With all this talk about the vast amount of chemicals in our food and in our environment, have you ever wondered about the safety of the ingredients in your sunscreen? More and more people are using sunscreen as their first line of defense, but at what cost?
The Environmental Working Group’s fourth annual Sunscreen Guide has been released and the findings might surprise you – EWG researchers recommend only 39 (that’s 8 percent) of the 500 beach and sport sunscreens tested for this season. The products that didn’t make the cut either don’t sufficiently protect skin from sun damage or contain dangerous chemicals – or both.
The EWG reports that there is a surge in exaggerated SPF claims above 50 and that the use of oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting compound that penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream, is found in about 60 percent of the 500 beach and sport sunscreens analyzed. The products rated highest for their safety and efficacy, earning them EWG’s coveted “green” rating, all contain the minerals zinc or titanium.
The results have lead EWG to “warn consumers not to depend on any sunscreen for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Hats, clothing and shade are still the most reliable sun protection.” But when you can’t go that route, the guide will help you pick the safest, most effective products out there.
It’s also important to note that vitamin D, formed in the skin through the action of the sun, is essential for many processes in the body, including maintaining healthy bones and a strong immune system and protection from certain types of cancer. Year round sunscreen use combined with too little time outdoors contributes to vitamin D deficiencies. Experts recommend that you aim for 15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure a minimum of 3 times a week, to keep your body producing vitamin D.
You can check the status of your sunscreen by searching the Environmental Working Group’s online database.
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