Facts about Sunscreen Safety
How Parents Can Provide Safe Sun Protection
Oxybenzone is a common sunscreen ingredient that has been linked to a host of problems including allergies, hormone disruption and cell damage. Oxybenzone also helps other chemicals penetrate the skin. Simply put: other possibly hazardous ingredients are more likely to enter your child's bloodstream if mixed with oxybenzone.
To make matters worse, oxybenzone is particularly harmful when mixed with sunlight. The sun's rays mix with oxybenzone to form free radical chemicals that may be linked to cell damage. Parents should avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone as an active ingredient. The good news is, oxybenzone is getting easier to avoid. In the last year there has been a 19 percent drop in oxybenzone use in sunscreen.
Parents should also choose a brand with at least seven percent zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to limit UVA damage. And limit UVB exposure by selecting a brand with an SPF of 15 to 30. Sunscreens above SPF 30 block just one to two percent more UVB rays and contain two to three times more active ingredients. Dr. Sutton warns to also avoid powder and spray sun care. "The airborne chemicals are potentially dangerous to breathe in and could have a long-term toxic effect on the lungs." And avoid 2-in-1 combos, such as sunscreen mixed with insect repellants. "You need to apply sunscreen every few hours to be effective and you don't want to put bug repellant on that often," says Gray.
The best sun protection combines a quality sunscreen with a good dose of common sense.
"People rely too heavily on sunscreen alone," says Dr. Cohen. Make sure your child wears a hat and UV protective clothing. Avoid direct sunlight during the peak hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and play in the shade when possible.
Meet our experts:
Dr. Paul Cohen, a Toronto-based dermatologist at the Rosedale Dermatology Center. He was named one of Canada's best dermatologists by Fashion magazine.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit organization with the goal of protecting public health and the environment. Sean Gray is a senior analyst with the EWG and Dr. Rebecca Sutton is a EWG staff scientist.
