Does your sunscreen increase your risk for cancer? Find the safest sunscreens that actually work with this sunscreen review.

The whole point of using sunscreen in the first place is to prevent sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer, right?  Well, you may be surprised to know that over 80% of sunscreens on the market do a very poor job at protecting us from melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer) and preventing premature aging.  Many of these sunscreens are even considered hazardous to human health according to the EWG.  Thankfully, many experts have identified criteria that make sunscreens as safe as possible while still getting the job done.  Here's a simple list of what to look for and what to avoid when deciding on the best sunscreen: 

     -Protection from the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays
     -No nanoparticles (anything larger than 100 nm is fine)
     -No oxybenzone
     -No PABA
     -No vitamin A (retinyl palmitate)
     -No hormone-disrupting chemicals

Many of the popular sunscreen brands that have dominated the market for over 30 years don't offer full spectrum UVA and UVB protection.  Experts believe that overexposure to UVA rays may significantly increase your risk for malignant melanoma.  And be careful, becuase a really high SPF rating doesn't necessarily mean full spectrum protection.

So what are 'nanoparticles' you ask?  They are basically super tiny particles that are used in a lot of products.  Some mineral sunscreens that appear to be safe use this nanotechnology.  In studies with mice, titanium dioxide nanoparticles even crossed the blood-brain barrier.  Researchers found that exposure over time lead to brain tissue damage.  

Oxybenzone, an ingredient in about half of sunscreens, is a hormone (or endocrine) disrupting chemical that enters the bloodstream and can cause cell damage.  Scientists urge parents to avoid oxybenzone use in children due to toxicity concerns.  PABA, a less common ingredient, can even damage DNA potentially leading to the development of skin cancer.  

Vitamin A (or retinyl palmitate), which is another common sunscreen ingredient, can also promote cancerous growths on the skin when exposed to sunlight.

Most importantly, it's critical that YOU educate yourself and make the best choice for you and your family, since the FDA still hasn't set enforceable guidelines for consumer protection.  Unfortunately, many of the worst offenders are sunscreens for babies and children!

Don't forget that some sun exposure is important for vitamin D production.  You can talk to your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels, as up to 70% of Americans have vitamin D deficiencies (children included).  Supplementation can help correct deficiency.  I speak from personal experience!

So you're probably wondering if you can ever find a sunscreen that's safe AND effective?  Here's a list of your best options that get great customer reviews:

($1.56 per oz) alba botanica kids fragrance-free mineral sunblock spf 30 

($1.85 per oz) caribbean solutions natural biodegradable solguard spf 25 

($2.53 per oz) goddess garden natural sunscreen spf 30+ 

($3.00 per oz) loving naturals sunscreen spf 30+
($3.17 per oz) goddess garden kids natural sunscreen spf 30+
($3.79 per oz) burnout clean and clear zinc oxide sunblock spf 32   (my personal fave!!!)
($3.79 per oz) burnout kids physical sunscreen spf 30 
($4.43 per oz) california baby moisturizing sunscreen no fragrance spf 18
($4.57 per oz) trukid new sunny days mineral all natural sunscreen spf 30+
($4.60 per oz) badger sunscreen for face and body spf 15 lightly scented
($4.76 per oz) badger sunscreen spf 30 unscented
($4.76 per oz) badger sunscreen spf 30 lightly scented
($6.19 per oz) california baby sunscreen lotion no fragrance spf 30+
($6.19 per oz) california baby sunscreen lotion everyday / year-round spf 30
($6.88 per oz) california baby citronella sunscreen lotion spf 30+
($7.25 per oz) suntegrity skincare all natural moisturizing body protection spf 30


 Looking for a spray sunscreen?

($4.75 per oz) kinesys performance sunscreen spray alcohol-free spf 30    (love it !!!)

Sunscreens specifically for your face:

($3.97 per oz) goddess garden facial natural sunscreen spf 30+ ($4.26 each) beyond coastal lip and face spreen spf 30
($7.35 each) badger sunscreen face stick spf 30 unscented
($8.99 each) trukid sunny days face and body stick spf 30+($12.99 each) california baby sunblock stick everyday / year-round spf 30+
($14.95 each) california baby sunblock stick no fragrance spf 30+
($26.47 per oz) suntegrity skincare all natural moisturizing face protection spf 30 

 

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Posted at Friday, June 03, 2011 |  by green momma