According to nine lawsuits filed in a California court against the makers of five of the most popular sunscreen brands in the U.S. -- Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat, Neutrogena and BullFrog -- sunscreen makers have been misleading consumers on how well their lotions block the sun's harmful rays, putting millions of people at risk of skin cancer. The sunscreen makers are accused of  exaggerating the effectiveness of sunscreens. One lawyer suggests that misleading labeling gives parents a false sense of safety when using suncreen to protect their children from the harmful rays of the sun. The SPF rating on a label only indicates a sunscreen lotion's ability to block UVB rays, not UVA rays. Damaging UVA rays can lead to skin cancer. Sunscreen manufacturers do not agree with the assertions made in the lawsuits. These lawsuits will certainly raise the level of awareness and discussion about the safety of sunscreens. In the meantime, there are other ways a parent can protect their children from the damaging rays of the sun.

In Pediatricians need to educate parents about sun exposure risks, some suggestions include: staying out of the sun during peak hours of 10a.m. to 4p.m., wearing a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, keeping newborns out of the sun, and teaching children good sun-protective practices.