What is lurking in our Sunscreen? Are they Protecting Us or Killing Us?

     The summer is in full swing and we are a society that now understands the need to protect ourselves from the damaging rays of the sun.  I am amazed at the variety of choices we now have and I decided to do a little bit of research to see which sunscreen would be best for me.  Much to my horror I learned that the MAJORITY of these products contain ingredients that are so incredibly toxic and damaging I cannot fathom why they are FDA approved.  

Ingredient Name	Use in the USA	Abilty to Penetrate Skin	Hormone Disruption	Allergic Reaction	Report Card	Use in Other Products
Oxybenzone	Widespread	Proven Found in Breast Milk	Yes	High Rate	D	Common
Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate)	Widespread	Proven Found in Breast Milk	Yes	Moderate Rate	C -	Common
Homosalate	Widespread	Proven Found in Breast Milk	Yes	Low Rae	C +	Common
Octisalate	Widespread	Proven in Lab Testing	No	Rare	C +	Common
Octocrylene	Widespread	No Evidence	No	High Rate	C +	Common
Titanium Dioxide	Widespread	No Evidence	No	None Reported	B + (inhallation concern)	Common
Zinc Oxide	Widespread	Less than .01% of superficial Penetration	No	None Reported	B + (inhallation concern)	Common
Avobenzone	Widespread	Limited Superficial Penetration	No	High Rate	A -	Common

6 other ingredients approved in the U.S. are rarely used in sunscreens: benzophenone-4, benzophenone-8, menthyl anthranilate, PABA, Padimate O, and trolamine salicylate. They should be avoided due to widespread warnings that have caused most manufacters to no longer include them

For a comprehensive list on what sunscreens NOT to by please visit our friends at EWG.

 

Hormone Disruptors are chemicals that, at certain doses, can interfere with the endocrine (or hormone system) in mammals. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, and other developmental disorders.[1] Any system in the body controlled by hormones can be derailed by hormone disruptors. Specifically, endocrine disruptors may be associated with the development of learning disabilities, severe attention deficit disorder, cognitive and brain development problems; deformations of the body (including limbs); breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid and other cancers; sexual development problems such as feminizing of males or masculinizing effects on females, etc

Ability to Penetrate Skin: The chart states where the ingredients have been found and those stating found in breast milk denote the chemicals ability to travel throughout the body rather than penetratate superficially. In other words those not found in breast milk are safer as they do not travel by way of our metabolism..

Allergic Reaction: defines the ingredient to be an irritant to most skin types.

Use in Other Products: defines how commonly used the ingredients are in the Health and Beauty Industry.