In spite of the common misconception about the dangers of natural sunrays, there is even more confusion about the use of sunscreen products. For the last 30 years the official have been warning us about the risks related to sun exposure and the need to use sunscreen on regular basis. In spite of increasing use of sunscreen products, skin cancer is on the rise. For many years now we’ve been seeing warnings about vitamin D deficiency and the related risks of cancer and decreased immunity.
If you reference natural skin care tips for using sunscreens, the non-profit Environmental Working Group has identified another health risk associated with regular sunscreen use, which is the use of sunscreen sprays. As dangerous as regular sunscreen can be, using micronized particles creates even greater risk of causing allergic reactions and also disrupting the body’s endocrine system.
But “micronized” or “nano-scale” particles of these minerals can get below the skin surface and cause allergic reactions and other problems for some people. EWG recommends sticking with “mineral” sunscreens whenever possible but, more important, taking other precautions to avoid prolonged sun exposure altogether. “At EWG we use sunscreens, but we look for shade, wear protective clothing, and avoid the noontime sun before we smear on the cream,” the group reports.
As for spray varieties, EWG recommends avoiding them entirely: “These ingredients are not meant to be inhaled into the lungs.” With so little known about the effects of sunscreen chemicals on the body when rubbed into the skin, we may never know how much worse the effects may be when they are inhaled. But suffice it to say: When your neighbor at the beach is spraying down Junior, it’s in your best interest to turn away and cover your nose and mouth.
The root of the problem, according to EWG, is failure on the part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), despite repeated requests from public health and consumer advocates, to implement sunscreen safety standards, some of which were proposed by government scientists more than three decades ago.
EWG only considers a small percentage of the sunscreens on the market—none of which come packaged in spray cans—safe for human use.
If you know that you are going to be spending a day in the sun and you feel that you need some sun protection, there are natural products that can be used successfully without the side effects. One of the natural skin care products that you can use is Dr. Sears sunscreen, called Solis.
You can also read more about the dangers of sunscreen use and benefits of vitamin D in an article by Dr. Mercola, Sunscreen Exposed.
