The new sunscreen dilemma
Categories: Fun & Activities, Safety
On our way to the beach last weekend, I hopped out at local Walgreen's for sunscreen. Twenty minutes later I returned, to my irritated and impatient family. "I'm sorry," I said, "But it's really hard to buy sunscreen these days." While I really appreciate the work the Environmental Working Group put in to their sunscreen study, I find myself frozen when faced with shelves full of sunscreen. Their top 10 picks for kids contain few name brands, and those that I can find at a local store likely use micronized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Though the EWG, after carefully weighing the benefits and the risks, have chosen to support studies that say nanoparticles are safe, I'm not yet convinced that I want to use them on a regular basis.
After careful deliberation, I chose a brand earlier this summer. It cost me $17 and was in a bottle so small, it was gone after our first camping trip. So I went into Walgreen's determined to at least avoid oxybenzone, but even that was difficult. Surprisingly, the brand I ended up with doesn't rank too badly on the EWG's list.
I must not be the only mom struggling, because this summer the EWG came out with their National Brand Buying Guide. It lists popular brands that rank higher up on their list of recommended sunscreens, and hopefully won't break your vacation budget.
Am I the only one worrying about this, or are you, too, having a sunscreen dilemma this season?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Baron 7-15-2008 @ 11:20AM
I will agree that sunscreen prices (it seems that in the last 2 or 3 years) have gone out the roof, but I haven't read that study, so I am assuming it says that many of the ingredients are bad. I would like to see how bad they are compared to skin cancer. I've seen people missing significant pieces of their face and other pieces of skin (not to mention dead) from skin cancer... Seeing a woman w/o a nose, well, I will take my chances with sun screen.
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Leslie K 7-15-2008 @ 11:52AM
No kidding. First, if you don't use sunscreen, you're going to increase your risk for cancer. Then, if you use certain sunscreens they don't work and you also increase your risk because of the ingredients in that sunscreen. Don't forget that when you do find a blocking sunscreen, you now have less exposure to Vitamin D now.
It's enough to drive you crazy.
Everything in moderation.
Stay in the shade when there is a choice. My boys wear UV blocking black rash guard swim shirts and they protect very well. We do use sunscreen as well, I look for the Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide whenever possible.
Leslie K
http://www.supplementinfo.org
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A 7-15-2008 @ 2:19PM
Might as well just stay inside...
Oh wait! ..then you'll have an obese kid and that's a no-no.
Cloudy day? Nope, there's still UV rays coming down on you.
Guess we should wait till night time but that's dangerous because you can't see where you're going.
Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. Ignore them all and do what you want.
:)
Cheerio!
A
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Heather 7-15-2008 @ 8:38PM
You forgot if you are outside in the night time there are the West Nile mosquitos that you can't use so much deet on anymore. lol Like you said damned if you do damned if you don't.
Ann 7-15-2008 @ 4:05PM
It doesn't have to be a choice between mainstream sunscreens and skin cancer. Safer sunscreens use zinc oxide, which is an effective sunblock (unfortunately when you find it in most mainstream brands, it is also combined with other chemicals you probably don't want absorbing into your body). I haven't read too much on nano-particle safety, but Kabana (www.kabanaskincare.com) says they use a non-nano zinc oxide. Other sunscreens I have been looking at are Badger and UV Naturals. UV Naturals says the size of their particles is such that they don't absorb into the skin.
About blocking Vitamin D production by using blockers such as zinc oxide--you only need 15 minutes of sun exposure a day, so I have often read, for adequate Vitamin D production, and I do not bother putting on sunscreen if we are out less than 1/2 hour at least, so as long as you are not obsessed with putting sunscreen on every time you go out the door, you should be fine.
It's unfortunate that these brands are so much more expensive, but I'm not going to use what I feel are dangerous chemicals just because they are cheaper. Safety is worth it, in my (pocket)book.
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Tamyu 7-16-2008 @ 6:15AM
My son`s kindergarten has an outdoor pool, which the kids get into everyday. They`ve taken an interesting policy on sunscreen. They ban it entirely.
They say that they can`t be certain of how safe the ingredients are, and as there are so many children who get in and out of the pool each day, they are not comfortable with the amount of residue left in the water. Some parents may be extremely careful, while others use the cheapest thing on the market - but in the end, all of it would get on to all of the kids.
Plus as these are small kids - the nursery class consisting of 2 year olds - inevitably some children end up drinking the water.
So for the past 2 years, they`ve put up a huge UV blocking tent sort of thing over the pool. The kids spend the early morning indoors, get in the pool before lunch, eat, and are then each rubbed down with the sunscreen their parents sent for them so they are protected from recess on.
I always try to buy the types designed for children to use on my son - of course they cost 3 times as much for half the amount. But it isn`t as if it`s really alright NOT to use any. Myself - well, pale little thing that I am, I burn within 15 or 20 minutes of direct sunlight. So I stay in the shade, carry a UV blocking parasol, and carry a little SPF50+ bottle of sunblock ($20!) in my purse to dab on my arms and nose should I need to be out in the sun.
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Lisa 7-16-2008 @ 11:21AM
As a child of the 80's, Mommy of 5, Volunteer Emergency Medical Tecnichian/Firefighter and Special Education Teachers Aide!
I say that I ran around my entire childhood without sunscreen, bug spray, bike helmets, a chickenpox vaccine and was exposed to lead paint oh yeah and I lived without myspace and the internet.
I am alive in good health and have many very fond memories! Stop freaking out....everything we do and expose our children to could have ill effects remember folks it didn't kill us so relax and enjoy..let your kids be kids!!!!
There is nothing wrong with a nice swim in a mucky mud puddle and being out all hours playing Hide and Seak (now known as "Man Hunt")!
It's Summa Time....
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Heather 7-17-2008 @ 10:47PM
I agree about the child of the 80's thing.
My daughter was also allergic to sunscreen. We found 1 that she could use and then they stopped making it ( Body Shop brand). If I wear sunscreen I burn faster. Isn't that worse then just getting a tan?. They say people who burn are at a higher risk of skin cancer .
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