Is Sunscreen Really Protecting You?

Memorial Day has come and gone, and the Fourth of July is just around the corner. By now, many of you are thinking about protecting your skin from those strong summer rays in the upcoming months. Some of you will go to the local drugstore and pick up whatever is on sale. Others might be a bit more eco-minded or health conscious, especially if you have young children. You may do a Google search or check the Skin Deep website to find out the safest products on the market right now. However, there is more to consider with sunscreen than simply how often to use it and how best to use it. The bigger issue is whether or not the sunscreen is actually doing more harm than good.

We all know that sunscreen is meant to prevent sunburn. The problem is that using sunscreen may encourage people to get more sun exposure, especially at the most dangerous times of the day. Did you know that there is no assurance that your sunscreen is actually protecting you? According to the Skin Deep Database, “The Food and Drug Administration’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations say: 'FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer' (FDA 2007).” In fact, the FDA recommends wearing clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun.

There has been a flood of new sunscreen products in recent years with more and more products advertising higher and higher SPF rates. As someone who burns easily, I have definitely noticed the higher SPF numbers, and until recently, I had taken it to heart. A friend once joked that my sunscreen had such a high SPF that they might as well call it “SPF Sweater.” I felt good about it! After all, a higher SPF must be safer, right? Not necessarily. We are now being told that these numbers may be misleading. Last week, the FDA announced new requirements for sunscreen products. This is one step that will hopefully curb any faulty advertising for sunscreens. 

Do you know what’s in the sunscreen you use? How about oxybenzone? Oxybenzone is a penetration enhancer that helps other chemicals sink into your skin. It is used in the majority of sunscreens to absorb UVA rays and has been linked to such health problems as endocrine disruption, cell damage, and allergies. A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 97% of the U.S. population is contaminated with oxybenzone. What you think is simply protecting your skin from the sun may be harming your body in many other ways!

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sunscreen. There is so much information out there, and much of it leaves consumers confused. Your best option may be just what my family and I will be taking to the beach this summer: a good old-fashioned hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeved shirt. We’ll also have protective swim clothing for our son and white, pasty zinc oxide cream (the safest sunscreen option that I've found), and we’ll try to avoid sun exposure during peak hours of the day.

I understand that the FDA recommends using sunscreen to protect your skin. However, I want to make choices that are best for my family and for me. If I can protect my skin without the use of harmful chemicals, that’s what I’ll choose every time.