Sunblocks\' safety a hot topic for debate

Tag : SPF fabric

Sunscreen is commonly hailed as safe, essential body armor.
It protects us from blistering sunburn, keeps our skin fromwrinkling and helps guard against squamous cell cancer.
But the evidence is inconclusive as to whether sunscreens reducethe risk of basal cell cancer and melanoma, the most deadly form ofskin cancer. Some scientists have accused dermatologists and thesunscreen industry with scaring Americans out of the sun's powerfulultraviolet (UV) rays, which the body needs to generate vitamin D.
And although most of us assume that sunscreens are safe andeffective, we could use some federal quality and safety standards.
Four out of five name-brand sunscreens offer inadequate protection,according to the second annual sunscreen summary by theEnvironmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental researchorganization.
Leading brands — Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena— were the worst offenders according to the group, whichrecommended 143 products at cosmeticsdatabase.com .
Still, as a fair-skinned, light-haired sun worshiper who has everyother risk factor for skin cancer, I consider sunscreen animportant tool.
Here's how to use it wisely.
Seek shade or make it. Don't use sunscreens as a first line ofdefense against melanoma or a license to bask in the sun, saidRobert J. Davis, author of "The Healthy Skeptic" (University ofCalifornia Press, $21.95).
Instead, stay out of the sun at peak hours — 10 a.m. to 4p.m. — and "cover up with dark-colored clothing that's madeof tightly woven fabric or specially treated to block UVradiation," Davis wrote.
The EWG recommends avoiding sunscreens containing the commonly usedchemical oxybenzone out of concern that it can disrupt hormones,cause allergic reactions and damage cells.
"It's one of the most absorbed sunscreen blockers, which wouldn'tnecessarily be a concern but it has high toxicity issues," said EWGsenior analyst Sonya Lunder. But the American Academy ofDermatology (AAD) recommends oxybenzone because it ensures"broad-spectrum" coverage, which means it filters out both UVA andUVB light. Pick your side.
Be wary of "seals of approval." The AAD has been criticized by someof its members for its commercial endorsement of sunscreens. ManyAAD officers have ties to companies that manufacture sunscreens.One product with the AAD seal, Johnson & Johnson's AveenoSunblock Lotion with SPF 55, contains oxybenzone; it scored a"moderate" risk in the EWG rankings.
But "the main criterion for displaying the seal is donating $10,000to SCF to join the Corporate Council," Davis wrote.
For a fee, sunscreen manufacturers such as Neutrogena display theAmerican Cancer Society logo on their products. Only one Neutrogenaproduct — the mineral-based Neutrogena Sensitive SkinSunblock Lotion, SPF 30 — is recommended by EWG.
Don't rely on SPFs. The Sun Protection Factor numbers (SPFs) referonly to the ability to deflect UVB rays. Look for "broad spectrum"to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. An SPF 30 screens 97percent of UVB rays; an SPF 15 screens 93 percent of UVB rays.Rather than reach for SPF 70, apply a lower number generously andoften.
Use at least 7 percent zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Zinc andtitanium act as a physical barrier on the skin and, unlike othersunscreen chemicals, don't penetrate the skin, don't showhormone-like activity, don't break down in the sun and block awider spectrum of the sun's rays than other products.