Is Sunscreen Safe? What You Don't Know Can Burn You

Having a new baby with precious soft new skin prompted me to start investigating sunscreen safety. What makes a sunscreen or sunblock safe and effective? If you are warned not to use sunscreen on children under six months old, what is in it that is harmful?

What is truly the best form of sun protection? Unfortunately, the more I looked into this issue the more I have become convinced that the only truly 100 percent safe form of sun protection is a cotton shirt and big floppy hat, or staying in the shade. Staying out of the sun completely is not an option for my family or myself; we are ocean lovers and avid surfers. So I have set out to find out what to avoid and what are the best options for protection.

There has been surprisingly little research on the safety of sunscreens and sunblocks, because it has taken the FDA 33 years to finalize the sunscreen safety standards first proposed in 1978. Last month, the FDA finally announced their guidelines, but the guidelines mainly focus on the claims made by makers of these products and labeling of the products. The new guidelines fail to establish a list of active ingredients, which the FDA considers safe and effective, nor do they approve new sun-filtering ingredients that may be less toxic, and the guidelines fail to bar high-SPF claims of increased protection, which in fact have negligible benefits. Yet, the FDA is recommending that we apply these chemicals every two hours when in the sun to avoid harmful effects of sun exposure.

Sunscreens are chemicals that are designed to be absorbed by the skin in order to form a sun barrier. Many of the chemicals have been broken down into nano-particles so that they can be sprayed or absorbed more easily. There is clear and plentiful evidence that they prevent sunburn, but there is very little known about the safety of these chemicals and their effectiveness in reducing skin cancer. There are also studies whose statistical evidence shows that in some cases these chemicals may actually increase your risk of cancer. There are three primary concerns with the chemicals in sunscreen:

1) They are potent free-radical generators which breakdown the DNA in cells and potentially make them more prone to cancer.

2) They often have strong estrogenic effects meaning the chemicals could actually interfere with normal sexual development.

3) They are synthetic chemicals that get stored in the fat cells of the body and accumulate over time. When you apply sunscreen, you are putting these chemicals directly into your system.

Sunblocks are products whose ingredients are primarily designed to sit on top of the skin and form an external barrier to block the rays of the sun. However, they may include many of the same chemicals as sunscreen. For my family, and myself, I feel more comfortable with sunblocks.

Tips for Buying Safer Sun Protection?

1) Be aware that any product labeled as sunscreen contains chemicals.

2) Read the labels, I'd suggest looking for and avoiding products with the following chemicals:

Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone)
PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA)
Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate)
Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate)
Digalloyl trioleate
Menthyl anthranilate
Avobenzone [butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane; Parsol 1789] - This is the only chemical sunscreen currently allowed by the European Community. However, its safety is still questionable since it easily penetrates the skin and is a strong free radical generator.

3) Avoid mists and sprays. Most of the chemical ingredients in these products have been broken down into Nano-particles, which are more dangerous internally, and may cause risk to lungs when inhaled as well.

4) Check out the research on the brands you are considering by going to the Environmental Working Groups Sunscreen Guide. The EWG's Sunscreen Guide ranks the safety of more than 1,700 sunscreens, SPF lip balms, moisturizers and makeup. It also lets you know what kind and quantity of information is available about a given product.

5) Buy mineral sunblock whose active ingredient is zinc and/or titanium dioxide.
By definition, sunblock is meant to stay on top of the skin and block the sun's rays. It is not designed for total absorption. My favorite brand is Coola, which is also all natural and contains many organic ingredients as well.

Resources:

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm258416.htm

http://www.enviroblog.org/2011/06/half-baked-fdas-new-sunscreen-regulations-fall-short-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Enviroblog+%28Enviroblog%29

Sunscreen Chemicals:

http://www.skinbiology.com/toxicsunscreens.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/030725_sunscreen_chemicals.html
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/24/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/

 

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Comments

[David Murphey]

08:27 PM on 07/12/2011

Unfortunately, the toxic chemicals present in most topical sunscreens are a concern, potential making these lotions unsafe. Another product that can safely protect your skin from sun damage is a nutritional supplement called Sunsafe Rx. Sunsafe Rx is a capsule, taken orally, made from natural compounds from foods and plants that clinical research has proven are able to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. For a great summary of the major problems with sunscreen lotions, and information on Sunsafe Rx, please go to: http://sunsaferx.com/science-sunscreen-limitations.htm

[Charles Sangston]

09:54 AM on 07/11/2011

According to the Environmental Working Group, an unbiased and neutral tester of consumer products, melanoma rates have risen 300% since the widespread use of sunscreens.

As of 1940, the first year statistics were recorded, melanoma has increased every decade. The highest rates of melanoma, then, and now, are amongst indoor workers.

Curiously, outdoor workers have never experienced an increase in melanoma in any year since 1940.

Almost all sunscreen and sun block products did/do nothing to prevent UVA radiation from penetrating human skin. UVA radiation (Ultra Violet A...“A" for Aging) is now thought to be the primary cause of radiation induced melanoma.

Incredibly, these same products blocked the synthesis of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is the human body’s most potent steroid hormone, not a true vitamin at all. Vitamin D deficiency is now linked to almost all early onset chronic disease diagnosis, whether your doctor(s) admit it or not.

There is no mention in the article of retinyl palmitate. This additive was banned in Europe more than a decade ago after research showed a terrifying link to cancer.

Retinyl palmitate was included in many, if not most, widely used sunscreens in the U.S. until only a few years ago. It is unknown If chemical causes latent, long term cancer cases.

Read the facts of melanoma diagnosis in the last 35 years here:

Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/24/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/