The official start of summer may still be a few weeks away, but that doesn’t mean the sun is holding back until then. Sunscreen is one of the most popular items being plucked from store shelves right now, but it seems most Americans don’t put too much thought into which sunscreen they use, or how effective (or harmful) they might be.
If Americans actually did some research they would find out something very interesting…
Not only do the experts disagree on which brands are the best, they can’t come to an agreement as to whether or not sunscreens that contain Vitamin A derivatives can actually promote cancer.
The EWG Report
About this time every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes out with its sunscreen report that endorses about only 10 percent of the sunscreens on the market. This year’s report stated that vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate (used in 40 percent of sunscreens), may speed up the cancer that sunscreen is used to prevent.
The EWG cited a 10-year-old study performed on mice by the FDA. Apparently tumors and lesions developed up to 21 percent faster in lab animals coated with Vitamin A cream than those with vitamin-free cream. This led EWG’s senior vice president for research to allege that the FDA should have warned consumers about the dangers of Vitamin-A-laced sunscreens a decade ago.
Is Vitamin A Harmful or Not?
Another article quoted a dermatologist named Darrell Rigel, who works at New York University, as postulating that, since Vitamin A is used in skin cancer treatment, the claim that it’s a cancer-causer is a dubious one.
Two-time Pulitzer winner and investigative reporter Andrew Schneider is not so sure. He contacted the FDA, which said the agency had not done any related research on the matter. And then Schneider showed evidence that the study had been done.
Lest we think the FDA is covering something up, another doctor named Henry W. Lim of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit was quoted as saying mice are far more susceptible to skin cancer than humans and that his colleagues agree that it is premature to conclude that retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A) is harmful.
Oxybenzone
Another chemical to watch out for, according to the EWC, is oxybenzone, a common compound in sunscreen that, according to the EWC, can absorb into the skin and disrupt hormones. Other research has directly refuted EWC’s claim.
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide
It turns out that EWG gave a favorable rating only to products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Generally, these minerals are considered rather harmless. However, Lim pointed out that some dermatologists are concerned that if people who have inflammatory skin conditions like eczema use sunscreen with these minerals, tiny cracks in the skin could allow these compounds to enter the bloodstream.
Do Not Stop Using Sunscreen
Everyone agrees on one thing: people need to continue to cover their skin with clothes and to use sunscreen. The damage (perhaps even skin cancer) that can be caused by the sun’s rays is far worse than the potential harms that may be caused by sunscreen itself.
Of course, finding the right protection could be a tough challenge. Simply do your research and decide which sunscreen you are most comfortable with. See one doctor’s recommendations.
What’s the difference between UVA and UVB?
UVA (ultraviolet light with a longer wavelength) radiation facilitates tanning but also can damage the DNA of cells deep within the skin, contributing to skin cancer and premature aging.
UVB (ultraviolet light with a shorter wavelength) rays cause sunburn. The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) labeling system on sunscreens is primarily a measure of protection from these sunrays.
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