One person dies of melanoma every hour1 and each year in the US nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer2. Over the past three decades more people have had skin cancer than all over cancers combined and the numbers continue to grow each year3. And while the statistical incidence of melanoma is less frequent in African Americans, the fatality rate is much higher. The overall 5 year melanoma survival rate for African Americans is only 77% vs 91% for Caucasians4. Palmer’s is committed to consumer education on the importance of using of sunscreens amongst all ethnicities. All of our products have been verified and certified with the Skin Cancer Foundation as effective broad spectrum sunscreens. The Skin Cancer foundation classifies products in separate categories to help consumers make their purchasing decisions based on their intended use:

“Daily Use” products are intended to protect consumers from incidental sun exposure that occurs in short periods of time. In order to qualify a product must be at least SPF 15, and provide UVA testing, contact irritancy testing and phototoxicity testing. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Sunscreen Balm and Face Lotion are both certified for “daily use”.

“Active” products should protect consumers from extended sun exposure, or during recreational activities. In order to qualify a product must be at least SPF 30, have a water resistance of 40 minutes or 80 minutes, and provide UVA testing, contact irritancy testing and phototoxicity testing. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Sunscreen Lotion, Spray and Stick all are certified for active use and contain the highest allowable water resistance of 80 minutes.

For more information and statistics we encourage everyone to visit the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website www.skincancer.org or go to http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts

1 American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2014. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/webcontent/acspc-042151.pdf. Accessed June 2, 2014.

2 Guy GP, Machlin SR, Ekwueme DU, Yabroff KR. Prevalence and costs of skin cancer treatment in the U.S., 2002-2006 and 2007-2011. Am J Prev Med 2014; 104(4):e69-e74. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.08.036

3 Stern, RS. Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in 2007: results of an incidence-based model. Arch Dermatol 2010; 146(3):279-282.