When it comes to marketing, the trend seems to be more towards catch-phrases which appear to be popular, but at the same time are a bit ambiguous. The underlying premise appears to be that consumers are too busy to research what the phrases really mean, and if they like what they hear then they will trust the manufacturer.

One of the biggest catch-phrases being used in marketing today is “natural”. Sounds pretty straightforward, but if you asked 3 people to define it, you would get 3 slightly different answers. Even the dictionaries have a wide variety of definitions of natural. While we depend on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate products that are sold to us, their regulations may not be as stringent as we are led to believe. The FDA has this statement on their website: “From a food science perspective, it is difficult to define a food product that is ‘natural’ because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth. That said, FDA has not developed a definition for use of the term natural or its derivatives. However, the agency has not objected to the use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.” This is the only reference I can find on the FDA’s definition of natural.

Obviously, sunscreens are not a food product, however, the point about this is that as consumers, we need to be curious about what we put on our body as well as what we put in our body. Do not believe that the FDA will keep dangerous products off the store shelves. In my last newsletter, “Test Your Knowledge of Sunscreens and Sun Exposure—Are You Being Safe?”, I discussed some of the toxic chemicals that are present in many of the sunscreen products that are widely available in most stores. Many of the chemicals present in traditional sunscreens are known hormone disruptors, allergens, and proven to cause cancer.

Fortunately, there are companies who analyze the scientific data of laboratory testing done on chemicals, and produce unbiased reports on the safety of products being sold in the United States. One of my favorite companies is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). I use their reports and ratings to determine what products are safe for my family.

It is difficult to find a sunscreen product that is 100% safe and 100% effective. That would equate to never being in direct sunlight, which is just not practical or healthy. However, there are a few things to know for making informed decisions on which products are safer as well as effective.

Let me reiterate from my last newsletter, the main object of sun safety is to not get sun burned. Your body needs sunlight on bare unprotected skin to make the critical pre-hormone, vitamin D. We cannot live without vitamin D, and it is almost impossible to get enough through eating food. Sun exposure or taking a vitamin D supplement are the two most effective ways of ensuring proper blood levels. Your body will make enough vitamin D from sunlight in half the time it takes for your skin to burn. So you can have your cake and eat it too!  Once you have gotten a little sun, it is time to protect your skin from burning (remember, sunburn raises your risk for skin cancer).

All sunscreen blocks UVB, the rays that cause vitamin D to be produced in your body. Overexposure to UVB rays will cause sunburn and raise your risk for skin damage and skin cancer. To block the UVA rays you must use a sunscreen that is labelled to protect against both, also referred to as broad spectrum.

SPF, sun protection factor, can be more than a little misleading. This rating is really referring to UVB rays since they are far easier to block than the UVA rays. According to EWG’s report, “Properly applied SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98 percent of sunburn rays; SPF 100 blocks 99 percent.” The higher the SPF rating, the higher the concentrations of chemicals in the product. That higher concentration of chemicals can lead to serious health concerns because of their toxicity. A higher SPF rating does not necessarily mean that you can stay in the sun longer, it just means that it blocks more of the UVB rays than the lower SPF rated product; UVA protection changes marginally. While the FDA has put in place regulations that no longer allow companies to advertise ratings over 50, you may still see a product labeled with an SPF rating of 50+. Unfortunately, this limits the consumer from being able to determine the level of chemicals in the product. But there are safer, and more effective alternatives.

Natural sunscreens (more often labeled as mineral based sunscreens) are effective at blocking both UVA and UVB rays. The active ingredients consist of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, with zinc oxide being more effective at blocking UVA. Although products containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are being regarded as the safest sunscreens available on the market, there are some important things about them to know.

These two minerals are relatively large in particle size. This is actually good because they are less likely to be absorbed by your skin, and also are more effective at blocking the UV rays by creating a covering on the skin. The drawback to them being larger in size is that they are slightly visible on your skin; not quite like the white nose that lifeguards of years ago used to sport around, but more opaque. Some manufacturers have added a natural tint to the sunscreen to make it blend in better with your skin color.

Mineral based sunscreens are water resistant, but may need to be applied more frequently because they can be washed off and rubbed off more easily than conventional sunscreens, which soak into your skin.

In an effort to make the mineral based sunscreens less visible on the skin, they found a way to break down the particles into nano-size. The smaller the particle, the less effective it is at blocking UVA. Since there are no FDA regulations on the size of the nano-particles, the size of the particles can vary greatly from product to product. Very small nano-particles may be absorbed by the skin, but studies are inconclusive as to the extent that they may enter the body. What is certain is that inhaling particles of both conventional sunscreens and mineral based sunscreens is very toxic and causes damage to lung tissue. While sprays are convenient, they should not be used on children and infants, or sprayed near your face.

Until further research is done, the safest option is to use non-nano particle mineral based sunscreen. Because the FDA does not have a strong definition of the word natural, it is recommended to read the list of ingredients. Some manufacturers add artificial fragrance or other chemicals such as parabens (as a preservative), and petroleum based chemicals (to make the sunscreen water resistant) which studies have shown to affect kidneys, liver, and disrupt hormone function.

If you like to make your own natural products, there are some recipes on the internet you could try; they look like they would make your skin feel great.

But if you are like most people and just want to buy a product already made, there are quite a number to choose from. Once you start looking, you will see how easy they are to find. I highly recommend EWG’s (Environmental Working Group) report on sunscreens. They rate the safety of conventional as well as mineral based sunscreens at www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen.

We have tried a number of mineral based ones at our house. Some are easier to apply than others due to differences in the thickness of the cream. I like that they are safe for infants and gentle on skin; no breakouts on anyone’s face. Be aware that the ones with added color to blend with natural skin tone can rub off onto towels and clothes but launders right out.

The bottom line is that natural sunscreens are definitely safer than conventional sunscreens, however the consumer still needs to be curious about what is actually in each product. Even though the FDA has identified certain ingredients of beauty care products to be toxic but acceptable below a certain level, they cannot control how much a consumer uses the product and exposes themselves to those ingredients. Children are especially at risk for overdose due to their smaller size.

By staying informed, you can help ensure that you and your family are being safe in the sun.

 

References

Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster: www.merriam-webste.com/dictionary/natural

FDA Sheds Light on Sunscreens. (2012, May 17). Retrieved from FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration: www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm258416.htm

Iarbi. (2012, January 19). Dangers of Nanoparticles In Sunscreen. Retrieved from Healthy Solutions4U: www.healthysolutions4u.com/2012/01/dangers-of-nanoparticles-in-sunscreen/

Mercola, D. J. (2014, June o4). Some of the Most Toxic Suscreens and Safer Options. Retrieved from Mercola.cim: articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/04/ewg-sunscreen-guide.aspx

Mercola, D. J. (n.d.). Mercola.com. Retrieved from The Safe Sunscreen Guide: Why Chemical Sunscreens Are NOT Your Best Bet: products.mercola.com/sunscreen/?e_cid=20150512Z1_DNL_YRP_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=yrp1&utm_campaign=20150512Z1&et_cid=DM74659&et_rid=949729946

Nanoparticles in Sunscreens. (n.d.). Retrieved from EWG: www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/nanoparticles-in-sunscreen/

What’s Wrong With High SPF? (n.d.). Retrieved from EWG: www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/report/what’s-wrong-with-high-spf/