We all want to be protected from the sun’s radiation but, do we really know what sunscreens we are consuming?
According to a study by the consumer organization Environmental Working Group, there is a large number of sunscreens which not only use misleading advertising on their labels but also contain substances harmful to our health and the environment.
This is why this organization has carried out an investigation on a large number of products that are on the market, offering us a list of the best ones, according to their usefulness, protection, composition and price.
Do people use sunscreens?
In recent years, the easy routines have been gaining strength and prominence in society, incorporating sunscreens as an essential step. But, does the consumer know which one to choose and when?
According to de EWG´s Guide to Sunscreens, there are around 500 products that correctly combine the balance between efficacy and health-friendly. Besides, David Andrews, acting scientific director of the Working Group on the Environment, adds that in addition to using sunscreens, it is also advisable to wear light clothing, seek shade and wear hats or caps.
Although it sounds incredible, but in Tik-Tok, there are people who argue fervently that UVB and UVA radiation is not harmful, and that the use of sunscreens is not necessary at all, even going so far as to encourage people to sunbathe directly without any protection.
This new trend is opposed by all professional dermatologists, including Dr. Kathleen Suozzi, who declared in a CNN´s interviw: Extensive research has shown that UV radiation from the sun is a significant cause of skin cancers such as melanoma. It’s really indisputable at this point,” UV radiation has both UVA and UVB, and we know that both of them damage the DNA in skin cells”.
Dangers of using sunscreens
We have always been told that sunscreens create a barrier in our skin that acts as a shield and reflects radiation so that it does not affect us.
Well, that’s not the reality. There are two types of sunscreens: chemical and mineral.
The first are those we have to keep on our radar and avoid at all costs. Through a chemical reaction, it absorbs radiation and disperses it as heat. What impact does it have on our body?
Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, Ecamsule, Homosalate, Octisalate, and Octinoxate are the main harmful compounds, which are absorbed by our body, reaching our bloodstream.
They cause changes in weight of newborns and shorter pregnancies, hormonal variations in men and a decrease in testosterone indicators in male adolescents and, of course, melanoma.
What’s more, the damage doesn’t end here. The waste from our body ends up in the sea, where these substances remain active, affecting the flora and fauna of the same.
There are destinations such as Hawaii, Florida and Us Virgin Islands, among others, which have totally banned the use of these products, since they were destroying their marine biodiversity.
The sunscreen manufacturers are represented by the Personal Care Products Council, which shows its total indignation with these reports and defends cause uncertainty in consumers about their products, which have been tested and are effective and not harmful.
The good news is that this latest report reveals that brands have decreased their use of these products, from 70% to 9%.
What other option is there to protect our skin safely?
The answer is mineral-based solar products. In this case, thanks to the zinc oxide and titanium, which are not absorbed by the skin, the rays are reflected.
We have to watch out for chemical boosters, which are used to soften the texture and avoid leaving the face white.
Action taken in this regard?
None.
The EWG has proposed that companies investigate the correlation of spray products and their effect on the lungs and their actual effectiveness.
To date, none of these measures has been carried out, so the consumer remains uninformed.
At this point, it is probably better to enjoy safely in the sun, even if we look like the Casper Ghost.
If you want to read more about well-being and self care, enjoy the following article.
