The Transport Security Administration (TSA) now allows passengers to carry full-size sunscreen bottles in handbags. On Wednesday, April 7, the TSA changed its hand-to-sunscreen policy following a challenge from Brown University to allow only a maximum bottle of 3.4 ounces (100.5 ml).
The dermatology department of Providence, Rhode Island Ivy League School, has challenged TSA because sunscreen is used to protect a person’s body from ultraviolet radiation that is known to cause skin cancer. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) products are now listed with other medical items such as eye contact solutions, inhalers and liquid medicines on the TSA’s website.
You must notify the TSA
While full-size bottles of sunscreen will be allowed in your hand luggage, it is still up to you to notify the security guard checking your suitcase that you are wearing sunscreen, or else he or she may confiscate it.
The TSA website lists the following medical fluids and gels:
“TSA allows larger quantities of medically essential liquids, gels and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your journey, but you must declare this to the security officers at the checkpoint for inspection.”
May is the month for skin cancer awareness
This small but important change in TSA policy comes just before the month of skin cancer awareness in May. As warmer weather begins to appear in the northern hemisphere and people begin to do more outdoor activities, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) encourages people to #PracticeSafeSun. In the United States, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer and the most preventable.
You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by following these steps:
- Seek shade if appropriate
- Remember that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 and 14:00
- Wear clothes that protect your skin from the sun
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection
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Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
If your skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, you can protect yourself by applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Remember to reapply the sunscreen every two hours or after swimming.
The AAD also encourages people to perform regular skin self-examinations, as skin cancer is very treatable if detected early. If you see new spots on your skin that are different from others or spots that itch or bleed, make an appointment with a certified dermatologist. They can then determine if it should be tested or removed.
Dermatologist at Brown, Julia A. Siegel, MD, and the director of Mohs micrographic and dermatological surgery at Brown Tiffany J. Libby led the effort to get the TSA to raise the limit for sunscreen bottles. In an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, shared by PopSugar, they write:
“Estimates show that increasing the use of sunscreen by 5% per year over ten years will lead to a 10% reduction in melanoma in the United States.”
What do you think of the TSA calling sunscreen a medical necessity? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments.