Allergies To Sunscreens and Oxybenzone

We all know that too much sun is bad for us…. but what happens if you have an allergic reaction to sunscreen? Many adults and children have allergic reactions to the chemical ingredients found in sunscreen.

Here is a list of what you don’t want in a sunscreen:  (courtesy of Environmental Working Group)

• oxybenzone – One of the biggest culprits to making the sunscreens more of a toxin hazard.  The overall concerns with this ingredient is developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes.

• Vitamin A – The sunscreen industry often adds vitamin A to its products because it is an anti-oxidant that slows skin aging. That may be true for lotions and night creams used indoors, but the FDA study of vitamin A’s photocarcinogenic properties raises the possibility that it results in cancerous tumors when used on skin exposed to sunlight. Scientists have known for some time that vitamin A can spur excess skin growth (hyperplasia), and that in sunlight it can form free radicals that damage DNA.  It may also speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. This finding is quite troubling because the sunscreen production companies adds vitamin A to about 30 percent of all sunscreens.

• benzophenone-3, homosalate, or octyl-methoxycinnamate – These ingredients not only behave like estrogen and are known to disrupt users’ endocrine systems, they are more readily absorbed through the skin.

• Sprays or powders. They have a greater potential to be inhaled.  Choose cream based products instead. Make sure to reapply them often, because sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off in pools and rub off on towels and clothing.

So now you know what you don’t want, what’s left?  Below are a few websites that will show you what types of natural and organic sunscreens are available.

Natural Living Ideas

Ewg.org

Organic Authority

There are many natural sunscreens on the market, but just like everything else make sure you do your homework.

Choosing the Right SPF for Your Skin Type

· Fair skin — can stay in the sun 10 minutes before burning
· Olive skin — can stay in the sun 15 minutes before burning
· Dark skin — can stay in the sun 20 minutes before burning

Multiply the SPF by the number of minutes you can stay in the sun before burning. For example: (SPF) 20 x 10 (Fair skin) = 200 minutes (amount of time you can stay in the sun before burning if you have Fair skin and use an SPF of 20).