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It's practically summer: Quick, grab the (safe) sunscreen
Every year about this time we get a note from our preschool asking parents to either sign off on the school's sunscreen application regimen (their brand) or to bring your own. We've always brought our own because I was not at all keen on the brand the school used.
Not sure who got the last laugh when I learned last year that my "this one's safer" brand was, ahem, loaded with oxybenzone. How did I know? EWG's Cosmetics Database, of course. And for the curious, oxybenzone is on our list of ingredients to avoid.
And what did I do? Ditched the toxic stuff immediately (not cheap), and followed the practical advice on EWG's handy 1-page guide to safe sunscreen. Leading me to a safer product and a better understanding of how the stuff actually works. Now we're neither burned nor toxic. Success!
What does EWG suggest for safe summer fun?
- USE SUNSCREEN that's effective and safe. Start with EWG's list of "best" sunscreens. Make sure the SPF is 30 or higher. Buy new sunscreen every year and avoid powders and sprays.
- KEEP KIDS SAFE since they're more sensitive to sun damage. Use sunscreen, play in the shade, and keep infants out of direct sun as much as possible. Check our special sun safety tips for kids below.
- AVOID MIDDAY SUN WHEN INTENSITY PEAKS. Summer sun is more intense between 10 and 4, also at high altitudes and in the tropics.
- SEEK SHADE OR BRING YOUR OWN. Cover up with a shirt, hat, and UV-protective sunglasses. Remember that invisible rays can reflect up toward you from the ground, so you may still need sunscreen if you wear a hat.
- SLOP ON SUNSCREEN AND REAPPLY OFTEN. Put it on before you go out in the sun. Sunscreen washes off in water and can break down in the sun -- reapply often. Wear daily on skin not covered by clothing.
- AVOID PRODUCTS WITH BUG REPELLANT. You don't typically need them at the same time of day, and the mixture of ingredients leads to greater amounts of the pesticide soaking through the skin.
- CHECK THE UV INDEX when planning outdoor activities.
- SKIP SUNLAMPS and tanning beds.
- CHECK YOUR SKIN for spots and changes, and remember that natural tone (not just tan) is beautiful. You know your skin best, so examine it for changes, lesions, and spots regularly. Be extra careful if you have freckles, moles, take certain medications (such as some antibiotics), or have a family history of skin cancer. Early detection is best, so consult your doctor for more information.
A few tips just for kids
Kids are more vulnerable to damage caused by the sun. A few blistering sunburns in childhood can double a person's lifetime chances of developing serious forms of skin cancer. Keep your family safe in the sun by using a sunscreen that's effective and safe. Take these special precautions with infants and children:
Infants under 6 months should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. Their skin is not yet protected by melanin. So when you take your infant outside, take special care:
- COVER UP your baby's sensitive skin with protective clothing, tightly woven but loose-fitting, and a sun hat.
- MAKE SHADE with your stroller's canopy or hood. If you can't find a shady spot to sit, put up an umbrella.
- AVOID SUN DURING MIDDAY -- take walks in the early morning or late afternoon.
- FOLLOW PRODUCT WARNINGS FOR SUNSCREEN ON INFANTS UNDER 6 MONTHS OLD - Most manufacturers advise to avoid use for infants or to consult a doctor before using. The American Academy of Pediatrics now says that small amounts of sunscreen can be used on infants as a last resort when shade is not available.
- TEST THE SUNSCREEN by applying a small amount on the inside of your child's wrist the day before you plan to use it. If an irritation or rash develops at any time, try another product. Ask your child's doctor to suggest one that will not irritate.
- SLOP ON SUNSCREEN and reapply often, especially if your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot.
Get the guide. You can download our 2008 shopper's guide to safe sunscreens now and sign up to be notified as soon as our updated 2009 version is ready. Because who wants to be burned by the sun and contaminated by sunscreen? Not me, not this summer.
[Photo courtesy of Mirko Macari on Flickr CC]
It's so important for kids to avoid the chemicals in many sunscreens. I just keep them in closer to noon. Call me crazy, but I let my kids play outside in the early morning and late afternoon without anything sun protection. I can't help wondering if part of the scare is just a manufacturer's means to increase sales.
Hi My name is Jenny Jauch. I am a cancer survivor and environmental scientist. I loved your article. I recently joined with and Endocronolgist to release a chemical free safe sunscreen. Check out my blog @ www.jennyjauch.blogspot.com and our website @ www.azurskin.com
Thank you, so much, for this article ... I wish I would have had it a couple of weeks ago. I purchased some sunscreen after reading the labels and making the best choice I could ... only to turn bright red when using it. I had an immediate reaction to it ... so much so that my family was ready to haul me off to the hospital. Needless to say ... it got tossed. Now I'm headed to the EWG to scout out something good!
Thanks, again!
Marie, Thanks for taking the time to share your approach on Enviroblog. Limiting sun time to the non-peak hours is a good strategy to avoid excessive exposure. Wearing hats and protective clothing will also help. But we believe an effective sunscreen an important tool in your arsenal for those times and places where avoiding the sun is not possible.
Good tip about reading the product warning, and also avoiding products with bug repellent. But thanks for the reminder to protect those kids.
There is growing evidence that nanoparticles used in sunscreens could make sun damage worse. Test tube studies have shown that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide commonly used in sunscreens can produce free radicals, damage DNA and be toxic to cells, especially when exposed to UV light.
In an early warning sign, researchers from Blue Scope Steel (a large Australian steel maker) have found that roofs which have come into contact with sunscreens containing nanoparticles age 100 times more rapidly than surrounding areas of roof that have not. There is also early evidence that nanoparticles used in sunscreens are toxic to water fleas, fish and algae that are used as environmental indicator species. Again, the toxic effect of these nanoparticles may be greater with UV exposure.
No one knows whether nanoparticles used in sunscreens will penetrate intact healthy adult skin. However there are studies which show that at least some nanoparticles can penetrate skin, especially if the skin is flexed. Recent research on mice has demonstrated that skin penetration by nanoparticles is more likely in sunburnt skin. Particles much bigger than nanoparticles can be taken up through broken or damaged skin which suggests that where skin is not intact – for example if someone has eczema or acne – nanoparticles could be much more likely to be taken up by their skin. It is unknown if nanoparticles are able to penetrate delicate skin - like that of the old and the young.
Until we know that nano-sunscreens are safe for the workers who manufacture them, everyone who uses them, and the environmental systems into which they are released, they shouldn’t be on sale.
Nano-sunscreens aren’t labelled, making it very hard for anyone to make an informed choice about using them or not. To help you choose a nano-free sunscreen, contact your favorite sunscreen brand and ask them to send you in writing a response over their nanoparticle content.
Cheers,
Fiona Thiessen
Nanotechnology Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Australia
http://nano.foe.org.au/
The Skin Deep website below from the Environmental Working Group rates all sunscreens and other cosmetic products and shows what is in them that should concern us.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1
Except for hands and face, sunscreen chemical exposure (and Cost) can be almost totally eliminated by treating light summer clothing with U-V-Block from atsko.com . If your child has a favorite shirt and you treat it just once you know he is protected wash after wash all summer long for pennies a day. They have a lot of good products to save money and the environment.
Dan