Sun Safety Tips: Beyond Sunscreens
Font size:
Not all sunscreens get the job done. Some don't protect your skin as the manufacturers claim they do, and some may even pose potential risk to your skin. Check various brands, and the ingredients listed therein.
The Environmental Working Group suggests on its website that consumers should try to buy sunscreens that include zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzone or Mexoryl SX; by the same token, they suggest not purchasing those with ingredients like oxybenzone, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) and added insect repellent.
(Titanium dioxide is also used as an ingredient in processedfoods and it has been found that it can potentially raise cancer risk. The nanoparticles can spread if ingested throughout the body and can cause resulting problems. However, it is unknown what would happen if sunscreens with such an ingredient were apllied externally- eidtor's note).
The EGW says that consumers should avoid sunscreens in the form of sprays, powders and SPF above 50+ and choose those in forms of cream, Broad-spectrum protection, water-resistant for beach, pool & exercise, SPF 30+ for beach & pool; avoid those with an overtly high SPF.
Sunscreens should always be secondary measures to protect skin from getting injured by the sun. Primary options should be other, non-chemical shields like clothes, shade, and sunglasses.
It is always wise to avoid overexposure to the sun. Watch out for signs of injury. Red, sore, blistered and then peeling skin is a sign that you have gotten too much sun. Sunburn can increase your skin cancer risk.
The EGW recommends the following brands of sunscreens, which have been chosen from 550 types:
All Terrain, Badger, Beyond Coastal, California Baby, Caribbean Solutions, Desert Essence, Episencial, Estion, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Kabana Skin Care, L’uvalla Certified Organic, La Roche-Posay, Little Forest, Loving Naturals, Miessence, Purple Prairie Botanicals, Soleo Organics, thinkbaby and thinksport, Trukid, UV Natural and Vanicream.
For more details on the recommended products, readers may visit the organization's website at ewg.org
One thing consumers need to be very careful about is that we are human beings, and as such, we need sun rays to manufacture vitamin D; at sufficient levels, vitamin D helps protect against 17 types of cancers, according to the Vitamin D Council.
To get enough vitamin D, you should make sure your hands and face are exposed to the sun for 15 to 20 minutes at the hottest hours of the day. In no case, should you expose yourself to the sun long enough to get a serious sunburn.
Once again, adherence to the old adage "moderation in all things" is key.
Jimmy Downs and editing by Rachel Stockton
Add to:
del.icio.us |
Digg
del.icio.us |
Digg
Email to a friend
Print version
Plain text
Home
Set as homepage
Add to favorites
Mobile site
Rss
Plain text
Archive