How does this make sense?

[janedavitt]

I just bought a stick of factor 30 sunblock designed to be used on the face. On the back of the packet it says,

This product contains retinol that may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Please limit sun exposure while wearing this product and for a week afterward.

Soooo, the product I bought to allow me and the children to avoid getting burned will in fact result in us turning bright red in seconds and after I apply it we should immediately retire to the basement to live?

I see.

I don't really.

Comments

[oxoniensis]

Like your icon, all I can say is 'huh?'

[janedavitt]

Apart from that, I got nothing.

[paian]

Retinol is one of the questionable things that have been coming up in the news lately about a lot of sunblocks. Pretty amazing to see that warning on a product. I don't suppose it's on the stick as well as the packet?

I like the Badger brand a lot, fwiw. Environmental Working Group's 2011 Sunscreen Report is here -- useful stuff, hopefully covers Canadian products or what can be bought in Canada too.

[janedavitt]

It is on both but like a fool, I didn't read it until i got home. I mean, it's not like I had any reason to think I shouldn't go outside wearing a SPORTS sunscreen stick ::bitter laugh:;

Thank for the tip!

[justhuman]

Oh - interesting reading. I'm saddened that the top rated products aren't available through the organic/natural co-op that I buy from. It makes me wonder if they are not available in the US.

[maab_connor]

... that is INSANE!

[janedavitt]

It's on the weird side...

[justhuman]

Really, this deserves a hearty WTF?

[janedavitt]

I know! I wrote to complain and I took it back and got a refund.

[sam_gardener]

This is making the kind of sense that doesn't...

[janedavitt]

My thoughts exactly!

[born2slash]

so, they're selling something which is designed to reduce the risk of sunburn, but actually increases the risk of sunburn? is that even legal? (i'm assuming it is, but... does not compute)

[janedavitt]

I've written to them; will pass on any information that makes this make sense. Not holding my breath :-)

[bluewolf458]

This is on a par with the warning on the sleeping pills prescribed for my 85-year-old mother, back around 1990 -

Warning - may make you drowsy. If affected do not drive or operate machinery.

[janedavitt]

It's insanity.