Can Sunscreen Cause Cancer? Here’s What You Need to Know

WELLNESS-Now that we have tackled sun health and the related vitamin D factors, let’s take a look at sunscreen. You may have heard people talking about how sunscreen is actually bad for you and might make skin cancers worse. The truth is, all sunscreens are not created equally, and there are chemicals in certain sunscreens that are more damaging than others. With a little knowledge, these compounds can be avoided.  

The trick to buying sunscreen is to recognize the ingredients in sunscreens that are toxic. To make it easy for you to know what is safe and what isn’t, the next paragraph will break down the basics of sunscreen. This information comes primarily from the Environmental Working Group or EWG.  

The first two ingredients are on the AVOID list are oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate.  By avoiding these two chemicals when buying sunscreen, you will cutting down on toxicity and dangerous sunscreen side effects. Another basic no-no when it comes to sunscreen is buying spray sunscreens and sunscreens with very high SPF’s. Finally, avoid buying sunscreen/bug repellent combos, sunscreen powders, and tanning oils.  

Oxybenzone has been found to get into the bloodstream and act like an estrogen in the body.  Retinyl Palmitate which is a vitamin A derivative, causes cell growth and when added to skin that is exposed to direct sunlight, we end up with cancer cell growth potential. Combined, these two chemicals are found in about 60% of all sunscreens on the market making it important to read the ingredients when buying sunscreen. 

In regards to the super high SPF sunscreens, you need to know that SPF stands for sun protection factor and only refers to protection from UVB rays. These were the shorter wave UVBs that we discussed in my previous sun article.  Even with a high SPF, the UVA’s can still penetrate your skin and these waves are responsible for more damage than UVB’s by slowing the immune system and speeding up the aging process.  In addition, the UVA’s may cause skin cancer. The high SPF will only prevent you from knowing you are actually getting the damaging UVA rays.  

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The spray bottle sunscreens and sunscreen powders make it easy to inhale the chemicals in the sunscreen and are better off avoided all together.  

When thinking about sun protection and skin care, use common sense and prudence.  The obvious and most effective way to prevent skin issues from the sun is to limit your time in the sun. If you want or need to be outside for hours in the summer months, do you best to stay out of direct sunlight and stay covered and wear a hat.  

Remember, if you are looking to get the best bang for your buck regarding vitamin D and sun exposure you only need about 5 to 20 min of direct sun when the sun is overhead.  Any more than that and you are entering a skin danger zone. For those of you that need to be in the sun due to to work or long exercise sessions, use the above guidelines in buying a safe and effective sunscreen and re-apply often. Use your best judgment when taking in sun, and the second you feel your skin heating up too much or burning, get out of the sun and indoors immediately. 

 

(Christian Cristiano is an acupuncturist in LA, TV host of Wellness for Realists and writes on wellness regularly for CityWatch. Christian can be reached at 323.935.3420. twitter: @CristianoWFR)

-cw

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 26

Pub: Mar 27, 2015