10 Disturbing Sunscreen Secrets

Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about protecting yourself from damaging rays, we uncovered some sneaky sun-care truths.

By Kimberly Goad, Women’s Health

Slathering on sunscreen is the best way to ward off evil rays, but don’t put blind faith in its efficacy. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., reviewed nearly 1,400 sunscreens in 2010 and found that only 8 percent made the grade in terms of preventing skin cancer and signs of aging. (Scary, right?) So choosing the right one is critical. These fascinating facts and tips will help keep your skin healthy this summer and beyond.

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1. Some Dangers Lurk Within
A form of vitamin A is added to some sunscreens to minimize the aging effects of the sun. What’s not to love about that? Potentially plenty: Researchers with the National Toxicology Program say retinyl palmitate–a vitamin-A compound used in at least 40 percent of American sunscreens–may speed up the development of skin cancer–related tumors and lesions when used on skin hit with sunlight. Lab animals coated with a vitamin A–laced skin cream and exposed to the equivalent of just nine minutes of midday sunlight every day for a year developed tumors and lesions up to 21 percent sooner than animals coated in vitamin A–free block.

While there’s disagreement in the medical community about whether vitamin A has the same effect on humans, it’s best to proceed with caution.

“If there’s a question about the safety of something, avoid it. Plenty of sunscreens don’t have retinyl palmitate,” says Robert J. Friedman, M.D., a dermatologic oncologist in New York City and a clinical professor at the New York University School of Medicine. Try Jason Family Natural Sunblock SPF 45 ($12, at health-food stores).

Vitamin A isn’t the only controversial ingredient slipped into some SPFs. Oxybenzone and octinoxate, common block chemicals, are linked to allergic contact dermatitis and photocontact dermatitis (irritation caused when certain chemicals are on skin that’s exposed to sunlight), as well as hormone disruption, in lab animals.

2. Sunscreen Can Harm the Environment
Twenty thousand tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers, divers, and surfers into the oceans every year, eventually affecting marine life, according to a 2008 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. And coral reefs are getting especially creamed. Researchers say sunscreens with octinoxate, oxybenzone, parabens, or camphor derivatives are killing hard corals (which could negatively impact biodiversity and reef ecosystems). None of this is a problem if you’re hiking, biking, or sunbathing on dry land. But if you plan to swim in the sea, slather on a biodegradable sunscreen that doesn’t contain ingredients that are mean to marine life. Try Alba Botanica Very Emollient Fragrance Free Mineral Sunblock SPF 30.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KAREN L.

12:25AM PDT on May 14, 2012

thanks

send a green star

Emily D.

6:22PM PDT on Jul 10, 2011

All this is very true. Go to EWG.com/Skin Deep and u can see their best rated sunscreens. I use Badger.

Kathy W.

2:23AM PDT on Jul 10, 2011

When I was a child, there was NOT much consciousness of the importance of sun protection, and NOT much available in the way of useful sunscreens. (Yeah, OK, there was the dreaded stark white zinc oxide stuff that lifeguards coated their noses with!) So, in fact, much has actually improved in the last several decades. At least now there is a choice of many suncreens, some (unfortunately not all) of which are reasonably efficacious and safe.

Debra F.

5:59AM PDT on Jun 26, 2011

I USE THE ALBA BOTANICA FRAGRANCE FREE AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO USE, PROTECTS MY SKIN AND HELPS KEEP MY FACE YOUNGER LOOKING. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Simon V.

11:32AM PDT on Jun 21, 2011

I honestly never thought of the possible harm sunscreen could do... thank you for that!

Christina F.

11:25PM PDT on Jun 19, 2011

Found article very informative. Thanks!!

11:12AM PDT on Jun 17, 2011

It's a bi-polar universe.

Evil is live spelled backwards.

Same letters but how are they used.

What's good is bad for you and what's
bad is good for you.

It all depends on how you spell.

Live is evil spelled backwards.

Each thing in its place is best.

There is a time for everything under the sun.

Ah, well...

Jaydee F.

10:33PM PDT on Jun 14, 2011

Check out the Environmental Working Group for more info as well.

Diane W.

9:12PM PDT on Jun 11, 2011

What good is the FDA? There is continually more and more press about the increase in dangers of more and more toxic ingredients in products on the market. Why are they allowed to be produced and distributed? Isn't the FDA a protection agency? What happened to "truth in advertising"? That used to be the law, as well, and now, not anymore. Governments are continuing to support companies to lie about the products they are selling, allow them to sell them, and destroy the population and the planet. When I was a child sunscreens had zinc oxyide in them, were water-proof, and provided sun and skin protection all day. For decades now, and still, the governments, businesses, and most doctors are "legally" poisoning people and the planet, and getting rich doing it.

Gypsy W.

5:02PM PDT on Jun 11, 2011

I've always struggled with this, i try not to buy products that are full of harmful chemicals, i also try not to buy products tested on animals, and as a vegan i can't take vitamin D ..the sun is my only way of getting it, and i know how harmful the sun can be, are we all just out of luck?