It’s that time of the year, sunscreen is on everyone’s mind again! The shelves at your pharmacy or big box stores are full of options and you are just standing there wondering what the best option for your family is? Let me help you make your decision a little easier.
There are mostly 2 types of sunscreen: physical (mineral) and chemical. It’s easy to tell them apart: If the sunscreen only contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient, it’s a physical ‘sunblock’. If the ingredient list includes octinoxate, homosalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, octisalate, and/or avobenzone, these are UVA-protecting ingredients, and it’s a chemical sunscreen.
How do they work?
The physical (mineral) sunscreens stay on top of the skin and create a physical barrier that prevent the UV rays from entering the skin. This explains why they are often a little harder to rub in and sometimes leave a little white sheen. Physical sunscreen work as soon as they are applied.
The chemical sunscreens have ingredients that are actually absorbed into the skin rather than sitting on top of it to act as effective UV filters. When exposed to UV rays, these ingredients undergo chemical reactions that convert radiation into heat, which is then released from your skin. Chemical sunscreens need to be applied 30 minutes before exposure to give time to your skin to properly absorb the chemicals.
Unfortunately, while chemicals are far from always being harmful (and let’s face it, everything is a chemical), several of the active chemicals in sunscreen are harmful to your health. While in this blog I will focus only on the “active” ingredients in sunscreen, if you want to see a list of ingredients you should avoid for the “inactive” ingredients of your sunscreen, reach out and I will be happy to send you a list.
What active ingredients do you want to avoid in your sunscreen?
- Oxybenzone: It’s a weak estrogen, a moderate anti-androgen and it’s associated with altered birth weight in human studies. It also has relatively high rates of skin allergies.
- Octinoxate: It’s a hormone disruptor, that caused reproductive system, thyroid and behavioral alterations in animal studies. Moderate rates of skin allergies.
- Homosalate: It disrupts estrogen, androgen and progesterone.
- Avobenzone: The breakdown of the product causes relatively high rates of skin allergies and it’s also unstable in the presence of sunlight.
- Octocrylene: Has relatively high rates of skin allergies.
- Retinyl palmitate: Studies indicate that in the presence of sunlight, retinyl palmitate can increase skin cancer lesions by 20%.
- PABA: It increases sensitivity to allergic reactions.
- Methylisothiazolinone (MI): It has high risk of skin allergies (was named Allergen of the Year in 2013).
- Phenoxyethanol: Phenoxyethanol can have an effect on the brain and the central nervous system. It also can be a skin and eye irritant as well as cause skin blistering.
What else should you avoid when shopping for sunscreen?
Brace yourself…… Avoid spray on sunscreen. Yes, I know they are convenient, especially with the wiggly kids but they contain harmful ingredients that should not be inhaled. Indeed, the American Academy of Dermatology says to “avoid inhaling spray sunscreen.” What are the chances that you are not inhaling the sunscreen you are spraying?
Anything you should watch for in physical/mineral sunscreen?
Make sure your active ingredients (zinc or titanium) are non-nanoparticles. This means that the particles are big enough not to penetrate your skin.
What about SPF levels?
SPF 30 is the most common level for most people and skin types. No sunscreen can block all UV rays, but what we do know is: SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. So, the difference between 30 and 50 is about 1 percent. There is often a false sense of security with higher numbers. You think since you’re wearing a higher level, you are invincible to the sun, and that’s just not the case. Most of us also forget that SPF is only at its most active for about two hours, so you need to reapply it often.
Something else to consider if you have not yet made the switch to a mineral sunscreen:
On May 1 2018, Hawaii became the first state to pass a bill banning the sale of sunscreen containing chemicals believed to harm coral reefs.
The legislation prohibits the distribution of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate that scientists have found contributes to coral bleaching when washed off in the ocean. The Hawaii sunscreen bill now awaits the signature of the governor. The new rules will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.
If those ingredients are harmful to the environment, they are not great for humans either. Making the switch to a physical (mineral) sunscreen is doing something good for you and the planet. Win-win.
What should you do?
Wear a physical {mineral) SPF 30 or more sunscreen. Apply enough (a shot glass per application is considered a good amount). Re-apply every 2-3 hours or after you go in the water on dry skin. Avoid the sun between 10 am and 2 pm as it’s at its strongest. Look for shady spots. Wear a hat and sunglasses and in doubt, get protective clothing. The options for swim shirts, swim dresses and protective clothing are endless nowadays and they work without you having to worry about anything else than wearing them! Check www.landsend.com or www.coolibar.com for a great selection.
Want to buy an effective physical sunscreen with safe active and inactive ingredients?
Follow this link: https://shop.bydesign.com/PureHaven/#/shop/detail/16500/from/3096