![]() Homosalate is another UV filter commonly used in sunscreen that has also been found in mothers’ milk. Scientists have known for some time that vitamin A can spur excess skin growth (hyperplasia), and that in sunlight it can form free radicals that damage DNA. Indeed, the FDA conducted a study of vitamin A’s photocarcinogenic properties, and concluded that there is a possibility that it results in cancerous tumors when used on skin exposed to sunlight. Vitamin A is an anti-oxydant that slows skin aging but it is best used in lotions and night creams. Retinyl palmitate, retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate, and retinoic acid are forms of Vitamin A that can be found in nearly 16 percent of the beach and sport sunscreens, 14 percent of moisturizers with SPF, and 10 percent of all SPF-rated lip products in EWG’s 2016 sunscreen database. Lab studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that MIT may be neurotoxic. Subsequently, the committee banned the use of MIT in body creams in 2016 but still allows its use in rinse-off products such as shampoo. In 2014, the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety reported that the rise in the rates of reported cases of contact allergy caused by MIT was unprecedented in Europe. Many sunscreens also contain methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a synthetic preservative that the American Contact Dermatitis Society named as its “allergen of the year” in 2013. It has been found in humans, including urine, blood and mothers’ milk samples. This common sunscreen ingredient is shown to have hormone-mimicking effects on laboratory animals, which can be harmful to humans and also wildlife, should they come into contact with the chemical once it gets into water. Similar to oxybenzone, octinoxate is a chemical filter that also helps other ingredients to be absorbed more readily. ![]() The EWG warns against using oxybenzone, especially on children or pregnant/breastfeeding women. This is especially alarming since oxybenzone has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, cell damage, and low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. 3 Oxybenzone was also identified in nearly 70 percent of the non-mineral sunscreens in EWG’s 2016 sunscreen database. It was found in 97% of the American population in a 2008 study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. ![]() Oxybenzone is one of the most common chemical filters in sunscreens and it’s also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin. The easiest and safest way to protect your skin from the sun is to avoid exposure around noon and use clothing, hats and shade as primary barriers to UV radiation. According to the FDA’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations, “FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) agrees and writes that “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun”. Using skincare alone will not protect you from skin cancer. It’s also recommended to avoid sprays, because you can inhale more chemicals with them pumps definitely cause less inhalation than continuous sprays. Finally, they are suspected to cause endocrine disruption when used regularly. Some of these chemical filters are also unstable and break down when exposed to UVs, leaving on the skin newly formed toxic chemicals. Plus, they are absorbed by the skin, causing potential allergies and irritations. These filters are infamous for polluting the environment and killing corals. Most conventional sunscreen products use chemical filters to protect your skin from UVs. ![]() Why you should avoid conventional sunscreen products Sunscreen always gets me more questions, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about some of the issues sunscreen products can cause, and also what are some natural and organic alternatives. When someone asks me which conventional/supermarket beauty products they should replace first, I usually answer “nail polish, deodorant and sunscreen”.
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