A Summer Staple
Sunscreen is a staple in every Midwest household. One whiff of sunscreen and suddenly I am 13 again, eating Flammin’ Hot Cheetos (talk about toxins) and playing pool basketball. Now I find myself purchasing sunscreen for my kiddos and it makes me wonder, are all these chemicals safer than sun exposure itself?* Do we really know what is in our sunscreen?
*Please note, sun damage/skin cancer is NOT something to be taken lightly, and I am NOT encouraging anyone to ditch sunscreen and risk cancer down the road. Instead, I am putting together some info I have gathered on the risks of certain sunscreen products, safer alternatives and what we use personally.
Sunscreen & Your Hormones
Hormones are responsible for so many different things in your body. Sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, & testosterone) are the first hormones that come to mind, however there are SO many other hormones (cortisol, leptin, etc) in the body. If your hormones are not doing their job then the rest of your body is going to suffer. Toxins, like the ones found in sunscreen, can cause major disruption to your hormones.
What goes ON goes IN!
What you put ON your skin goes INTO your body. The skin, our largest organ, is often overlooked as a method of toxin exposure. The products we use daily are absorbed directly into our tissues and blood stream with minutes (or seconds) of contact. The chemicals in most sunscreen products are known as endocrine (aka hormone) disruptors. Endocrine disruptors create issues with your hormones, reproduction, development and other processes controlled by/affected by hormones.
There are 2 types of sunscreen: chemical & physical.
Chemical sunscreens utilize chemical products such as oxybenzone (most common), octinoxate, and homosalate (and many more). These chemicals serve to filter and absorb the UV rays from the sun before they reach your skin.
Physical sunscreens (often known as mineral sunscreens) utilize minerals that physically block the UV rays from the skin. The minerals create a barrier on the skin and are typically made of zinc or titanium oxide.
Chemical Concerns in Sunscreens
Sunscreen is found in a lot of make-up, personal care products, and used daily for anyone with extended sun exposure. Chemical sunscreens are designed for easy application, quick absorption and they often claim to be waterproof for long periods of time. This often makes them the first choice for a lot of consumers.
In 2020, a study was published showing that out of the 12 active ingredients under study by the FDA, 6 of those ingredients entered the bloodstream after just one application. Those same ingredients were detectable in the blood up to 3 weeks later at levels higher than the threshold set by the FDA. This study did note that it did not see a need for anyone to skip using sunscreen despite these findings. (I find this concerning!)
Below I have included some quotes directly from an article called “The Trouble with Ingredients in Sunscreen” written by the Environmental Working Group. These quotes cite the research articles and I have linked the article HERE for further reading.
Oxybenzone (aka- OMC, methoxy-cinnamate or ethylhexyl methoxy-cinnamate)
“The most worrisome sunscreen active ingredient is oxybenzone, according to publicly available scientific research. It is readily absorbed through the skin (Matta 2019, Matta 2020) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found it in nearly all Americans, with higher levels in those who report applying sunscreen (Zamoiski 2016). Oxybenzone causes allergic skin reactions (Rodriguez 2006), behaves like an endocrine disruptor in many studies (Krause 2012, Ghazipura 2017) and is potentially of greater harm to children (FDA 2019).”
Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate)
“(Octinoxate) is readily absorbed into the skin and continues to be absorbed after the sunscreen has been applied. It has been found in blood 16 times above the proposed FDA safety threshold (Matta 2019, 2020). Animal studies have shown the chemical has hormone effects on the metabolic system and affects thyroid hormone production (Seidlova-Wuttke 2006)…. Octinoxate can also cause allergic reactions after exposure to ultraviolet light (Rodriguez 2006).”
Homosalate
Homosalate is an organic UV filter widely used in U.S. sunscreens. The FDA has proposed that there is insufficient data to evaluate whether it is safe and effective to use in sunscreens. Homosalate has been found to penetrate the skin, disrupt hormones and produce toxic breakdown byproducts over time (Krause 2012, Sarveiya 2004, SCCNFP 2006, Matta 2020).”
Avobenzone
“Because avobenzone is not stable, it must be paired with other ingredients that act as stabilizers to prevent it from breaking down in the sun. Breakdown products of avobenzone can cause allergic reactions (Nash 2014). Avobenzone can disrupt the endocrine system and has been shown to block the effects of testosterone in cellular studies (Klopcic 2017)….In one study, avobenzone was detected in serum samples at levels nine times above the FDA’s cutoff for systemic exposure (Matta 2020).”
Mineral Sunscreen: A Safer Alternative?
Mineral sunscreen overall is the safer choice due to the lack of absorption directly into the skin. I did find mineral based sunscreens that also included chemical sunscreen compounds as well, so be cautious and read the labels closely.
There are some downsides to mineral based sunscreen. Many mineral sunscreens often have a white or chalky look when applied, need reapplied after extended water exposure, and can be difficult to purchase in some areas. The good news is that the FDA has deemed most mineral sunscreens safe for children and now you can often find tinted and sprayable versions for convenience. (It is important to note that spray on mineral sunscreens pose potential risks if inhaled (same with the chemical versions), so use caution when applying to avoid breathing it in.)
The Dose Makes the Poison
Although it might be considered safe (for now), I make it a point to avoid exposure to unnecessary sunscreen chemicals whenever possible. A little bit of chemical exposure at a time, over a LONG period of time, will add up and can increase the potential for harm.
With our kiddos, we have to remember that their toxin thresholds are much smaller than ours and are overwhelmed easily. If you can choose a sunscreen that does not absorb into their skin, you are decreasing the amount of work their body will have to do to eliminate those chemicals over time. If their body isn’t focused on chemicals and toxins, it leaves more energy for their body, hormones and immune system to grow and develop as it should!
Personally, I have opted for mineral sunscreens for my children. A few of my favorite brands include Babo, Badger and Baby Bum. I am sure there are many other great products. Please use resources such as the Environmental Working Group to investigate products you have or plan to purchase! Below I have added some affiliate links to ones I personally purchase.
Sunscreens I Recommend:
Don’t be afraid of the sun! Sunlight itself does amazing things for our circadian rhythm, our vitamin D levels, regulation of our hormones, etc. Use sunscreen when needed to avoid any excessive sun damage, but use your best judgment and find what works for you!
-Faith
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