A recent sunscreen ad by Neutrogena Sunscreen features a young woman with the caption, 'My sister accidentally killed herself. She died of Skin Cancer'. The message is clear: Those who die of the disease only have themselves to blame.

But that statement is generating some controversy from Skin Cancer specialists for a number of reasons, according to this article. Firstly, despite everything we hear about covering up, it's not a proven fact that sunscreen prevents melanoma, but it is thought that it protects against less deadly forms of skin cancer. Secondly, tests show that people who've had more sun exposure have a better chance of survival against melanoma than those who stayed out of the sun. And while the ad is meant to evoke fear by claiming that skin cancer is the most common cancer, it doesn't mention that skin cancer only accounts for 2% of cancer deaths and almost all of these are from Melanoma.

Still, I think protecting yourself against the sun is ultimately important, and that message is clear from the ad.

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.