Shining the Light on Sunscreens

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Let’s break it down!

First, the sun isn’t quite as evil as the beauty industry would have you believe. It does wondrous things for our health and wellbeing. It provides warmth, light, kills germs and allows us to synthesize Vitamin D.  The concern comes in, though, when our skin gets overexposure which can cause sunburn and actual skin damage (like wrinkles and premature aging) and increased risk for skin cancers.

There are different kinds of sun rays.

The rays from the sun that are most damaging are called ultraviolet (UV) rays and those have 2 main types:

  • UVB rays are responsible for producing sunburn. They play the greatest role in causing skin cancers (including the deadly black mole form of malignant melanoma. They also are most important in helping our bodies produce Vitamin D (so you don’t want to completely block them out).

  • UVA rays, on the other hand also cause skin cancer. They penetrate the skin much more deeply and play a greater role in premature skin aging and changes like wrinkle formation (photoaging).

Fun fact: There are about 500 times more UVA rays in the sun than UVB. SO, in addition to protecting yourself from UVB rays, it’s super important to also protect from the much more numerous (and deeper penetrating) UVA rays.

So, what about sunscreens and SPF?

Sunscreens protect us by absorbing & reflecting the rays so they don’t penetrate our skin.

Sunscreens have a rating scale that reveals the amount they protect your skin, called an SPF rating (stands for Sun Protection Factor). This number tells the relative amount of sunburn protection a sunscreen can provide an average user when used correctly.

Two common SPF mistakes:

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1.     All sunscreens are required by the FDA to have an SPF rating on the label but people often misunderstand how much protection they’re really getting. The lowest recommended SPF is 15 but double the SPF is NOT double the protection. If 15 is recommended I might be tempted to buy, say, SPF 30 to double my protection but that’s not how it works. You if I buy a sunscreen rated 15, I’m blocking about 93% of the suns rays but if I up that to 30 SPF, I’m blocking about 97%... only 4% more!

2.     Plus, SPF ratings apply mostly to UVB rays except for products labeled “broad-spectrum” which contain ingredients that protect the skin from some UVA rays.

If some sun exposure is good, what’s the issue?

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“Overexposure” is the real issue and this is determined by many factors:

  • Different skin types – different types of skin can handle different amounts of sun exposure. Check out the chart to the left. Also, this is definitely linked with your genetics but not always. I once knew a Caucasian man and a Mexican woman who had three children, all of different skin types.

  • Location on the earth (in relativity to the sun). Your latitude, altitude and environment can make a difference. If you’re closer to the sun or, say, water or snow skiing, you’ll have a higher risk of sunburn/damage.

  • Time of day. The sun is often at it’s highest intensity from 10-2. This doesn’t always correlate with when it’s the hottest. Limit exposure to 15 minutes on each side of your body during peek exposure times. Then, cover up with shade, clothing, sunscreen, etc.

  • Type and proper use of sunscreen. There are two main types of sunscreen. Keep reading to learn about those. Just remember these need to be applied evenly, liberally and repeatedly to give the best protection.

Types of Sunscreen

There are two main types that do very different things:

  1. Physical/Mineral Sunscreens – these contain active mineral ingredients which sit on top of the skin and deflect the damaging UV rays away from our bodies.

  2. Chemical Sunscreens – these contain compounds which create a chemical reaction and work by changing the UV rays into heat and then releasing that heat away from the skin.

Gimme the Pros and Cons

There are pros and cons of both types but I generally would say I by far recommend physical sunscreens. In the interest of presenting both sides, I’ll lay it out for you!

Pros of physical sunscreens:

  • Naturally broad spectrum (UVA and UVB protection)

  • Protects from the sun as soon as it’s applied

  • Lasts longer when in direct UV light

  • Better for sensitive skin

  • Better for those with heat-activated skin (such as rosacea and redness)

  • Ideal for acne-prone skin

  • Don’t lose SPF effectiveness over time

Cons of physical sunscreens:

  • Can rub off

  • May be white-ish on the skin and be hard to rub in

  • Can be less protective if not applied and re-applied generously and accurately

  • Doesn’t often come in many “convenience” forms like sprays

  • Some concern about nano-particles (so small they’re measured in nanometers) which can increase aging – Must look for non-nanoparticle formulations!

Pros of Chemical Sunscreens:

  • Less product is needed to protect skin

  • May be cheaper than physical sunscreens

  • Tends to be thinner and spread more evenly/easily on the skin

  • Lasts longer with physical activity

Cons of Chemical Sunscreens:

  • Can possibly cause and increase existing brown spots

  • Requires about 20 minutes after application before it starts to work

  • Increases chance of irritation, stinging, redness and rosacea

  • Higher SPF = higher risk for irritation for sensitive skin types

  • In direct UV, reapplication must be more frequent

  • May clog pores for oily skin types

  • High concerns about safety of some chemicals (see below!)

Health concerns with Chemical Sunscreens

Oxybenzone

(recently banned in Hawaii, Key West Florida, Aruba and Palau to protect coral reefs)

  • It’s an endocrine disruptor to most species

  • Passes through the skin easily and enters the bloodstream

  • Potential systemic toxicity in children, especially those under 2 years old

  • Researchers have tied Hirschsprung’s Disease with prenatal exposure (abnormal development of colon and rectum resulting in the need for surgery and potentially a life-long struggle with abdominal discomfort & other symptoms)

  • Breaks down into more toxic byproducts in public pools creating a toxic brew for pregnant women & children

Octinoxate

(also known as ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, banned in Hawaii)

  • The most widely used UVB-absorbing agent in sunscreen

  • Studies have not shown octinoxate to be quite as toxic as oxybenzone

  • Absorbed so easily it can take stowaway chemicals with it

  • Can lead to developmental and reproductive toxicity

  • Is a hormone disruptor (It can produce estrogen-like effects similar to oxybenzone)

Homosalate

  • Nearly 45-percent of all sunscreens in the United States contain homosalate

  • It’s a hormone disruptor for men and women

  • Breaks down in the sun

  • Can take other toxins, like pesticides, into the bloodstream with it

Octisalate 

  • Colorless liquid, used to absorb UVB rays and to add water-resistance properties to sunscreens

  • Degrades when exposed to sunlight, so it typically appears with other sunscreen agents and needs to be applied frequently

  • Used to stabilize avobenzone to extend sun protection

  • Also found in products that contain fragrance as an ingredient

  • Possible allergenic effects

So, How do I Pick The Good Ones?

How do you know what specific brands to choose? Read your labels!

Sunscreen toxicity ratings toxins.png

  1. Download the free app: Healthy Living

    • This will allow you to scan in the product and learn it’s danger rating which is an amazing and quick way to tell if each product is worth your money. If it’s not in the database, though (which happens a lot as they can’t possibly keep up with the industry), move to #2

  2. Look for the 4 chemicals to avoid mentioned in this blog (Remember three of these start with O and then Homosalate)

  3. Download my free Pocket Guide for a list of harmful chemicals to avoid

  4. Look up individual ingredients on the Skindeep website and be empowered to make your own decision about what products to bring into your home and use with your family!

What do I use?

Pure Haven Sunscreen – 30 SPF, uses non-nanoparticle zinc-oxide, 100% natural ingredients including aloe vera and green tea to sooth and hydrate skin. Protects against UVB and UVA rays. Tested and approved by the FDA. $24.95

I make my own as well!

Want me to teach you how?

Get a few friends together and host a DIY Homemade Sun Lotion Workshop. I’ll teach you how to make your own sun protection using all natural and organic ingredients. You can customize applications, scents and therapeutic benefits. You can be 100% confident about what you’re putting on your skin and your children’s skin and have a great time with friends at the same time. Click the button below to message me and we’ll set something up. Must be within 1 hour drive of Vancouver, WA.

 

 

Sources:

  • Mamavation

  • Dr. Perin and Dr. Wulff, Vancouver Washington

  • Wellnessmama.com

  • Dr. Axe