UVA & UVB:
Ultra violet-A exposure contributes to premature aging by damaging the skin’s elasticity. (about 90% of wrinkles and age spots) UVA is the dominant tanning ray, over time it can cause damage to our skin.
UVB, cause of skin reddening and sunburn. UVB contributes to skin cancer.
Recommendations:
Experts recommend choosing a sunscreen that protects from UVA rays. Only a few active sunscreen ingredients protect your skin from UVA rays (zinc oxide). Children have thinner skin than adults and are more sensitive to UV rays, reapply generously. Minimize the use of sunscreen on infants under six months, they should be kept out of direct sunlight and use adequate clothing and shade.
Click below to check your UV index:
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html
B E A W A R E:
Ingredients:
1. ”Oxybenzone” is a synthetic estrogen which penetrates the skin and may disrupt normal hormones raising our risk for breast cancer.
2. “Vitamin A” (listed as retinyl palmitate), eating Vitamin A laden veggies are good for you, but spreading it on your body may not be. New government data shows tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with vitamin-A creams.
3. “Octinoxate” (listed as cinnamon) endocrine disruptor, estrogen mimicker, raised our risk for breast cancer, penetration enhancer and produces damaging reactive oxygen species upon exposure to sunlight.
4. Paba, in the manufacturing process, it can be contaminated with nitrosamines, a group of dangerous carcinogenic chemicals, produces free radicals on the skin, causes cellular mutations, penetration enhancer and hormone disrupter.
5. Insect Repellent with the chemical DEET, as their are confirmed studies which indicate mental side effects. Sunscreen needs to be applied throughout the day and if combined you will be getting excessive amounts of DEET. It’s suggested that sun screen compounds can make the body absorb more of the DEET than would otherwise be the case.
Recommendations for active ingredients:
Active Ingredients are components that keep the skin from burning, read your labels and investigate the active ingredients. When you apply the sunscreen to your skin the sun will break down the active ingredient and create free-radicals on your skin (cancer causing radicals).
1. Choose mineral sunscreens with zinc and titanium dioxide as they protect the skin from harmful UVA radiation and remain on the skin, with little if any penetration into the body.
2. avobenzone (3%) for those who don’t like mineral suncreens
3. Mexoryl SX sold in very few formulations, found in Europe.
4. Water resistant for beach, pool, and exercise.
Experts:
Dr. Rebecca Sutton, a staff scientist with EWG states, safety against the sun is especially of concern when it comes to children. The surface area of a child’s skin relative to their body weight is much greater than adults. Any chemical applied to their skin is about 1.4 times more significant than it would be when applied to an adult. Add that to the fact that children are less able to detoxify and excrete chemicals, they have a developing organ system that is more vulnerable to damage from chemical exposures, and children are more sensitive to low levels of hormonally active compounds and you have a potentially large problem.
Prevent the known risk and do everything possible to limit the chances of the unknown risks.
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MomtoMomHealth recommends the following mineral sunscreens which have worked well for our family. Unfortunately at this time we do not carry sunscreens, but they can be purchased either from your local natural food stores or directly from their companies web site.
Badger
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide
Goddess
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide
The best organic option:
long sleeves, and a wide brim hat and sunglasses!
Enjoy your summer, be safe and healthy!
