The Harmful Effects of Sunscreen
It’s that time of year where we all start enjoying the weather outside, but did you know that 4 different studies conducted in the 1990’s indicated a higher risk of malignant melanoma among individuals who used the most sunscreen! More than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. And even though more and more people are using sunscreen each year, the incidence of skin cancer continues to climb worldwide.
In 2014, The Environmental Working Group (EWG) published their guide to safe sunscreens. They reviewed over 2000 sunscreens and over 257 brands. They found more than 75% of the sunscreens contained toxic chemicals that can increase your risk of cancer and other health issues. According to research from the EWG: Our review…shows that some sunscreen ingredients absorb into the blood, and some have toxic effects. Some release skin-damaging free radicals in sunlight, some act like estrogen and disrupt hormones, and several can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. The FDA has not established rigorous safety standards for sunscreen ingredients. Sunscreens haven’t been regulated since 1978 in the USA, and the SPF factor only tells you how effective a sunscreen is against UVB rays which cause sunburn.
A recent study published in Environmental Science Technology has also shown the common sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, and PABA are estrogenic chemicals linked to cancer. Here is a list of unsafe, Toxic Chemicals that you should avoid in your sunscreen:
- Para amino benzoic acid
- Octyl salicyclate
- Oxybenzone
- Cinoxate
- Dioxybenzone
- Phenylbenzimidazole
- Homosalate
- Menthyl anthranilate
- Octocrylene
- Methoxycinnamate
- Parabens
Like we said in the last blog, the sun is essential for your health. Think about it. Without the sun, most plants couldn’t grow and we would perish from a lack of Vitamin D3. Of course, you can have too much of a good thing. We don’t recommend letting your skin burn, and this is a common point people miss. Getting a moderate amount of sunshine daily (Approx. 20 minutes) can actually help decrease your risk of certain types of cancers.
Now don’t get me wrong, there are times that you should wear sunscreen. But what is the best kind to buy?
The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No chemicals for the skin to absorb, no questions about whether the product works and no bogus claims like “sunblock.” But if that is not enough, mineral sunscreens are the way to go!
Non-mineral sunscreens penetrate the skin, are potentially disruptive to hormones, are allergenic, and like we mentioned earlier, can release free radicals when they break down. Oxybenzone is the most common ingredient found in sunscreens. Scientists recommend not using sunscreens containing oxybenzone on children because of this hormone disruption.
Mineral sunscreens are ones containing zinc, or titanium. These do not breakdown in sunlight, are not usually absorbed (so do not disrupt the body’s hormones), are not allergenic and are more effective at blocking UVA rays than non-minerals. These sunscreens are a good choice for children and according to EWG have the best safety profiles of the choices in the United States.
These healthier sunscreens contain Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide as a more natural form of sunblock. However even these ingredients aren’t flawless as you’ll see in the EWG ratings system. According to the American Cancer Society, oxidative damage can increase your cancer risk. Here at Mind and Body solutions, we have a supplement protocol (along with a diet change) that we recommend which can potentially decrease your risk of skin cancer and help with the effects of sunburns.
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