A consumer class action lawsuit alleges the sunscreen manufacturers fraudulently marketed products by claiming they are sun blocks and provide all day protection. The suit alleges that sunscreens do not block the sun's harmful rays, nor do they provide all day protection. According to a dermatologist, sunscreens lose their effect after approximately one hour.
In 1999 the FDA determined that the words sun block can mislead consumers and proposed new labeling rules, but the rules did not change. U.S. sunscreens allegedly block UVA rays, which can contribute to the development of skin cancer as well as create wrinkles and premature aging. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is the leading cause of skin cancer.