Why Organic Sunscreen is the Way to Go!
Ah…summer. It’s here again. So grab your swimsuit, towel, sunglasses, and beach ball. It’s time for the family trip to the beach! If you’re a responsible beachgoer, however, your list of things to pack surely also includes copious amounts of sunscreen. Right?
There’s no denying the health benefits of the sun. It is the primary way our bodies produce essential vitamin D. Experts recommend a minimum of fifteen minutes of direct sunlight each day. As with many good things, however, too much of a good thing is just, well…too much. Over-exposure to direct sun (more than forty-five minutes at a time) is a direct cause of skin and other types of cancers. Most responsible consumers take the precaution of applying sunscreen at regular intervals when spending extended periods of time in the sun.
Surprisingly, with consumers’ increase use of sunscreen, we still don’t see a decrease in sun-exposure related skin cancer and melanoma. In fact, we see the opposite. So, if we are dutifully slathering ourselves, our children, and our loved ones in a thick, hopefully protective, coat of sunscreen, why are we not all gleefully cancer free? What are we doing wrong? Are we not using it often enough? Are we not using the right brand? Or could it be, we are not using the right chemicals? Are the chemicals in conventional sunscreens causing more harm than good?
There are numerous concerns with most conventional sunscreens on the market. Most commercial sunscreens contain dangerously toxic chemicals which are poorly regulated in sunscreens by the FDA. Oxybenzone is a common ingredient in sunscreens and other skin-care products that actually promotes skin damage due to free radicals. Other chemicals to avoid are: cinoxate, ethylhexyl, p-methoxycinnamate, salicylates such as ethylhexyl salicyclate, homosalate, and octyl salicyclate, digalloyl trioleate, menthyl anthranilate, and propylene glycol. If those aren’t enough to twist your tongue and take your mind off the summer heat, I don’t know what will!
On the flip side of all this toxic chemical jargon, did you know organic sunscreen is becoming increasingly available? Organic sunscreen contains natural ingredients which soften the sun’s rays during prolonged exposure, and contain no toxic chemicals. You should aim to look for products with herbal oils and extracts such as oat, green tea, aloe vera, and chamomile, and avoid products that contain toxic chemicals.
Organic sunscreen tends to come in smaller containers than most conventional sunscreens. In addition, organic sunscreen may be more expensive in the eyes of value conscious consumers. However, the organic sunscreen tends to contain less water and require much smaller amounts per application. Therefore it dries faster and absorbs into the skin more readily. Therefore, in reality, organic sunscreen is the way to go!
On a final note, any sunscreen (yes, even organic sunscreen) can give a person a false sense of security. If your skin becomes damaged due to overexposure, don’t jump to blame the sunscreen. Make wise decisions and protect your skin for life. Remember the beach is just as nice under an umbrella!