Sunscreens products use have improved dramatically over the past several years. The usefulness and safety of top-selling sunscreens are once again questioned by an environmental group and the group claims that many sunscreens contain potentially hazardous ingredients. Instead of preventing the cancer, many sunscreens may accelerate it according to new report. According to an evaluation of sunscreen products, almost half of the 500 most popular products may really enhance the speed of developing malignant cells. They spread skin cancer because of presence of vitamin A or its derivatives.
Sunscreens are the products which protect against sunburn (UVB rays). Normally, it supplies little protection against UVA rays. Most of chemical sunscreens contain chemicals active ingredient such as benzophenone or oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) to prevent sunburn by absorbing the ultraviolet (UVB) rays. Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and talc are the inert minerals which are present in physical sunscreens and they work by reflecting the ultraviolet (UVA and UVB) rays away from the skin.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) assessed 500 sunscreens in its fourth annual Sunscreen Guide. From this, only 8% are found to be acceptable. Most of the best-selling sunscreens in the U.S.are called as “the equivalent of modern-day snake oil” by Jane Houlihan, EWG Senior Vice President for Research. These products do not protect and they may be dangerous. High-SPF (sun protection factor) sunscreens are distinctively warned by this group because they promote a false logic of security for consumers. The products which have little or no protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) rays and products that contain the vitamin A derivative retinyl palmitate are also warned by the EWG. The products which contain vitamin A derivative has been linked to the speeded up growth of skin lesions in some lab animal studies.
The group’s claims for sunscreen products are strongly disputed by the representatives for the sunscreen industry. St. Petersburg, Fla., dermatologist James Spencer, MD, said, “EWG is kind of the Chicken Little of the sunscreen arena. There is no evidence that the active ingredients in sunscreens are dangerous. These are products used by millions of people every day. There is real danger all around us, and one very real danger is skin cancer and skin aging from sun exposure.”
A dangerous additive:
Vitamin A and its derivatives are mostly used by industry in its sunscreen formulations because it is an anti-oxidant that slows skin aging. However, the researchers of EWG found the initial findings of an FDA study of vitamin A’s photocarcinogenic properties. This means the possibility of resulting in cancerous tumors when used on skin to expose sunlight. The report said, “In that yearlong study, tumors and lesions developed up to 21 percent faster in lab animals coated in a vitamin A-laced cream than animals treated with a vitamin-free cream.”
Issues related to Sunscreen:
How much sunscreen should people use for normal protection? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunscreen should be used enough to fill a shot glass, though larger people should adjust accordingly. A quarter to half of the recommended amount of sunscreen is applied by most people that lower the advertised SPF factor.
Before going outside, spread it on liberally 15 to 30 minutes. Reapply it every two hours or after swimming, sweating or towel drying.
Some other factors to believe when using sunscreen:
Vitamin D:
Sunlight is necessary for the body to create vitamin D which is a vital chemical. 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. several times a week on the face, arms, legs and back during the warmer months is recommended by the National Institutes of Health.
Nanoparticles:
Nanoparticles, present in sunscreen are not indicted by labels that whether it contains or not. These nano-scale ingredients do not penetrate to the healthy skin according to study, so consumer use should be minimal. Look for the white-colored zinc or titanium oxide products, if you want to avoid them. Mineral-based sunscreens likely have nanoparticles.
Sprays and Powders:
The EWG suggests against these products that can be unintentionally inhaled. There is little risk of harm. Dr. David Leffell, chief of dermatologic surgery and cutaneous oncology at the Yale School of Medicine and a consultant for Coppertone said, “I wouldn’t recommend spraying sunscreen into your nose, but the amount you’ll inhale is no worse than walking behind a diesel bus.”
Retinyl Palmitate:
It is a derivative of vitamin A. The EWG recommends for avoiding products which contain this. Dr. Allan Conney, director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research at Rutgers University said, “Topical applications application of products containing vitamin A derivative can increase the rate of UV-induced skin tumor formation in lab mice as suggested by preliminary data.” To determine whether people are at risk, epidemiological studies would be needed.
Skin Cancer/Sunscreen – the Dilemma video from youtube:
Video of Is Your Sunscreen Giving You Cancer? from youtube:
Sunblocks can also reduce the incidence of skin cancer by preventing UV to harm your skin.~~:
Hello guys, EWG stating that many Sunscreens are not safe for skin, is it really true?
I have seen some skin cancer causes that are simply mentioned here. So start demanding better sunscreen formulations…