Finally the wonderful relaxing days of summer are upon us and we are spending as much time as possible enjoying warm sunny days. I am lakeside at our cottage this summer and my children are outside swimming as much as they possibly can. This necessitates slathering them with sunscreen multiple times a day. Like most parents I want to slather them with the safest and most effective sunscreen possible. So, in this blog I thought I would discuss which sunscreens are actually considered “safe”.
There are basically two types of sunscreens, chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun’s rays while physical sunscreens work by blocking harmful UV rays. The chemical variety of sunscreens most often contain either avobenzone or oxybenzone under their active ingredients list. The Environmental Working Groups 7th annual analysis of sunscreens was published this year. This agency pools data from over 60 databases and various government agencies and academic institutions. In their review of the literature concerning these two sunscreens they found both to mimic the hormone estrogen and disrupt the hormone system. Some animal studies also suggest that these chemicals can interfere with reproductive health. Oxybenzone seems to be the worst of the two chemicals because of its ability to penetrate the skin and be absorbed by the body. Two European studies found the presence of oxybenzone in mother’s breast milk exposing developing infants to these substances. It has also been linked to endometriosis and altered sperm count. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States found oxybenzone present in 96% of the population it sampled! The Environmental Working Group gave oxybenzone sunscreens a Hazard Score of 8 which is a very poor safety rating.
Physical sunscreens contain Titatnium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide and do not absorb the suns rays but physically block them. Titanium dioxide shows no evidence of hormone disruption and gives good stable UV protection. Plus it’s effects are immediate. So is there really any reason to slather on potential endocrine disrupters on our family’s skin? Probably not. So next time you are buying sunscreen look under the list of medicinal ingredients and avoid any of the ” benzone family”. Stick to the safer Titanium or Zinc Oxide.
Edible Ideas 