The title should really be, why it’s not safe for anyone. I was cruising some message boards a few nights ago and found out why Sunscreen is not safe for babies. Let’s see, Number one, It’s never been tested on babies under 6 months. That’s generally the reason you can’t use it on your babe under 6 months! To which a few of my mommy friends and i have jokingly said.. what will they turn into green monsters if we do… well according to what CRAP they put in them… they just might. Number 2, the stuff they put in them is actually being proven ineffective “as we speak” against protecting against enough of the broad spectrum of UV rays. Some of the worst offenders are: Neutrogena, Coppertone–DAMN it I just bought a new bottle, and Banana Boat (you know the one that smells like coconuts!)

A few years ago, ok well maybe 9 years ago, there was a popular song called “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen” written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune as a column in 1997, made popular by Baz Luhrmann.

All that Glitter’s is not gold

Ah, the golden tan. What is it about someone who is nice and golden that just makes them look “healthy?” I for one can not comment on this, I’m as pasty fair skinned as they come.  I burn being outside without sunscreen in as little as 20 minutes on a hot sunny day. (Darn blond hair) But I have probably tanned myself senseless over the past years, because I just think a tan looks hot. I have tried a few “fake and bake” products that I find have worked better then other’s and I’ll review those in another post but for now let’s move on to the serious stuff.

Sun Damage

Ahh yes, it’s been all the hype over the last 20-30 years and is increasing in it’s popularity due to the increasing cases of skin cancer. Ultraviolet (UV) light, (the invisible but intense rays of the sun) damages your skin.

Believe it or not sun damage of your skin begin’s with a Tan. Yup, that healthy warm sun kissed glow is sun damage. It’s cousin Sun Burn is more obvious to us “sun” consumers, because well it hurts! Other signs of sun damage is including liver spots or deep wrinkles (oh and the endless ways to get rid of those lovely things are driving the plastic surgery industry). With repeated sun exposure, the skin damage can even progress into cancerous tumors, and many of us think nooo it can’t happen to me, well the scary thing is that it’s the most common form of cancer, and unless you lock yourself away in a dungeon you’re at risk too.

What can I do to prevent sun damage?

Cover up when you go outside: Let’s face it, if it’s hot out, wearing more clothes isn’t the most realistic options. But more companies are now coming out with UV resistant clothing! Yes even wearing a t-shirt won’t stop the rays, now we need special shirts… sheesh. But covering up does not necessarily mean more clothes. You can enjoy a day at the beach when you bring along a beach umbrella, and a hat.

Avoid the sun during peak hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m. but realistically that is your whole day during the summer months, and that’s when sunscreen comes in.

What’s in my sunscreen?

SO not only do you have to make sure your sunscreen is effective, you have to make sure the ingredients in the sunscreen won’t kill you!  Ok you all have to seriously check out this website that specializes in researching everything from cosmetics to sunscreen. In the US there is no standardized testing process from the FDA on sunscreen. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. When you read up what sunscreen has in it, it’s kind of nasty and NO WONDER they don’t want it on babies younger then 6 months. I’m not even sure I want it on my skin!

In Canada we have something called the Canadian Dermatology Association, and if your sunscreen has this symbol, you should be very well protected against sun damage. BUT It does not mean there aren’t any harmful chemicals in your sunscreen. Click here to see what the CDA’s seal of approval means.

Want to see what sunscreen’s meet the CDA’s list of approval? Click here to find out!

The Top Culprit in the danger Zone: Oxybenzone

It’s pro: it absorbs UV-A ultraviolot rays.

It’s cons: (from Wiki–please see the page for academic references)

“This organic compound has been shown to penetrate into the skin where it acts as a photosensitizer. This results in an increased production of free radicals under illumination, which makes this substance a photocarcinogen.[3] This study is actually of benzophenones, not oxybenzones. Two years after the study this information is now reaching consumers,[4] but this photocarcinogen can still be found in many sunscreens.

Oxybenzone is a derivative of benzophenone, which is well known to attack DNA when iluminated. It generates strand breaks and various photoproducts.[5] Already in 1993 the use of oxybenzone had been strongly criticized, based on its similarity to benzophenone.[5]

The photomutagenic properties of these compounds might be a contributing factor to the increased melanoma incidence that has been found in sunscreen users.”

Um OK, holy CRAP!!!! It’s a derivative of something well known to attack DNA when Illuminated (ie, going in the sun!) And do you know that almost all the sunscreens I’ve looked up have this ingredient in it!

Also Zinc Oxide has been linked to many many many health issues–click here to see which ones. Nano Zinc Oxide is worse however–you’d think it’d be better because of the Nano wording.

The absorption of these sunscreen ingredients into the skin does not occur instantaneously, but the sunscreen concentration in the deeper levels of the skin increases over time. Right now there are studies going on that are trying to find out the amount of time between the topical application of the sunscreen and the end of the illumination period. But it could be years before the results are produced and further yet, replicated.

Bottom Line

If you are tired of waiting for the FDA to get off their duff to make sunscreen protection standardized, tell him by clicking here!

Here are some Top Sunscreen Tips.

Don’t use sunscreen with bug repellant in it, most often bugs during that time during the day aren’t of the biting kind, you don’t need extra chemical’s soaking into your blood stream.

Right now even the sunscreens that protect you against the sun, still have harmful levels of chemical’s in them, but their pro’s outweigh the cons–for now.

These products that actually protect your skin from the UV rays are more pricey. And basically you have to replace them if they’ve been roasted in your car, or on the beach, as it will make these active ingredients ineffective.

Don’t buy sunscreen in aerosol form.

After reading this, I’m for sure not putting them on my little baby, and now I have to go buy a new sunscreen for myself. Mind you I do have the Aveeno Baby sunblock, so I guess I’m covered for the summer… Gosh now I’m even more paranoid, LOL but you know, it doesn’t make me not want a hot tan, isn’t that even more disturbing.

Tweightloss Tip of the day

Thanks to WorkoutMommy! Here is her tip of the day: No matter where you are, if you yawn do 10 (good form) squats! I’m going to make this one of my weekly goals! Love it! Didn’t get to the gym yesterday but had a good eating healthy day! But today I will be at the gym for sure!