Everyone is talking about sunscreens. We are being told to wear them every day but there is conflicting information as to which ones are safe. Many sunscreens are more harmful than the sun itself.

What’s There to Worry About?

Some sunscreens contain ingredients that are potent endocrine disruptors. The endocrine system regulates all of the biological processes in the body from conception through adulthood and into old age, including the development of the brain and nervous system, as well as the growth and function of the reproductive system. It also regulates metabolism and blood sugar levels. The ovaries, testes, and pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are major constituents of the endocrine system so disrupting their activity is serious business!

Some experts say that it is worse to use sunscreens with harmful ingredients than it is to expose your self to the sun.

Is the Sun Really That Bad?

There is lots of controversy over how much exposure to the sun one should get. This is a personal decision that should include factors like where you live, if skin cancer runs in your family, if you are susceptible to burning, if you are on medications that make you photosensitive and even what your diet is like. There are certain foods that help your body’s resistance to sunburn, but we will talk about that in another article.

Use common sense and a sunhat that covers your face. For those who are more sensitive to the sun, there are specialty fabrics that block most of the rays.

For those of us who live in areas with little sun, say like in Seattle, it is probably not the best idea to block all sun out. With vitamin D levels as consistently low as they are in our region, allowing some sun on your skin might be a good idea. Vitamin D is responsible for the immune system as well affecting many other systems. Some even suspect that low Vitamin D is partially responsible for the rise in skin cancer. The research is still being done on this theory but it makes sense to me.

Healthy Alternatives

There are healthy versions of sunscreen but even with those that claim to be healthy, beware and be aware!

NanoParticles

I am skeptical of titanium oxide as it photodegrades rapidly when exposed to sunlight and is suspected of becoming toxic in the process.Studies on animals have shown enough risk for me not to trust using them.*  Nanoparticles have been linked to accelerated skin aging, cancer and environmental toxicity. The Environmental Working Group states that nanomaterials are harmful to the environment as well as aquatic life. Nanoparticles are being added to cosmetics and personal care products because other ingredient can be absorbed through them at a deeper level. While this might sound good, do we really want this to happen if the ingredients are toxic?

What I Believe About Nanoparticles: (I am not alone on this)

• They are toxic to in the immune system
• They disrupt the endocrine system
• Can cause free radical production in the body which damages cells
• Are more likely to be the cause of accumulated plaque in the arteries      They are harmful to the environment
• They are not worth messing with

Despite what scientist and researchers know about nanoparticles, the FDA still approves products containing NP’s and don’t even require companies to put them on their labels.

Truly Simple Truly Safe

SongCroft Naturals offers a Daily Shield Moisturizer with zinc oxide. This non-nano zinc oxide is the safest option in sunscreens that we know of. With an SPF 15 rating, it keeps 93% of the UBV rays SPF 50 only blocks 98% so you can see that the SPF numbers are not as significant as one might suspect.

*(November 2010 30th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC))