Just When You Thought Sunscreen Was Safe…
It’s almost summer (at least where I live) and time for the best anti aging skin care treatment – sunscreen! At least that’s what we’ve always been told – slather on that SPF30 because the sun is so damaging to your skin. But what about the sunscreen you’re using? Is that safe? Probably not.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 97% of Americans are using a sunscreen with oxybenzone in it, a substance that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. This chemical is also linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy.
The Environmental Working Group has found that 588 sunscreens (many of them common brands, such as Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat) contain oxybenzone. It also found that 84% of 910 name-brand sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients, like oxybenzone, with significant safety concerns. Isn’t that fun?
Where’s The FDA?
According to the EWG: FDA last reviewed the safety of oxybenzone in the 1970s (USPC 1975), republishing its evaluation in 1978, at the same time it announced plans to develop comprehensive standards for sunscreen safety and effectiveness (FDA 1978). 30 years later, the Agency has yet to issue final regulations. Instead, it encourages manufacturers to follow draft guidelines that the Agency has delayed finalizing at the behest of the sunscreen industry. As a result, sunscreen manufacturers in the U.S. are free to market products containing ingredients like oxybenzone that have not been proven safe for people.
What Is A Safe Sunscreen?
I encourage you to follow the link to the EWG above and read for yourself. They have a very detailed list of safe and not safe sunscreens to use.
If you’d like to save yourself the work, check out: Anti Aging Sunscreen Recommendations
I’ve tried to find the best rated, yet less expensive options. Most of the recommended products can only be bought online or through specialty stores.
Posted by gkideas
Very interesting studies, particularly the low birth weight in baby girls. Do you know why it might affect girls more than boys?
I actually get a terrible rash whenever I put cheap sunscreen on my face and neck, so I shelled out the cash for some Biotherm stuff. According to your resource, it has a decent sun hazard rating, but the health hazard rating was pretty high. And the cheap Coppertone I was replacing actually has a slightly lower health hazard score.
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