Health Facts About Your Sunscreen

The safety of commercial sunscreens has received a lot of press lately. All segments of the population are affected, but children and breast cancer patients seem to carry the highest risks. Below is a summary of health findings related to non-organic sunscreens.

Manufacturing technology has enabled products to carry nano particles, tiny bits of material that can slip through almost any surface. Commercial sunscreens rely on these particles for penetration of the skin. The end health results are not known, but toxins are now given access to parts of the human body that could not be accessed in the past.

Oxybenzone is one a widely-used sunscreen ingredient that carries a bad reputation. This chemical so far has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage, as well as low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. The chemical is also a penetration enhancer which helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.

Interestingly, in 1978 the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) announced standards for regulating sunscreens, but these standards were never completed or fully enacted. To this day sunscreen standards have never been finalized by the FDA, despite promises to the contrary.

Of the common active ingredients used in commercial sunscreen, 5 out of 6 have been found to imitate estrogen. This fact poses particular risk for children and women suffering from breast cancer. Actual breast cancer cells were used in research on these chemicals.

SPF ratings provide the public with a measurable assessment of a sunscreen's effectiveness. However, these ratings do not take into account UVA ultraviolet rays, which can damage the skin and lead to skin cancer. Though not an issue of toxins, many sunscreen products leave the user under-protected and under-informed in this area.

The verdict is still out regarding the health risks of commercial sunscreens. All parties would benefit from further clarification on the part of the FDA, and, if a consumer does not want to wait, organic sunscreens provide a safer alternative.