For one, the main bug repellent ingredient is DEET – an insecticide that can cause eye irritation, skin rashes, and even neurological damage when exposed in high concentrations.
While it seems like a good idea to combine a bug repellant and a sunscreen in one product, there are some health risks to consider. Fragrances have been linked with allergies, dermatitis and respiratory issues. These fragrances are typically not disclosed on sunscreen labels (other than “fragrance”) and contain toxic chemicals such as diethyl phthalate. Sure, the coconut scent in your favorite sunscreen may smell like you’re on a tropical beach in paradise, but the reality is that the scent is likely an artificial fragrance.
4 Plus, a higher SPF may actually give you a false sense of protection (and you may stay out longer in the sun or forget to re-apply sunscreen after getting out from the water), thus you may actually burn more. In a Procter & Gamble study in 2011, the company found marginal differences between SPF 37 and SPF 75. But higher SPF is really just clever marketing. It’s easy to think that sunscreens with SPF 70 or 100 would provide better coverage. Just avoid the spray or aerosol sunscreens.ĮWG discourages the use of sunscreen powders or sprays with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (4 on the EWG hazard score) due to serious inhalation risks, but lotions are ok. Nanoparticles at 100 mm or smaller could get carried into the lungs and cause damage to the internal organs.1 Nanoparticles in lotion sunscreens are generally regarded as safe. While generally these ingredients are relatively safe, they do contain nanoparticles. Spray and powder sunscreens usually contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (also known as mineral sunscreens).
Even Consumer Reports suggests avoiding aerosol or spray sunscreens, especially on kids, until the FDA has completed an assessment of the health risks of spray sunscreens. While it may seem easier to spray on sunscreen for hard-to-reach areas or squirmy kids, these aerosol sprays and powders pose a dangerous inhalation health risk. Nanoparticles in Spray, Aerosol or Powder Sunscreens 2 So watch out for “retinol” or “retinyl palmitate” – or pretty much any sunscreen that touts itself as being “anti-aging” or “fights wrinkles”. This form of vitamin A is often added to sunscreens to slow aging, yet it may actually speed the development of skin tumors and lesions on sun-exposed skin. It also acts like estrogen in the body (endocrine disruptor) and has been been linked to endometriosis in older women. 2 Oxybenzone can trigger allergic reactions. These chemicals are considered to be endocrine or hormone disruptors – with oxybenzone scoring the highest on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) health hazard score. Oxybenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, octinoxate and avobenzone are used in combination as a chemical sunscreen. Used in 80% of conventional sunscreens, the chemical ingredient oxybenzone provides UV coverage (including UVB and UVA rays). Oxybenzone and Other Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Here are 6 ingredients to avoid in sunscreens. Yet the ingredients are often marketed as being healthy.īut it can be confusing to decipher those sunscreen bottles to know what’s truly harmful. Store-bought sunscreens are loaded with chemicals that are not only harmful, but downright toxic to the body. Most people don’t think twice about lathering on sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and sunburns, yet store-bought sunscreens carry a health risk too. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) list of worst scoring sunscreens for kids – which includes a list of very popular sunscreens marketed for children and families. 1īut that’s not all, traditional sunscreens have other ingredients that can be harmful to children. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Consumer Reports warns not to use aerosol spray sunscreens on babies and children because the particles from the spray that can be inhaled or swallowed can be harmful to kids. Most traditional sunscreens – especially those marketed for children – are some of the worst out there in terms of chemicals and additives. Did you know that many store-bought sunscreens are loaded with chemicals? These chemicals are not only harmful, but downright toxic to the body.
0 kommentar(er)
