Summer is quickly approaching, and soon Americans will be slathering on the sunscreen. Why? Because that's what dermatologists recommend to prevent skin cancer. Sunscreen is also a big moneymaker for the personal care industry, and summertime means big bucks at the cash register.
But what if you found out your sunscreen is not protecting you against skin cancer? What if your sunscreen causes allergies, hormonal imbalance, cell damage, and even low birth weight among baby girls?
Would you still use it? Would you put it on your kids?
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a consumer watchdog based in Washington, D.C. Researchers there conducted a study, and here's what they found: Most sunscreens—600 different ones in fact—contain a harmful ingredient called oxybenzone. That includes sunscreens made by top name-brand companies like Coppertone and Banana Boat.
Oxybenzone is one of 16 active ingredients found in most sunscreens. It absorbs UVB and short-wave UVA radiation. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved the chemical in 1978. Although the agency developed new rules for the labeling and development of sunscreen products in 1999, the regulations only cover UVB radiation, not UVA, which is what puts you most at risk for cancer.
UVA radiation penetrates deeper into your skin. It can lead to sunburn and cellular damage, which produces free radicals that harm your health and put you at risk for skin cancer.
Numerous studies confirm the harmful effects of oxybenzone. In 1992, the National Toxicology Program conducted oxybenzonestudies on rats and mice. They found oxybenzone had an adverse effect on their kidneys and livers, disruptedfemale reproductive cycles, and affected sperm density in males.
In a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, researchers tested 2,500 Americans, ages six years old and up. They found oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone-3, present in 97% of those they tested. In this study, females of all ages had higher levels of oxybenzone than males.
The Mt. Sinai School of Medicine also released a study on the safety of oxybenzone. The doctors found a link between high levels of oxybenzone and low female birth weights. The study was published in the Environmental Health Perspectives, a journal put out by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Despite all the conclusive studies, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), which is the leading national trade association for the cosmetic and personal care products industry, continues to defend these sunscreen products. The organization released the following statement:
Consumers can be confident in the safety of the sunscreens they buy for themselves and their families because all sunscreens sold in the U.S. are regulated as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration, which requires them to go through a rigorous scientific assessment and approval process that includes safety and performance testing before marketing.
But the clinical evidence is clear: Oxybenzoneis one of several ingredients in chemical-based sunscreen that can disrupt your fragile endocrine system, causing hormonal imbalance and damaging your DNA.As pointed out by the EWG:
A previous bio-monitoring study reported that 96% of six- to eight-year-old girls had detectable amounts of oxybenzone in their urine. An earlier study detected oxybenzone in the urine of all 30 adult participants.
Sunscreen is designed either to absorb or reflect ultraviolet radiation. But if your sunscreendoesn’t block UVA rays—the radiation that causes skin cancer—it is not providing you with the protection you need.
So what precautions should you take and which sunscreen, if any, should you use?
Hiding from the sun isn't the answer. In fact, experts recommend that you get a good 10 to15 minutes of sunlight a day. But when you are out in the sun, wear a barrier sunscreen that provides UVA protection. Barrier sunscreens sit on your skin instead of being absorbed, providing a barrier to bounce off the sun’s harmful rays.
Dr. Harper recommendsher mineral-based sunscreen called SkinShift SPF 25. This paraben-free, non-greasy formula contains a unique combination of active ingredients that provide an effective, transparent barrier against harmful UVA and UVB rays. SkinShift SPF 25 also contains key ingredients like Edelweiss extract and Buddleja Davidii that help reverse the signs of sun damage while protecting and nourishing your skin.
