Sunscreens to Avoid this Summer

It's getting to be about that time of year....the days are getting hotter, the sun is getting stronger and the need for a HEALTHY, EFFECTIVE & AFFORDABLE sunscreen is greater than ever!  While getting a nice, healthy dose of Vitamin D from the sun is important {in moderation that is}, it is also just as important to protect yourself from too much of those sun rays.  Well....it's a good thing that the Environmental Working Group just released their 2012 Sunscreen Guide to help us avoid those potentially dangerous ingredients and find a sunscreen that really protects us.  

Isn't that a strange thing to think about...protecting your skin with something that is harmful to it...


The EWG found that only 25% of sunscreens tested are effective at protecting your skin without the use of potentially harmful ingredients.  This 2012 Guide rates 1,800 sunscreens, lip balms, moisturizers and even cosmetics, all containing SPF....and to make this list, it must be free of Oxybenzone, Retinly Palmitate, protect against UVA and UVB rays, while not being above a 50 SPF.


What are these ingredients that we want to avoid?
1.  Oxybenzone - linked to hormone disruption, allergic reactions, and potential cell damage that could lead to skin cancer.  
2.  Retinyl Palminate - Government studies have found that, while used on sun exposed skin, this particular type of Vitamin A may cause tumors & lesions to form and increase your chance of skin cancer. 

Why not above 50 SPF?

Normally, we just grab the bottle with the highest SPF and assume it will give us the best coverage right?  Well, the EWG believes that any sunscreen above 50 can be misleading, providing a false sense of security and, not to mention, being WAY more expensive!  Studies have shown that the difference between 30 SPF and 85 SPF is sooooo small {SPF 30 blocks about 97% while SPF 85 blocks about 98.5%}...that it's not worth the extra costs!

How do we know if it protects against UVA & UVB rays?

Two words: BROAD SPECTRUM.  When purchasing sunscreens you want to make sure that you are protected against both UVA rays {causes sunburns} and UVB rays {causes skin damage and aging} and the words Broad Spectrum mean you're covered.  

So what do YOU need to look for in a Sunscreen?

-Use a sunscreen with a min of SPF 15 & and a max of SPF 50

-Make sure the labels list both UVA & UVB protections or say "Broad Spectrum"

-Purchase sunscreen that doesn't contain oxybenzone or retinyl palminate

-Try avoid spray bottles because of the respiratory problems they cause when inhaled

So...go on over and check out the 2012 Sunscreen Guide to help you select the best sunscreen for you!

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Sources

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/health/sunscreen-report/index.html

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/choosing-best-sunscreens-8212-avoiding-worst-124800044.html

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