Ever wonder why there are signs that say NO SUNSCREENS
ALLOWED at specific beaches where you can swim with
dolphins?
What's the big deal about sunscreens, anyway? Well, for a
start, the numerous chemicals in sunscreens, even diluted
in ocean water, are considered harmful. Can you imagine the
impact most sunscreens have when applied directly to human
skin?
My research began in 1992, after reading a study, "Could
Sunscreens Increase Melanoma Risk?", published in the
American Journal of Public Health. With increasing rates of
skin cancer worldwide, we needed to take a closer look at
our use of chemically based sunscreens.
Sunlight activates processes necessary for good health.
Sunlight is necessary for healthy teeth and bones and, as
many winter-weary souls can tell us, it's also important
for our emotional well-being. Unfortunately, too much
sunlight without proper protection can accelerate aging as
well as causing other damage - including sun burns,
melanomas (skin cancers), DNA damage, suppressed skin cell
immunity and other illnesses.
Ninety five percent of the visible signs of aging are
associated with UV exposure. Ninety percent of sun exposure
in a lifetime occurs before a person is 18 years old.
Children should be encouraged to wear hats, protective
clothing and regularly apply chemical-free sunscreens with
UVA protection.
UVA stands for the longer sun rays (340nm-400nm) found to
cause cancer and accelerate aging. UVB rays are shorter
(290-320nm) and are called the "burning rays". UVB rays
penetrate the top layer of skin, the epidermis. UVA rays
penetrate deeper into the second layer, the dermis. UVA
rays also synthesize with UVB rays to cause burning.
SPF testing only rates the length of time an average person
can be in the sun before burning. For instance, an SPF 15
will protect you from burning 15 times longer than if you
were wearing no sunscreen. So, if you would typically burn
in 20 minutes, you'd have 5 hours of protection before
burning if you were wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen.
In August of 2007, the FDA proposed a new 4-star rating on
sunscreens that will affect most sunscreen manufacturers.
It highlighted the fact that sunscreens can actually be
harmful and requires companies to retest against the new
criteria.
Consumers are confused when medical and scientific reports
indicate that the more people use sunscreen, the higher the
incidence of skin cancer. This is a serious problem. I
believe we all need the Vitamin D from daily sun exposure
and we also need products that are proven to keep us safe.
So when you don't get Vitamin D from sunshine because you
are wearing a sunscreen, it's important to have Vitamin D
supplemented in the product.
The use of chemicals in sunscreens is increasing the
incidence of skin cancer. Melanoma has more than doubled in
the last 25 years - directly proportional to sunscreen
sales. Users stay in the sun longer without getting the
burn, which would have been nature's warning signal. Some
harmful ingredients to avoid in your sunscreens are:
· Benzophenone (listed on the PAN Pesticides
Database as a toxic pesticide)
· Avobenzone, octylmethoxycinnamate, and octocrylene
(free radical generators that penetrate through the
epidermis)
· Methoxycinnamate (has been implicated in causing
cancer) · PABA (may play a role in cellular DNA
damage and is a skin sensitizer)
Most of these chemicals easily penetrate into and through
the epidermis. They're designed to absorb ultraviolet
radiation energy. Since they can't destroy this energy, the
radiation has to convert the light energy into chemical
energy - usually released as free radicals. Free radicals
then react with other molecules and produce damage to the
fats, proteins, and DNA of the cells - the types of damage
that produce skin ageing and the development of cancer.
A recent study at the University of California-Riverside
concluded that high quality sunscreens, which include UVA
filters, are the most effective at preventing future signs
of ageing. It recommended they be used liberally and often
on children and young adults exposed to the sun.
Bottom line - consumers are looking for chemical-free
sunscreens that eliminate the potential problems from
chemicals, including:
·Free radical generators, which can lead to melanoma
·Estrogenic activity, which impact hormones in men
AND women
·Synthetic chemicals, which penetrate skin and are
stored in the body's fat cells
So, what is the big deal? Well, enjoying a walk in the sun
is still an important part of staying healthy, but
educating yourself about harmful ingredients in common
products - including your sunscreen - is just as important.
Read labels carefully. Wear hats and shirts with long
sleeves when in the sun for longer periods of time. Use
safe, chemical-free sunscreens to protect your exposed skin
from over exposure to UVA/UVB rays.
----------------------------------------------------
Linda Chaé is President & Chief Formulator for
Chaé Organics, Inc. and a pioneer in "go natural"
skin care for consumers. Her commitment to clean, safe
toxic free products requires organic ingredients backed by
scientific research. As a consumer advocate, protecting
human beings from dangers in skin care products became
personal when she became a cancer survivor herself. To
order her products, visit http://www.chaeorganics.biz
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