What your mama should have told you about the dangers of sunscreen
It’s that time of year again when the sun begins to shine and parents reach for the sunscreen. We are told that sunscreen will protect us from sunburn, wrinkles, and skin cancer. Yet, research now suggests that sunscreen might not do any of these things very well: instead, many of the most popular sunscreen brands might actually increase our children’s chances of getting some cancers.
BEWARE!According to the EWG, these companies make some of the worst sunscreens, known to contain ingredients possibly linked to cancer, birth defects, and hormone disruption: Australian Gold, Aveeno, Baby Blanket, Banana Boat, Bull Frog, Coppertone, CVS, Hawaiian Tropic, L’Oreal, Neutrogena, No-Ad, Ocean Potion, Panama Jack, Parrot Head, Philosophy, Rocky Mountain Sunscreen, Rite Aid, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Vichy Laboratories.
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The issues with sunscreen
The FDA says it is “not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer,” according to a recent Huffington Post article. It gets worse. A 2007 meta-analysis of 17 (out of 18 known) studies on the subject concluded that: “there was no statistically significant effect of use of sunscreens on risk of melanoma.” The study further found that in latitudes greater than 40 degrees (New York and north—i.e. Vancouver and all the rest of Canada) the use of sunscreen might actually “contribute to the risk of melanoma.” (Malignant melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancers accounting for about 4% of skin cancers but 75% of skin cancer related deaths.)
Sunscreens are effective at blocking UVB rays, but do not do such a good job of blocking UVA rays. The skin doesn’t get “burnt” because the burning rays are blocked, but it still gets zapped. So, though sunscreens are effective at reducing the risk of squamos-cell carcinoma (associated with exposure to UVB rays), this is neither particularly abundant (at 16% of skin cancer cases) nor particularly deadly. UVB rays are also the ones associated with Vitamin D production in the body. No one seems to know for sure if this is why sunscreen wearers have as much or more chance of developing melanoma.
What this study does reveal is our general lack of science on sunscreen. And the sunscreen research that exists is not black and white. I mean that literally. There are virtually no studies done on whether sunscreen has any benefit (or harm) for those with darker skin or for those living significantly south of the equator. These problems don’t even take into account that many sunscreens contain known toxins. And a general lack of required health and safety testing means there are numerous other ingredients in our sunscreens whose health effects are unknown or suspect.
Dirty sunscreen
In an independent investigation, EWG researchers reviewed 500 popular sunscreens and recommended only 39 of them as safe for consumers. The worst offenders were often the market leaders: None of the 39 received a perfect score. Even worse, they found that many brands made inaccurate and misleading claims such as “water-proof,” “broad-spectrum protection,” and even “chemical-free.” Other words to be wary of: “for babies,” “natural,” and any SPF over 50. Many sunscreens, including those marketed specifically to children and babies, had known carcinogens, neurotoxins, ingredients known to become unstable and reactive when exposed to sunlight, and chemicals linked with endocrine disorders (gender-bending effects), and birth defects. Some of the worst offenders include the more popular brands (Neutrogena, No-Ad, Coppertone, Banana Boat) and there packages were littered with the above-mentioned meaningless statements.
The FDA recently updated its sunscreen regulations for the first time in 33 years. They went into effect in December 2012. Around the same time, Canada updated their monograph (which is not legally binding) on how companies should label their sunscreen products. Yet, according to the independent researchers at EWG, things may have gotten worse for North American sunscreen users since.
Ingredients to watch for in sunscreen and the challenges of reading sunscreen labels.
There are two types of sunscreens available in North America. Chemical sunscreens rely on chemicals to filter UV rays. Research suggests that these chemical filters are easily absorbed through the skin and into the body and that they can cross the placenta and enter unborn children. The most commonly used of these chemical filters, oxybenzone, can cause allergic skin reactions and may disrupt hormones. Mineral sunscreens are also available and they tend to rely on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to filter UV rays. The EWG says that mineral sunscreens usually rate as safer in their research, however most of these mineral filters are used in nano particle form. This means the ingredients are so small that they can enter the bloodstream and may cause damage to internal organs. Zinc oxide is probably the safest sunscreen available, but in order for it to not look white and greasy, it is usually made into a smaller nano-particle form which provides less UVA protection.
In the U.S. and Canada sunscreens are regulated as drugs. This means it has taken longer for both of the countries to approve some of the newer chemicals currently in use in the E.U. and Japan and thought to be safer and provide more UVA protection, including: Mexoryl SX, Tinosorb S and Tinosorb M. This also means sunscreen companies are not required to list all their ingredients on the labels in either country.
Avoid these sunscreen ingredients:
Fragrance or Parfums are considered trade secrets in both the U.S. and Canada, so dozens of chemicals—including suspected neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors—can be hidden
behind these seemingly innocuous terms.
High SPF factors. High SPF ratings were found by the FDA to be “inherently misleading.” These high-SPF products often contain more of the above offending ingredients and can encourage people to stay in the sun longer without providing any additional protection.
Nanoparticles. Micronized or nanoscale particles of minerals are often found in titanium or zinc based sunscreens. These tiny particles have not fully been studies and there are no regulations governing their use or labelling in the U.S.
Oxybenzone. Found in almost all chemical sunscreens, oxybenzone is an allergen, potential endocrine disruptor. It is easily absorbed through the skin, particularly in children, and can interphere with hormone development.
Parabens. Parabens, such as methyl paraben and butyl paraben, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic the female hormone estrogen and are linked with reproductive disorders in boys and possibly cancers in women.
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) has mostly been phased-out of sunscreens because of high incidence of allergic reactions in response to its use.
Retinol or retinyl palmitate. Found in many name-brand sunscreens, this type of Vitamin A is photocarcinogenic and might actually speed the development of skin tumors and lesions.
All spray sunscreens. When sunscreen is sprayed, it can be inhaled, where it can do damage to the lungs. Even mineral sunscreens aren’t safe in spray form as titanium dioxide becomes a “possible carcinogen” when inhaled in high doses (IARC 2006).
More research on sun exposure, UV rays, & Vitamin D
The science of sun-light
Ultraviolet (UV) light is divided into 3 wavelength ranges that are referred to as UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. UVC is the most energetic and shortest of the UV rays. It burns quickly and in small doses. It is also absorbed entirely by the ozone layer. Thus when talking sunscreen, we are primarily dealing with UVA and UVB rays.
UVB is the UV ray that is primarily responsible for sunburn. It also stimulates the body’s production of Vitamin D; melanin, which protects human skin from sun damage; and Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (MSH), an important hormone in weight loss and energy production. Only 5% of the UVB light range goes through glass and it does not penetrate clouds, smog, or fog. Most sunscreens only protect against UVB rays and the SPF (sun protection factor) rating refers to efficacy in protecting against UVB light.
UVA is primarily responsible for aging and darkening the pigment in our skin. UVA is less energetic than UVB, but has a longer wavelength. This means UVA rays penetrate deeper. UVA rays are less likely to cause sunburn, however UVA rays are now considered to be a major contributor to non-melanoma skin cancers. Until recently, UVA was not filtered by sunscreens (and still isn’t filtered by most sunscreens sold in America) and 78% of UVA can even penetrate through glass windows. UVA sunscreen ratings are measured by PPD (persistent pigment darkening), theoretically a rating of 10 would allow you to stay out 10 times longer.
Vitamin D and sunlight
Vitamin D might be referred to as the miracle Vitamin. It does it all: contributes to strong bones, healthy immune and endocrine systems, and can help prevent a plethora of today’s diseases from diabetes and obesity to depression and infertility.
As you read above, Vitamin D can be absorbed from sunlight: UVB rays to be exact. However, getting enough Vitamin D from the sun is hard. Unlike the UVA rays which are steady throughout the day and penetrate through just about anything, UVB rays are fickle—you have to get them at just the right angle and without clouds, clothes, or other barriers. For a person who lives in the “northern latitudes” (think Chicago, New York, all of Canada) to get a healthy daily dose of Vitamin D from sunlight, a light-skinned person would have to spend 10 to 20 minutes in full sunlight between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A dark-skinned person 90 to 120 minutes. That’s right—the exact hours our mothers told us to stay indoors. Any earlier or later and the angle of the UVB rays would mean spending more time and more time means more exposure to those deep penetrating UVA rays. Oh, and it has to be the WHOLE body exposed—85%—not just hands and feet.
The Green Mama Tips for Sun Safety: How To Protect Your Child From Sun Damage
The information is scary and the science inconclusive, but here is some good advice that even your mother will agree with.
- Look up your sunscreen on the EWG’s cosmetic database. If it isn’t safe, chuck it. Choose a better sunscreen that protects against UVA rays and doesn’t contain any of the above ingredients (and isn’t a spray). In general, mineral sunscreens that rely on Titanium Dioxide are the safest available in North America, but Europe may have better sunscreens available.) Shop Safer Sunscreens in the Green Mama Store
- Invest in a sun hat, consider sun protective bathing suits, and try out protective clothing.
- Eat your sunscreen. Foods high in carotenoids provide natural sun protection. These include many fruits and vegetables, especially leafy dark greens and those that are yellow-orange like apricots, carrots, and yams. Other good sources include eggs, spirulina, and algae. The red pigment found in salmon, trout, and shrimp is another potent carotenoid.
- Get your Vitamin D. Vitamin D generated by sunlight may help protect the skin from cellular damage, including damage caused by sunlight itself. You would have to spend about 15 minutes between the hours of 10 and 2, with 85% of your body exposed f
or optimal Vitamin D absorption (for a fair skinned person, much more for a dark skinned person). Foods high in Vitamin D include “intestines, organ meats, skin and fat from certain land animals, as well as shellfish, oily fish and insects.” To get Vitamin D from the animal they must have be exposed to sunlight or in the case of fish have been fed on phytoplankton. Most modern diets don’t include a lot of intentional insect eating (fortunately) or a lot of animal flesh actually exposed to sunlight (unfortunately). Most people will not get enough Vitamin D from sun or diet. (You can ask your doctor to test your Vitamin D levels.) A good cod liver oil is one of the most absorbable forms of Vitamin D supplementation. - BEWARE of sunscreens labeled over 50 SPF. Most of these are disingenuous at best and are possibly loaded with more of the most hazardous ingredients. It is better to use an SPF between 15 and 50 and reapply frequently and generously. Remember, however, most sunscreens don’t protect against UVA so while you may not show signs of skinburn, you may indeed be getting deep tissue damage while wearing the typical sunscreen.
- Do not apply sunscreen to infants under 6 months of age. The skin of babies is super absorbent and even subtle exposures to their developing organs can have lasting effects AND fair-skinned babies do not have melanin proteins for sun protection. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you avoid using sunscreen on children younger than 6 months.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock. Women with child by Goodluv. Child in hat by Eric Boucher.
Article by Manda Aufochs Gillespie, The Green Mama. If you like this article you will love the Green Mama book. Please sign-up to get more helpful tips delivered to your inbox.
As with any advice found on The Green Mama take it all with a grain of salt, participate in doing your own research (and let us know what you find), and don’t do anything crazy without consulting a trusted health care professional.
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