What is LifeGuard
Sunscreen?
LifeGuard is a unique,
alcohol based sunscreen product. When applied it is odorless, greaseless,
and highly resistant to water and sweat.
How is LifeGuard different from
other sunscreens on the market?
LifeGuard is unique because of its alcohol base. This
alcohol base acts as the delivery system for the actual sunscreening
compound. Also, LifeGuard contains no lotions, oils, gels, grease,
fragrances, or perfumes, and is hypo-allergenic.
Won't LifeGuard's alcohol base dry
my skin?
Not with normal use. The
alcohol is actually on your skin only for a few seconds before it
evaporates, leaving the actual sunscreening compound behind in the upper
layers of your skin.
What is the SPF (Sun Protection
Factor) of LifeGuard?
LifeGuard
is SPF 15 in the current rating scheme.
Is LifeGuard available in a higher
SPF?
No, and with good reason.
Most people don't realize it but an SPF 15 sunscreen actually absorbs or
reflects up to 98% of the harmful UV radiation you encounter; an
SPF 30 sunscreen absorbs or reflects about 98.7%, so even
doubling the SPF number does not mean double the
protection! This gross misunderstanding of the SPF system and
what the numbers represent is one of the factors that lead the FDA to
throw out the entire system.
What is this new FDA ruling about
sunscreens and SPF?
On April 22,
1999 the Federal Food and Drug
Administration issued its Final Monograph (official guidelines)
on sunscreen labeling and the use of the SPF system. Entitled: Sunscreen Drug
Products For Over-The-Counter Human Use; Final Monograph , this
lengthy document spells out in great detail the FDA's findings about
sunscreens in general (classifying them as a drug), and the labeling of
sunscreens and other products that claim to protect the user from the sun.
(e.g., makeup that contains sunscreen)
The final monograph recommended that SPF ratings not appear anywhere on sunscreen labels printed after December 2002. It also gave numerous restrictions and guidelines relating to the use of such terms as "Waterproof," "Sweatproof," "All day protection," and other potentially misleading labeling practices on all sunscreen labels produced after the deadline. However, labels produced before the deadline can still be used and sold. In fact our LifeGuard holographic labels were all printed long before the deadline; our beautiful, eye-catching holgraphic labels are only affordable when produced in massive bulk. Chances are that a bottle or towelette you purchase in the LifeGuard Online Store today will still have the obsolete SPF rating on it, as might other sunscreens you encounter in the marketplace.
However, (from an article from the FDA's website): "Just recently, the Food and Drug Administration delayed until December 2002 the implementation of a so-called final monograph on sunscreens- the kind of rules that FDA publishes for the more than 100,000 over-the-counter (OTC) drug products currently on the market. OTC drug monographs--which cover 80 classes or therapeutic categories of OTC drugs, including sunscreens--are a kind of "recipe book" covering acceptable ingredients, doses, formulations, and labeling. Once a final monograph is implemented, companies can make and market an OTC product without the need for FDA pre-approval. New prescription drugs, on the other hand, require pre-approval before they can go on the market. In 1997, Congress ordered FDA to issue regulations on the prevention and treatment of sunburn. The agency completed the sunscreen monograph in May 1999 to meet the congressional mandate, and it initially gave the industry until May 2001 to implement it. The new regulation established a list of 16 active ingredients that companies can use in sunscreen products and simplified the labeling so consumers will know how to use these products properly. The monograph also applied to sunscreen-containing cosmetics. But questions about the harmfulness of a certain type of ultraviolet light and how to best label sunscreens led FDA to delay these regulations until further studies could be conducted."
Is there some new system for
classifying the protection factor of a
sunscreen?
Yes. The new sunscreen
protection ratings as set down by the FDA are Maximum,
Moderate, or Minimum protection.
What will LifeGuard Sunscreen's
new protection rating be?
Probably in the Maximum or possibly Moderate
class. Though the new rating won't appear on the labels until more are printed, which likely won't be for some time considering our stockpile of those beautiful holographic labels from the last print run.
On some of your older advertising
material it says that LifeGuard is "Waterproof and Greaseless," but the
FDA says the word "Waterproof" is misleading. Just how "highly water
resistant" is LifeGuard sunscreen?
According to the new monograph the FDA doesn't recognize
any product to be "waterproof," period. It should be noted however
that the actual sunscreening compound in LifeGuard is
insoluble in water. The key is that the upper layers of
your skin on which LifeGuard sits are not insoluble in water. So if while
wearing LifeGuard you were to sit in a hot-tub for an hour then get out
and towel off vigorously, you would be exfoliating, removing many old skin
cells very quickly, and the LifeGuard on those old cells would come off
with them. You would need to reapply LifeGuard to protect the newly
uncovered skin. After normal swimming or perspiration most people
do not need to reapply LifeGuard.
Does "highly sweat resistant" mean
the same thing?
Yes. The actual
sunscreening compound in LifeGuard will not sweat out of your skin, but
during exercise a person might repeatedly rub their brow or other area due
to sweating. This rubbing action can remove some skin cells and thus
remove the LifeGuard on those cells, just as vigorously toweling off might
do. If you are an active outdoor athlete or worker you should reapply
LifeGuard after 80 minutes of continued sweating just to be
safe.
If LifeGuard Sunscreen is
Greaseless does that mean I don' t have to worry about it getting all over
my golfclubs, tennis racquet, etc.?
LifeGuard is perfect for all kinds of outdoor athletes
because it doesn't get oily or greasy when you're outside trying to enjoy
your game. It won't get messy, and it won't get on your gear. You can put
LifeGuard on even before you leave the house, because once it dries it
won't get on your clothes or car upholstery either!
How long will LifeGuard
last?
When used as directed
LifeGuard can last all day with just one application. If you are swimming
a lot, sweating heavily, or involved in other strenuous activity which
might cause LifeGuard to be rubbed off, we strongly recommend that you
reapply after 80 minutes of continued activity to ensure adequate
protection.
Do I apply LifeGuard just as I
would any other sunscreen?
Not
exactly. Most other sunscreens require that you rub them in, but LifeGuard
will penetrate the upper layer of your skin (the stratum corneum) after
just spreading it once evenly and allowing it to dry. Rubbing LifeGuard
may actually result in uneven protection. Once LifeGuard has dried you can
reapply immediately if you think an area may need additional protection,
and if you're using LifeGuard for the first time we recommend that you
apply it twice on most areas. LifeGuard has a consistency like water, so
it is very easy to miss areas of your body when applying (and get burned
in the places you've missed) if you're not used to using LifeGuard. Also,
care must be taken around the face and eyes, because of LifeGuard's
alcohol delivery base. We recommend using a cottonball, make-up pad, or
disposable LifeGuard Sunscreen Towelette to apply LifeGuard to your
face.
Is it true that I should use
LifeGuard every day, and is it safe?
It is not only true that you should use a sunscreen every
day, it is important that you always try to prevent excessive UV exposure.
Multiple studies have shown that the UV radiation that you absorb on a
day-to-day basis (called incidental exposure) is the most
prevalent and damaging exposure you will receive throughout your entire
life! Ultra-Violet radiation damage is cumulative and you get most of it
through short outdoor activities such as walking out to get the mail or
just going out to your car. LifeGuard Sunscreen is safe to use every day,
and doing so will help you to protect yourself from this cumulative UV
damage. For more information about the effects of sun damage on your skin
please visit our For Your
Information page, or our Links page for some
other sources of information.
What are the potential risks of UV
radiation exposure?
Short
term: Sunburns and ruined vacations.
Long term: The increased severity
of fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, and other aging-related skin
problems. Also, skin cancers, including Melanoma.
Most of these harmful effects are caused by UVB, the most dangerous form of UV radiation that penetrates our atmosphere. UVA is the UV radiation that gives you a tan, but keep in mind that the full effects of UVA are still not known, and some scientists believe that it may be somewhat harmful as well. This is one of the primary concerns about tanning beds, because they produce thousands of times more UVA than what a person is normally exposed to.
Will LifeGuard still allow me to
tan?
Yes, LifeGuard will still
allow you to tan some because it does allow some, but not all, UVA to come
through. Keep in mind: because no one is fully aware of the effects of UVA
on the skin most scientists and dermatologists will tell you that there is
no such thing as a completely safe tan! But using LifeGuard will help to
make the time you do spend in the sun that much safer.
Are there other benefits of using
LifeGuard for older men and women?
Definitely! Men who have thinning hair can put it on their
scalps without making their hair oily or greasy, and women can put it on
before they put on their make-up. Because LifeGuard is Greaseless and
odorless it doesn' t interfere with the make-up in any way, and you can
still be protected from the sun. And protecting yourself from further UV
radiation exposure with LifeGuard may help to reduce the appearance of
fine lines and wrinkles.
Well what about make-up that has
sunscreen in it? Will LifeGuard stop it from working or
vice-versa?
No. There should be
no problem at all in using any type of make-up with LifeGuard, as long as
it isn't alcohol based (other than a few astringents, none are). The
alcohol in another product might redissolve the sunscreening compound in
LifeGuard after it is in your skin, leaving that area
unprotected.
If I'm using make-up with
sunscreen in it do I need to use LifeGuard too?
Yes. The sunscreen in most make-up is not very strong and
may not provide you with adequate protection. Besides, most people don' t
regularly put make-up on the tops of their ears and hands or the backs of
their necks, and these areas get a lot of sun exposure every
day.
I was using LifeGuard when I went
out to the beach today and my shoulders are red! Is this a
sunburn!?!?
Probably not. If your
skin feels a little warm but does not sting then you probably don't have a
sunburn. Exposure to UVA radiation can cause vasodilation (expansion) of
the capillaries in your skin, giving your skin a reddish hue. The
scientific term for this is erythema (literally: red skin). The effect is
much the same as when you blush, though one is caused by the sun and the
other by a hormonal reaction. Though your skin may feel warm this is only
a temporary effect.
What sizes and types of LifeGuard
are available?
Currently we offer
LifeGuard Sunscreen in 8oz. Bottles and single use disposable towelettes.
The bottles can be bought individually or in cases of 12. Towelettes are
available in boxes of 24, with the largest single container holding 288
(12 boxes of 24).
How can I get some LifeGuard
Sunscreen?
Your local drug store
may carry LifeGuard. If not you can buy direct from us online here at the
LifeGuard Online
Store.
I'm a retailer. Can I get some
LifeGuard Sunscreen to carry in my store?
Absolutely. Just go to our Dealers page for more
information
How long has LifeGuard Sunscreen
been around?
LifeGuard was
invented in 1981 and has been on sale as "LifeGuard" since June of 1983
using this logo:
LifeGuard logo, June 1983
A few years later we began to use a newer logo and Lifeguard was known as "LifeGuard Sun Barrier" for a time. It was around this time that we also introduced Lifeguard Towelettes using the same basic logo. These first LifeGuard Towelettes were carried in Operation Desert Storm by some of our Armed Forces.
LifeGuard Sun Barrier logo, September 1990
Finally, in March of 1997 we started using our current "centered" logo on our holographic labels for the Lifeguard 8oz. Bottles. The same logo is on our LifeGuard Sunscreen Towelettes, which are now carried by some elite U.S. Special Forces units.
LifeGuard Sunscreen 8oz.Bottle with holographic label, and a box of Towelettes.
These logos, names and images are registered trademarks of Quest
Products, Inc. All rights are reserved.
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