Friday, 18th May 2012
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9 surprising truths about sunscreens

Sunscreens, when applied correctly, protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun.  According to the American Academy of Dermatology, we should, regardless of skin type, make it a daily habit to wear water-resistant sunscreen that gives protection from UVA and UVB rays, and contains Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30.

However, FDA’s failure to regulate sunscreens has compromised the quality of some products with regard to their safety and efficacy.  Some products exaggerate their SPF ratings, and a number have been recently found to contain potentially harmful ingredients.  This has led the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to question the ability of sunscreens to give off adequate protection against ultraviolet radiation.

Here are the 9 suprising facts EWG has uncovered about sunscreens:  [1]

  1. There’s no consensus on whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer. Two public health agencies, FDA and IARC, agree that the use of sunscreen alone to help prevent skin cancer has not yet been established, at least according to their data.  In addition, IARC recommends the use of hats and shade as the primary defenses against UV radiation.
  2. There’s some evidence that sunscreens might increase the risk of the deadliest form of skin cancer for some people. Researchers have found that there has been an increased risk of melanoma in people who use sunscreens, possibly due to the tendency of some sunscreen users to stay under the sun for too long, or also due to certain chemical reactions between sunscreen and sunlight.
  3. There are more high SPF products than ever before, but no proof that they’re better. Sunscreens today have very high SPF ratings, which worries FDA that people might spend long hours under the sun, thus increasing the risk of skin damage.
  4. Too little sun might be harmful, reducing the body’s vitamin D levels. Sunscreens inhibit the production of vitamin D.
  5. The common sunscreen ingredient vitamin A may speed the development of cancer. Recent studies conducted by the FDA has raised some concerns about retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A which has been thought to be photocarcinogenic, which means that it can cause increase the risk of skin cancer when applied to skin exposed to sunlight.  Studies have not yet shown conclusive evidence, however, EWG still recommends consumers to stay away from sunscreens that contain vitamin A.
  6. Free radicals and other skin-damaging byproducts of sunscreen. Some ingredients in sunscreens and UV radiation produce free radicals that accelerate skin damage.
  7. Pick your sunscreen: nanomaterials or potential hormone disruptors. EWG has determined that physical sunscreens are the better option since they provide a more stable protection, and are not absorbed into the skin.
  8. Europe’s better sunscreens. There are more sunscreen options in Europe compared to the United States.
  9. The 33rd summer in a row without final U.S. sunscreen safety regulations. FDA has not yet established safety regulations for sunscreens, resulting to inadequate performances of some sunscreens in the market.

Read the full article from EWG.

References:

  1. http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/9-surprising-facts-about-sunscreen/