We all know by now how important it is to use sunscreen, in order to reduce the risk of sunburn, skin cancers, and accelerated skin aging. Whenever possible, wear a hat, sunglasses, protective clothing, and look for shade. A best practice to prevent complications from sun exposure is to apply sunscreen daily to exposed areas of skin, and to reapply as needed if swimming, sweating, or spending all day outside. But how do you know which sunscreens are the best ones to use?
Until recently, the ingredients in sunscreens were largely unregulated. The European Commission took the lead in the last few years by conducting scientific studies to determine the safety of some commonly used ingredients. They were able to pinpoint some key ingredients which were found to be potentially harmful, and banned or limited their allowed concentrations in sunscreen products sold in the EU. However, the US has lagged behind on this, and still allows higher levels of potentially harmful ingredients in products sold there.
Here are some key points to keep in mind when choosing a sunscreen:
SPF can be misleading: In reality a product rated as SPF of 100 probably doesn't provide a lot more protection than one that is rated SPF 30 to 50. And if it has a very high SPF, there's a chance that it contains a higher concentration of one or more chemicals that landed on the "naughty list" due to safety concerns with daily use. Particularly if you tend to have sensitive skin, you may find a high SPF (over 50) product to be more irritating. What's most important is that the product provides broad spectrum coverage, meaning that it protects from both UVA and UVB rays. (We need protection from both to reduce the risk of sunburn, skin aging, and skin cancers).
Try to avoid using spray sunscreens. There are several reasons why spray sunscreens are not ideal. They're more likely to be accidently inhaled, allowing chemicals into the respiratory tract and more opportunity to enter the bloodstream. Some of them have been found to be harmful to marine life and coral reefs. And many contain a chemical called benzene, a petroleum-derived chemical that has been linked to development of leukemia, anemia, and other health concerns. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Myth: Having darker skin protects you from sun damage and you don't need to use sunscreen. This is false, but many people still believe it. History has taught us that even people with darker skin tones can get skin cancer. So don't fall for this misinformation, and be sure to protect your skin daily.
Ingredients to look for: Mineral sunscreens have been studied and are believed to be the best in terms of both safety and efficacy. The data so far indicates that mineral sunscreens do not penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream; for this reason, they appear to be safer. The two ingredients to look for to know you're buying a mineral sunscreen are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. They should be listed as the first ingredients on the label. While these products can leave some "white cast" on the skin, this helps you know where you've applied it and what areas you've missed. If both ingredients are used, the formula is less likely to leave a white cast, since the concentration of zinc oxide will tend to be lower when combined with titanium dioxide.
Ingredients to avoid: What we call "chemical sunscreens" contain ingredients that are UV filters that are not minerals. The studies thus far indicate that they can be absorbed through the skin, and enter the bloodstream. Daily use means that the levels in the body can increase over time, and potentially have negative effects such as skin allergy and disruption of hormones (endocrine disruption). The ingredients to look for and avoid are: oxybenzone, homosalate, octocrylene, octinoxate, avobenzone, and octisalate.
Products labeled as "organic" can also be misleading: I just found several brands sold in popular stores that are labeled as "organic" sunscreens. However many of these contain chemical UV filters as their main ingredients. Technically ingredients derived from petrochemicals are considered to be "organic" chemicals.
Sunscreen is better than no sunscreen: If you're in a pinch and take an impromptu trip to the beach, it's better to use any sunscreen you can find, as opposed to none. But for daily use, be sure to check the labels to ensure you're buying a safer product.
I hope this helps on your next shopping trip. Feel free to leave me comments or questions, and stay safe in the sun!
Cheers,
Dr. B
#SPF #sunscreen #protectyourskin #preventskincancer #funinthesun #mineralsunscreen #skinhealth #wellness #skincare #saferproducts
Comentarios