Here comes the sun
With spring break in full swing and summer right around the corner, it’s time to break out the sunscreen again. The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) 2009 analysis of name-brand sunscreens might leave you both confused and shocked as to the effectiveness and dangers of your favorite brands. Of the 1,581 sunscreens tested, EWG found that 3 out of 5 offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. 8 out of every 9 sunscreens protect only from sunburn (UVB protection) and not from UVA radiation, which leads to skin damage and aging, immune system problems and skin cancer.
Here are some tips for keeping your family protected from harmful rays all summer long:
- Avoid products with bug repellent. Mosquitos aren’t usually out in the heat of the day, and the mixture of the ingredients leads to greater amounts of the pesticide soaking through the skin.
- Check the bottle for an expiration date. Sunscreens that have been sitting around in your medicine cabinet for years won’t protect you from the sun’s rays.
- Avoid powder and spray sunscreens. Those nano-particles are more easily absorbed through your lungs than your skin.
- Avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone. In laboratory tests, oxybenzone has been shown to disrupt the endocrine system and release reactive oxygen species that could contribute to skin cancer. Up to 9% of oxybenzone applied to the skin absorbs into living tissues and blood vessels below the surface.
- Stay out of the midday sun. Summer sun is more intense between 10 AM and 4 PM.
EWG’s Top 3 rated beach and sport sunscreens:
- Soleo Organics Sunscreen Organic chemical free sunscreen, SPF 30+
- Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30
- Purple Prairie Botanicals Sun Stuff, SPF 30
To read more about sunscreens and to see how your favorite brand stacks up, visit EWG’s sunscreen guide.
