Sunscreen is generally considered the best defense against skin cancer. What you may not know is that many sunscreens on the market are potentially more dangerous than actual exposure to the sun.
Risk 1 - INSUFFICIENT PROTECTION
A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology states "Sunscreens are widely advocated to protect against skin cancer but if they offer insufficient protection... they may inadvertently increase skin cancer risk."
SPF refers to how much longer you can be in the sun before you burn. If you usually burn after 30 minutes without sunscreen, then SPF 10 means you can be in the sun for ten times longer (10 x 30 = 300 minutes) which would be 5 hrs. SPF ratings refer only to protection from UVB radiation (sun burning rays) not UVA radiation (dangerous killer rays).
In order to be protected from UVA radiation, which is the primary cause of skin cancer, your sunscreen must contain one of the following ingredients:
- titanium dioxide
- zinc oxide
- avobenzone (also called butyl methoxydibenzyl methane)
- Mexoryl SX
- Tinosorb (not available in U.S. products)
If one of these is not listed as a PRIMARY or ACTIVE ingredient, the sunscreen does not offer adequate protection.
Risk 2: DANGEROUS INGREDIENTS
Oxybenzone, a common active ingredient in US sunscreens, is a hormone disrupter (it mimics estrogen). It's not just the synthetic, chemical ingredients in sunscreens that are dangerous. Vitamin A is added to 41% of all sunscreens. Vitamin A sounds like a good thing, right?
Recently available data from an FDA study indicates that:
Vitamin A, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. (May also be listed as retinal palmitate.)
For more information:
Environmental Working Group's 2010 Sunscreen Guide
Best Beach and Sport Sunscreens
And my personal favorite: Hall of Shame
UPDATE: See Comment #9 (my daughter Jaime) for more important sunscreen facts
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It's pretty scary how many chemicals we come into contact with every day -- no wonder there is such a cancer epidemic.
Yikes, that is scary Sharon! Thanks so much for this info. I read this stuff every day, but don't pay much attention to it, I guess I will now.
Sharon - I would think that Vitamin A would be a good thing. I guess not. When I am going out on the boat, I usually put the sunscreen on before we head out. I thought I was doing something right.... until now. I usually re-apply sunscreen later in the day thinking it had worn off. Yikes!
Being a fair skinned, blue eyed blond whom had a brush with melanoma skin cancer at 29, I feel like I have even more information that I've ever had before concerning my health. Everyday when appropriate, I use a hat, long-sleeve shirt over my summer shirt and always wear sunglasses. Now, I feel the need to read all the sunscreen labels I can and make an even more informed decision. I hope everyone takes the time to read this and especially those like myself who are more proned to skin cancer.
Thanks for this informative post.
I have read that the Australians, who have the highest skin cancer rate in the world, have discovered that people who use sunscreen get more cancer than people who don't. Perhaps it has to do with becoming too confident when wearing it, and staying out in the sun too long. Perhaps it is because of the cancer-causing chemicals in the sunscreen.
Sharon- so glad you posted this. Since I live in South Florida and spend a great deal of time in the sun, it has always been a priority of mine to make sure everyone I know is aware of the dangers of the sun AND the importance of the right sunscreen. (Of course I made quite a pest of myself with all of my friends when we went out on the boat)
More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. Thanks again for making sure that we don't forget this.
Some pretty frightening stuff Sharon! I spent many summers on a lake as a kid and always had to wear zinc oxide on my face and shoulders. I sure wish it came in different colors like it does today.
Sharon - I had absolutely no idea that this was the case. We are all relatively fair skinned in our house, especially three of my four children (one is anomalously tan).
great job, just wanted to add a few things for those who don't click thru to ewg, or find it overwhelming:
avoid oxybenzone - it is a hormone disrupter (it mimics estrogen) and is a common active ingredient in US sunscreen
apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure (especially the non-mineral ones), and reapply often, especially if swimming or sweaty
apply sunscreen liberally - most people don;t use nearly enough which drastically reduces the SPF
make sure to look for "broad spectrum" - this means you get protection from uva rays in addition the uvb
the best sun protection is to stay in the shade and especially avoid the strong midday sun.
a little bit of sun exposure (20 min or so) is good for you - it's a great source of vitamin d
also, vitamin a may also be listed as retinal palmitate
Pam: I believe most cancer is related to the toxins we put into our body. Every lotion and shampoo and spray we use is adding to the problem of all the toxins in the air and on our dry cleaning...it's endless.
Roger: We certainly can't protect ourselves from all of it, but this is a simple fix. Just read your labels.
Judy: Vit. A is very good, in other lotions and forms. It's when it is exposed to the sun that it becomes a problem. You are doing the right thing by using sunscreen and applying before you leave and reapplying. The only thing you have to change is to purchase the right one.
Francie: Covering up with hats and clothing is the best and safest protection. Thanks for commenting and supporting the post by sharing your own personal experience.
Bob: I have heard that too. Sunscreen does give people a false sense of protection. They don't use enough and they don't reapply, but they stay exposed to the sun all day long at the beach. I also believe the ingredients have a big part to play in cancer.
Kathy: It's a cancer that people don't seem to take as seriously as they should. Unless someone they love is dealing with it, or they get skin cancer themselves, the danger is ignored. My intent is for people to be more aware of the importance of reading the label and buying the right one.
Gary: I don't even remember using sunscreen as a kid. As a teenager I use to use baby oil so I could tan faster. If I knew then...
Jason: It is so important to protect those beautiful kids of yours....even the tan one!
Jaime: Thanks for the additional info. I have updated the post to include it. Thanks also for the heads up on the EWG site. It is awesome.
Sharon thanks for the post. Gone are the days of my youth when we baked in baby oil! Everyone should protect themselves so they can enjoy the outdoors.
Holy Crap! Everytime you turn around it is something else. Thanks for the post Sharon!
Janice: I remember being so happy when my tummy was dark brown with a hint of red to it. It was all about the color back then. Now I am happy with a little self tanner and 15 mins of sun now and then.
Debra: It's true. So much of it, you can't do anything about though. Sun protection is one of the things you do have some control over.
Hi, Sharon. You've seen that teeshirt that reads, "Today's tan is tomorrow's wrinkle?' Too true, although that's the least of it.
I slathered with baby oil and laid out to catch the "good rays" between 10-2...with predictable results...melanoma at age 36. I was really lucky and I really learned my lesson...no sun, with or without sunscreen!
People that I ride with for the first time always ask, "HOW can you wear long sleeves on such a hot day?" but ultra-lightweight cotton shirts made for fishing in the Florida Keys are the perfect solution.
Leslie: Sorry to hear you had to learn the hard way, but it seems that is the only way most will get the message. I'm glad you were one of the lucky ones. I would love more details on the shirts you buy and where to get them.
That is GREAT information! I know my daughter-in-law is very conscientious about sunscreen on my very fair granddaughters, but now I wonder about some of these other ingredients. I will pass this along!
I was seeing this stuff on the news, doesn't it amaze you how this type of thing happens. It is that big "oooppps" sorry we thought that things were okay. Remember cyclomates?
Janna: Make sure she checks out the "Hall of Shame" because there are several baby sunscreens listed there.
Gerry: There will always be something! The more technology moves ahead, the more dangers there seem to be to our health.
It's a no win for me, I burn easily, so I have to use sunscreen, because I've had skin cancer. I've always loved the sun and heat still do, but stay out of it now. I know doctors recommend a little bit of sun for vitamin D each day. We also have to use mosquito spray, who knows what's that's doing to us too? And earlier the mosquito truck came by, they spray the neighborhoods. Again, who knows what's being blown into the air?
Cindy: There are so many toxins we are hit with from so many sources each day. We only have control over a handful. Sunscreen is one of them. Choose wisely!
And yet the best thing to do is not to stay inside because the sun provides you with Vitamin D. Well, I guess you could stay inside and eat lots of peanut butter. LOL
I think the best thing is to remember what my wise old grandmother taught me, "Anything to excess is bad for you."
Russel: Once again, your grandmother is right!
just sent out a newsletter to our sphere last month....sun is sooo welcome in Wisconsin and protection is sooo necessary.
Sally & David: Something I learned recently when my Vit. D blood test came back deficient...we do need some unprotected sun each day. The key is limiting it to a safe amount of time and then using the right sunscreen for the rest of the time you are exposed to the sun.