Sunscreen or Sunblock Lotion causes skin cancer?

[EllenFrasier]

Briefly heard something on the radio about this - anybody have more details? It said that some brands of lotion will prevent a sunburn, but actually speed up the conditions that cause skin cancer - how do we know what is safe anymore?

 

[Christine]

I just posted a link on the Consumer Reports Sunscreen thread that is on page 1 right now. It was the Environmental Working Group that has some study out. The concern is that Vitamin A and it's derivatives (used in Retinol "anti-aging" products) can cause free radicals when exposed to sunlight. They are fine in our "old lady" creams we use in the house but apparently not so fine in a sunscreen.

The link I posted has lists of what the EWG deems as safe sunscreens, makeups, etc.

 

[Christine]

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

Here's the link.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Thank you, I'll check it out!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I was just about to post Christine's link!

Here is another...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...-hidden-danger-in-lotions-and-sunscreens.aspx

(if you have to sign up to read it, it just asks for your email address. Lots of good articles on his site about lots of stuff!)

 

[TLHB70]

We use Neutrogena spray. (http://www.neutrogena.com/econsumer/ntg/productdetail.browse?segment=women&catId=3&subCatId=9&productId=386&target=/products/sun/ultra-sheer-body-mist.jsp ) I do not see it listed. Does anyone know anything about it and how it rates?

 

[Christine]

We use Neutrogena spray. (http://www.neutrogena.com/econsumer/ntg/productdetail.browse?segment=women&catId=3&subCatId=9&productId=386&target=/products/sun/ultra-sheer-body-mist.jsp ) I do not see it listed. Does anyone know anything about it and how it rates?

It appears this sunscreen fell in the "avoid" category for various reasons. If you go to the EWG site and go to the "Find Your Sunscreen" link, you can read all the details on that particular sunscreen.

 

[Meriweather]

I just bought a double pack with a coupon at Costco of one of the "avoid" ones, so back it goes!!

Never heard of most of the 0-2 ones, but can look around.
I don't use it much since I am dark skinned, but DH is a blue eyed blond and we are moving to AZ this summer, so he will really need it.

 

[Christine]

I just bought a double pack with a coupon at Costco of one of the "avoid" ones, so back it goes!!

Never heard of most of the 0-2 ones, but can look around.
I don't use it much since I am dark skinned, but DH is a blue eyed blond and we are moving to AZ this summer, so he will really need it.

Most of the 0-2 ones are very "chemical free"; hence, aren't sold in mainstream stores.

The California Baby line (which is great for adults) can be found in the baby section at Target. The Jason's Sunbrella brand, which has gotten good reviews for many years, can be found at Wegman's (a northeast grocery chain) in their organic aisle. It can also be found at Whole Foods. The "Jason" brand is starting to become more mainstream so you might have to look around for it and stores that carry larger lines of sunscreen. The La Rouch-Posay is something that, I think, CVS has been carrying for a few years now.

 

[MIGrandma]

Everything seems to be causing cancer, or illness of some sort, in humans these days. I just heard they are now saying the wooden pallets that they use to deliver food can cause illness. Nothing is safe anymore. All the pesticides that are used in spraying our fruits and vegetables, the growth hormones they inject into our meat, etc. I even wonder about the mosquio repellant we spray on our skin. It's just everything anymore.

Maybe we ought to go back to growing our own food, raising our own cows (for milk and beef), and just living off the land like the pioneers did.

 

[TLHB70]

It appears this sunscreen fell in the "avoid" category for various reasons. If you go to the EWG site and go to the "Find Your Sunscreen" link, you can read all the details on that particular sunscreen.

Thank you. I just found it and read the review. Now I have to find a new sunblock. This is the one that our dermatologist recommended so I thought it was a good product.

 

[Christine]

Thank you. I just found it and read the review. Now I have to find a new sunblock. This is the one that our dermatologist recommended so I thought it was a good product.

Not to sound too cynical, but the medical community (i.e, doctors) are always way behind on these tests and discoveries. I mean, I think it's taking most doctors FOREVER to come around to the Vitamin D deficiencies people are facing. It just takes them YEARS to get on board with it.

I'm sure your Neutrogena sunscreen works just fine. If you use it and don't get a burn, then it works. And that's how your doctor views it. The studies on the chemicals in sunscreen are just now coming out (over the last two years) and I don't think they are 100% conclusive yet. They are conclusive enough for ME, but I don't think the medical community is at a point to make a call on it.

 

[luvmy3]

I just checked all my sunscreens and a few are in the caution range and all the ones I use on the kids are in the avoid range. Looks like its time to re-stock.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

Here's the link.

Thanks for the link. Interestingly enough, though, even the ones that have a good 'overall' score, still have some things in them that aren't good for you. One of the ones that was scored a "1" contained ingredients that scored as a high as 4/5 on their scale.

I guess, in the end, nothing is really 100% good for you.

 

[klj27]

Studies like this are so incendiary and I am not sure what I think. Could these items (it doesn't say how much you would have to use on a continuous basis to be harmed) cause harm to you? Maybe, but is it worse than getting continuous sunburns? I don't know.

Do I think the preservatives/pesticides can be harmful in large quantities to some? Probably, but we are living longer because of all the scientific and medical advances. It seems that with progress we have to take the good with the bad.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks for the links. You can find some of the good ones on Amazon!

 

[MrsPete]

Most of the 0-2 ones are very "chemical free"; hence, aren't sold in mainstream stores.

You can add "cost a fortune" to that. Great.

 

[Planogirl]

I'll have to check out some of these good suncreens. I've never heard of most of them and have an uncomfortable feeling that they will be extremely expensive.

I don't know much about EWG either to be honest. I'll be looking into them too.

 

[Christine]

I'll have to check out some of these good suncreens. I've never heard of most of them and have an uncomfortable feeling that they will be extremely expensive.

I don't know much about EWG either to be honest. I'll be looking into them too.

I take it all in and, while I'm not going to take EWG's recommendations as gospel, I do think they are on to something. They haven't been the first to raise the issue on some of these chemicals, the vitamin A issue, and even the nano-mineral issue that might exist with the safer sunscreens. I just err on the side of caution and try to buy the best one that I can afford. It can't hurt to go with their recommendations.

As it is, I cannot use most of the "caution" or "avoid" sunscreens anyway. I have found them all to be effective in the sunblock area but they mess up my skin so bad (reactions, blisters, welts, etc) that I have unknowingly been using the "good" ones for years. I think it's interesting that I happen to react to the poorly rated ones. Maybe for someone like me, who is very sensitive to the additives and have problematic skin, these warnings might be good for me.

 

[luvmy3]

I'll have to check out some of these good suncreens. I've never heard of most of them and have an uncomfortable feeling that they will be extremely expensive.

I don't know much about EWG either to be honest. I'll be looking into them too.

Especially now.