The summer is here, and as many of us head to the beach, we are unaware that our vacation could turn bad because of an “innocent” sunscreen lotion. But that’s the reality, the latest report released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) revealed.

The group took into consideration over 1,000 sunscreen products and discovered that four out of five of them are useless in terms of sunscreen protection, and some are even dangerous for the skin, due to the fact that they contain harmful chemicals.

Sunscreen lotions are meant to protect the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UV), and have been highly recommended by some medical organizations as an efficient way to protect ourselves from unwanted sun burns and skin problems.

On the other hand, some studies (Am J Public Health) have also shown that people using chemical sunscreens experience the greatest risk in cutaneous malignant melanoma. However, no public recommendations to stay away from sunscreens have been made.

Until now, sunscreens have been recommended especially to persons with fair coloring, and those with a history of skin cancer, but they have also been considered a must for children. The level of protection is different from one product to another.

The problem is however that, as much as we became used to believing in their effectiveness, the reality is exactly the opposite. According to the report released on Tuesday by the Environmental Working Group, some of the leading brands in the field failed to meet the safety and effectiveness criteria.

The report found only one in 103 products from the second-largest seller, Banana Boat, and the third-largest seller, Neutrogena, met the necessary criteria.

The group also released a list with the top most effective and the top not recommended sunscreens. Among the safest ones, EWG included Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock (SPF 30), Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum (SPF 30+) and California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance (SPF 30+).

The bottom three was made up of B. Kamins, Chemist Bio-Maple Maple Treatment Day Cream (SPF 15), Iman Time Control Oil Free Moisture Complex (SPF 15) and Rachel Perry Calendula-Cucumber Oil Free Moisturizer, Sunblock with Echinacea (SPF 15), which received 7 and 8 scores out of possible 10, which is considered high hazard.

The study doesn’t suggest we should stop using sunscreens, it does however raise alarm signals that we should be careful when we purchase a sunscreen product, how we use it and how often we apply it. Over 1 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year in the U.S., but the FDA still has a lot of work ahead in establishing the adequate sunscreen standards.