Have you ever read the ingredient list on a bottle of sunscreen lotion? The long list of unpronounceable chemicals can be baffling when you want to choose natural products yet protect your family’s skin. Let’s look at two kinds of sunscreen ingredients—the active and the inactive—and decipher what they do and how safe they are.
Sunscreen Active Ingredients
The active ingredients in sunscreen are ultraviolet (UV) filters. They either absorb or reflect UV radiation and extend the time you can be in the sun before burning.
- Oxybenzone is a UV filter that is easily absorbed and helps other ingredients in sunscreen to penetrate your skin. That means it gets past the skin and into other systems. The Centers for Disease Control says oxybenzone is in 97 percent of American’s urine. This is not a chemical you want in your children’s bodies—oxybenzone is an endocrine disruptor, meaning it interferes with hormonal processes like growth and development, sexual maturation, and thyroid function. Many people are allergic to oxybenzone.
- Octinoxate is less allergenic than oxybenzone but is also an endocrine blocker.
- Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the mineral active ingredients found in many “natural” sunscreen products. Many sunscreens use nanoparticles (microscopic particles) of these minerals to avoid the white streaks they’re famous for. The jury is still out on the safety of nanoparticles—they may be able to interact with DNA because of their tiny size. Unfortunately, sunscreen labels usually don’t tell you whether or not they include nanoparticles.
Sunscreen Inactive Ingredients
Like other personal care products, sunscreens often contain fragrances and preservatives, some of which carry risks.
- Phthalates are chemicals found in plastics as well as in the fragrance added to many personal care products. They are another endocrine interrupter and are connected to breast cancer.
- Parabens are common cosmetic preservatives and—you guessed it—endocrine interrupters. Look out for ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and particularly methylparaben—recent studies show that it can become carcinogenic when exposed to sunlight.
The Safest Sunscreen Options
Compared to the alternatives, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide appear to be the safest UV filters in commercial sunscreens. They provide what’s called broad spectrum protection, meaning they are effective against both UVA and UVB rays. Avoid sunscreens containing parabens or synthetic fragrance.
The Environmental Working Group has a fantastic database of sunscreens rated by ingredient safety. Some of their recommended products include:
- California Baby No Fragrance Everyday/Year-Round SPF 30+ Sunblock Stick
- Badger Sunscreen SPF 30
- Chemical Free Sun Block SPF 30
- All Terrain – AquaSport SPF 30+ Sunblock
Of course, the safest sun protection is avoidance. Use shade, tightly-woven clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat as your first line of defense, and remember that moderate unprotected exposure is important for healthy vitamin D production.
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