Sunscreens That May Do More Harm Than Good

The unofficial start of the summer begins this Memorial Day Weekend and people are stocking up early on sunscreen. However, it's important to know what to look for. Just like your food, be sure to look at the ingredients. The Environmental Working Group is an amazing watchdog group that helps alert consumers to toxic chemicals in our food and products. They even have an annual Sunscreen Guide. There seems to be so much confusion with the results of many sun screen studies. Some say sunscreens protect against certain types of cancer. Others say they do little or may even contribute to skin cancer. While it is agreed that sunscreens protect against sunburn, there is little evidence to support the efficacy or safety of many of the ingredients. In general, it is agreed to avoid the following type of sunscreens:

• Sprays (causes inhalation of sunscreen which may not be safe to breathe)
• Powders (causes inhalation of sunscreen which may not be safe to breathe)
• SPF above 50+ (may suppress burns a little but cause other skin damage)

Use these types of sunscreens:

• Cream
• Broad spectrum protection
• Water resistant
• SPF 30 for beach and pool

Ingredients matter. Avoid using sunscreens with the following ingredients:

• Oxybenzone (synthetic estrogen-yikes!)
• Vitamin A or retinyl palmitate (can cause tumors or lesions-double yikes!)
• Added insect repellent

Use sunscreens with these ingredients:

• Zinc
• Titanium dioxide
• Avobenzone or Mexoryl SX

Bottom line, with the thousands of sunscreens to choose from, why have skin cancer rates stayed the same or even increased? Could some of the ingredients of these sunscreens even contribute to skin cancer? I choose to listen to the unbiased experts at EWG and follow the guidelines above or the top and worst sunscreens below. Then again, a big old hat and shade may be the safest option of all! Check out some of EWGs top safest and most effective sunscreens:

• Adorable Baby
• Alba Botanica
• All Terrain
• Aubrey Organics
• Badger
• BurnOut
• ECO logical skin care
• Kiss My Face
• Raw Elements
• Seventh Generation

  AVOID some of these worst offenders:

• Banana Boat Kids Quick Sunblock Spray Lotion. SPF 35 (4% oxybenzone)
• Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 70+ (6% oxybenzone)
• Banana Boat Baby Tear Free Sunblock, SPF 50(contain retinyl palmitate)
• Arbonne Baby Care Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30(contain retinly palmitate)
• Australian Gold Baby Formula Lotion, SPF 50(contain retinyl palmitate)
• Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Beach and Pool, SPF 70(nothing "safer" over SPF 50)
• CVS Kids Fast Cover Continuous Spray, SPF 50(sprays pose serious inhalationrisk)
• Rite Aid Baby Continuous Spray, SPF 50 (sprays pose serious inhalation risk)
• Go!screen Natural Mineral PowderBlock Brush-On, SPF 30 (possible carcinogen when inhaled)
• Aveeno Naturals Continuous Protection Sunblock Fact Lotion, SPF 30
• Coppertone UltraGuard

I love the Alba Sunscreen pictured above. For the full report, check out EWG Sunscreen Guide 2016. Have a happy and burn-free Memorial Day weekend! Visit www.JillTheHealthCoach.com for more info to a better you. We look forward to hearing from you as you let us HEALTH you!