afford their mothers insulin.
This is an “orphan crushing machine down for maintenance” type story. Ridiculous that a law like that was even necessary.
There was a subreddit like that. Someone should replicate it here on Lemmy.
Why? Rage inducing subreddits made reddit insufferable.
I wonder how often this sort of story will be posted here?
It is kinda like if eye bleach had the odd desiccated corpse pic. Not saying I am not down for it, but it was a bit of a shock.
