Sunscreen: Safe or Not? Part I

Photo courtesy of Ahmet Guler

While sunscreen is always a must, the type of sunscreen that is the safest is a constant debate. There are two sides to this argument: On one side, the Skin Cancer Foundation maintains that "there has never been any evidence that oxybenzone, which has been available for 20 years, has any adverse health effect in humans. The ingredient is FDA-approved for human use based on exhaustive review." See the full article here.
One the other side, there is the stance held by the Environmental Working Group, who maintains that there are harmful hormone disruptors such as oxybenzone in most sunscreens, which they label as "notorious" for their effect on the body. In the study done by John Knowland of the  Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University, it is found that "Oxybenzone is a derivative of benzophenone, which can attack DNA when illuminated. It generates strand breaks and various photoproducts"


Sounds like a lot of science, right? While the experts continue to argue, there are steps you can take to reducing your risk. In this post, we'll give you some easy steps for avoiding the sun. Regardless of what side you're on, there are always some alternatives to wearing generic sunscreen with potentially harmful ingredients.

1.) Stay in the shade. Beach tents are becoming more and more popular, especially for families with young children. Instead of baking in the sun, ensure a shady spot at the beach, the park or festivals with a nifty beach tent.


2.) Wear skin friendly clothing. Cute beach cover ups, wide brimmed hats and sarongs can help reduce your exposure to the sun. 


3.) Watch the clock. Whenever possible, plan to be outdoors when the sun is lower in the sky, like early morning or late afternoon. When the sun is directly over head at midday, UV radiation is at it's peak. 


4.)  You MUST wear sunglasses. We all know how fab the right pair of shades can make you look, but that's not their only purpose. Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV radiation, a cause of cataracts. Make sure they say both UVA and UVB on the label, as protection from both is necessary.  


Stay tuned for Part II, where we'll explore sunscreen ratings and ingredients. Check out our facebook page for special offers and remember, Suvara air-brush tans are ALWAYS safe for your skin, and give you the same healthy glow of a tan! Come see us at one of our many locations. 


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