Choosing an Effective and Safe Sunscreen
Organic and Healthy Products for Sun Protection
Jul 17, 2009
Too much time in the sun can lead to skin damage and possibly skin cancer. So, it’s important to slather on the sunscreen before a day at the beach or working outside. However, not all sunscreens are equal, and some may actually be bad for a person’s health as well as the environment. It can be difficult to navigate the many sunscreen options on the market; however, resources do exist to point the consumer in the right direction.
Health Hazards of Sunscreens
The May 26 2009 Slate article “ Staying Green in the Sun” reports that sunscreen could be hazardous to human health as well as the environment. Toxicologists are worried that sunscreen washed off human bodies could be building up in marine life. Some studies show that sunscreen may cause coral bleaching and be toxic to certain species of fish. The creation of sunscreen could also be environmentally unfriendly as minerals must be mined and plastic bottles must also eventually be disposed of.
Sunscreen is supposed to prevent cancer but certain sunscreen ingredients may be carcinogenic themselves such as Benzophenone and Triethanolamine. Meanwhile, David Biello’s August 2007 Scientific American article “Do Nanoparticles and Sunscreen Mix?” questions whether new formulations of sunscreen could be harmful to human health. He points out that so-called organic chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate could negatively affect the human reproductive system.
Ineffective and Unhealthy Sunscreens to Avoid
The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit that researches cosmetic health hazards, reports in its “2009 Sunscreen Guide” that 3 out of 5 brand name sunscreens are ineffective, contain hazardous chemicals, or both. Offenders include brand names such as Coppertone, Neutrogena, and Banana Boat. The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database allows anyone to look up a product for free and lists the product’s health concerns, user feedback, and effectiveness. Banana Boat Kids Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 has a Health Hazard Rating of 7 out of 10 – with 10 being the most hazardous.
Healthy Sunscreens to Choose From
Checking sunscreens in the Skin Deep database is a good idea; however, the Environmental Working Group also offers a list of their top 10 sunscreen choices in their Sunscreen Guide. In “Best Beach and Sport Sunscreens” Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30 gets top billing. This sunscreen received a 0 hazard rating and offers High UVA protection. However, it got mixed reviews from users due to its texture. Other brands on the top 10 sunscreen list include Purple Prairie Botanicals, Soleo Organics, Mexitan, and Vanicream.
Choosing the Best Sunscreen
It may take some trial and error to find the best sunscreen. Different people have different preferences in terms of sunscreen texture and fragrance. However, being an informed consumer and reading ingredients labels will help in finding the safest and most effective sunscreen. Also, checking out the Skin Deep database and reading user reviews is a great place to start.
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