Is Your Sunscreen Safe to Use? The Benefits of Using Mineral Sunscreen

There are two forms of sunscreen: mineral and chemical. The former employs zinc or titanium dioxide to physically scatter and deflect UV rays, which can cause premature skin aging and cancer. Mineral sunscreens are milder and more natural, making them safer for newborns and individuals with sensitive skin. Sensitive skin.

Why not chemical sunscreens?

Chemical sunscreens contain chemicals such as avobenzone, homosalate, or oxybenzone that cause a chemical reaction on your skin, converting damaging UV radiation into heat. Because they are lightweight, easily absorbed, and leave no white cast, chemical sunscreens are typically more accessible and more luxurious to apply. Both work if you use the proper quantity and remember to reapply. Both have the potential to save your life.

Why are chemical sunscreens harmful to your health?

Oxybenzone, commonly known as benzophenone-3 (BP3), is the most well-known chemical UV filter, appearing in an estimated 60% of sunscreen formulations in the United States. This explains why traces of the chemical have been identified in 97 percent of the pee in the United States. The findings associating oxybenzone with testosterone variations in males and postmenopausal women were clinically inconsequential five years ago. Every recent study’s authors believe that the substance is highly suspected of being an estrogenic hormone disruptor and crosses the placental barrier, resulting in low birth weight and abnormalities such as Hirschsprung’s disease.

AA 2016 study discovered a relationship between chemical UV filter exposure and male infertility. The FDA stated in May 2019 that the “systemic absorption” of oxybenzone and other chemical filters from sunscreen surpasses the acceptable level, which is especially concerning for youngsters. Furthermore, because they create a heat-based chemical reaction on the skin’s surface, oxybenzone and other chemical filters have been demonstrated to be allergic and irritating for those with skin diseases like rosacea. The FDA recently suggested broad modifications to sunscreen laws, including prohibiting two formerly prevalent ingredients: para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate. The EPA analyzes the safety data of 12 chemical sunscreen components, and the conclusions are due later this year.

What qualities should you look for in a daily sunscreen?

If you’re devoted to a cleaner beauty regimen, look for a mineral sunscreen with zinc or titanium dioxide and an SPF of at least 30. Apply it liberally, leaving no skin unprotected (creams are preferable to sprays), and reapply every two to three hours or after swimming. Choose formulations that do not include insect repellents or vitamin A derivatives (retinyl palmitate, retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate, and retinoic acid), which can cause increased skin photosensitivity and oxidative damage.

The harsh reality is that the more natural the sunscreen recipe, the more likely its application will be ultra-thick, sticky, and opaque. Because natural chemical sunscreen does not exist, it is the price you pay for a safer and more ecologically responsible solution until something better comes along. The only other option is to avoid the sun. Seek shade, wear a broad hat, or cover up with UPF clothes when you’re outside.