Be Sun-Safe and Sunscreen Savvy

It's officially SUMMER...a season filled with backyard BBQ's, beach outings and general fun in the sun.  So, this is a great time to remind everyone that sun protection this summer, and every day, is key.

Remember those old days of crackin' out the baby oil and a light reflector thingy to get a deep tan? SUN DAMAGE CITY, my friend.  Sun damage you can't necessarily SEE...but that an ultraviolet camera can reveal:

The best protection from the sun is a hat and clothes...but sometimes it's just not possible. That's when you slap on the solar armour....sunscreen.

But some sunscreens can actually HARM you...so I always advice peeps to read their labels and check out this wonderful site by the Environmental Working Group:

http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen.

The EWG has a  team of scientists, engineers and other smarties who pore over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and do their own lab tests to expose threats to your health and the environment.  A wonderful organization to have on our side.

Type in your brand of sunscreen and make sure it as a LOW HAZARD rating - if not, you could be putting your health at risk.

Here's how sunscreen works.  Sunscreen have chemicals that release free radicals.  Free radicals are responsible for aging.

Here's how the EWG breaks it down:

"Sunscreens can help reduce UV-related free radical damage by diverting the radiation from the skin, but the ingredients themselves can release their own free radicals in the process. When the sunscreen molecules absorb UV energy, diverting it from the skin, the molecules dispel this excess energy by releasing free radicals. In a delicate balancing act, an effective sunscreen prevents more free radical damage (from UV radiation) than it creates through its own free radical generation. It reduces UV exposure without itself damaging skin. Sunscreen makers commonly add antioxidants to their products to soak up free radicals from either source, UV radiation or sunscreen itself."

Here are the baddies (the HARMFUL ingredients) to watch out for:

Oxybenzone - STAY AWAY from this one for sure.  It's a hormone disrupter.

Padimate O - This one is tied to DNA damage

PABA - This one's shown to be an allergy-creator.

Also, stay away from sunscreens that contain the form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate:

Again, from the EWG:

"A 2009 study by U.S. government scientists suggests that a form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions."

It's fine to use vitamin A indoors - but it should NOT be in your sunscreen.

On the EWG site, you can find out if your sunscreen is a hazard, and you can find a less harmful one as well.  The site says The effective complete UVA blockers approved for use in the United States are avobenzone, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and mexoryl.

In fact, the EWP says:

"Sunscreens without zinc and titanium could accelerate by an average of 20 per cent the skin damage, premature aging, wrinkling and UV-induced immune system damage linked to UVA exposure."

So look for natural products that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and avobenzone.

If an all-natural brand says "micronized" titanium dioxide and "micronized" zinc oxide, this could be bad.  The jury is still out on these mico-particles, with studies showing these ingredients to be potentially toxic in the presence of light.

Here's a list of the Top 10 Safe Sunscreens - they have a LOW HAZARD rating:

BurnOut Kids Physical Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Green Tea Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Adorable Baby Clear Baby Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+

Loving Naturals Clear Face Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Loving Naturals Clear Body Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Loving Naturals Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30+

Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Sport Stick Unscented Sunscreen, SPF 30

Badger Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Goddess Garden Baby All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

Elemental Herbs Sunscreen Sport, Tinted, SPF 22

There's also Jason’s Sunbrellas SPF 30+.

If you're not into the way some of the organics smell, but you want a non-harmful sunscreen, I would recommend one created by a dermatologist.  And Rodan & Fields, the creators of Pro-Active, won't steer you wrong.  They have another great line called ESSENTIALS.  I just recently tried Rodan & Field's ESSENTIALS SPF Body Sunscreen.  It's light but NOT runny, and provides a nice even coverage....non-sticky, non-greasy, with Vitamins C and E to absorb damaging free radicals and anti-inflammatory ingredients to protect skin from environmental stress.  It uses Avobenzone and none of the harmful stuff.

It runs around $24.00 for 5.0 fl. oz.

The ESSENTIALS line also has a dermatologist developed Lip Shield SPF 25 to protect those smackers.  It's a hydrating balm with sunscreens, anti-oxidants, beeswax, she butter and alvocado oil for hydration.  You get two in a package and it goes for $16.00.

Be aware that the FDA laws on sunscreen labels are changing by Summer of 2012, so, it's going to make buying sunscreen a LOT less complicated.  They can no longer say they have an SPF of 90 for example, cuz there's no proof a 90 screen is better than a 50...so the highest number will be 50 across the board.  Also, you'll no longer see the words "water proof."

Take a look at this video which talks about the new changes...and be sure to check out THE AMOUNT of sunscreen that you need to put on for adequate sun protection!  Holy Moly!  It's like an ENTIRE BOTTLE!!



If you're seriously concerned about sun damage, a great way to go is to get yourself some UV-resistant clothing. Because of its tight weave, Patagonia's Sol Patrol line has a UV protection factor of 40 (www.patagonia.com).

So, remember, along with your sun hat and keg, take your vat of NON-HARMFUL sunscreen, and your shades to protect those peepers - and have a great summer!

But remember, ONE sunburn can create a lifetime of sun damage, so careful out there!