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Safer Sunscreens for a Warmer Climate

Mamaroneck (by June Marie Sobrito)
Mamaroneck beach

It probably won’t happen this this holiday weekend, but getting some sun can be a good thing. The sun provides vitamin D, essential for health, and sunshine definitely can cheer you up. But, as always, you can get too much of a good thing.

In our region the number of hot, sunny days with high UV levels is predicted to rise. Unprotected exposure to UV radiation is the most preventable risk factor for skin cancers. In addition UV exposure can cause premature aging of the skin and other skin problems, cataracts and other eye damage, and immune system suppression.

Luckily the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has just released a new online safety guide on sunscreens  along with a 2013 mobile app.  Of course, the best sunscreen is a shirt, a hat, sunglasses, and staying out of the midday sun. Nevertheless, most of us will still need to use a packaged sunscreen with chemical ingredients. hatandsunglasses

More than 1,400 different SPF-rated products evaluated by EWG claim to provide some protection. They include beach and sports sunscreens, lip balms, and moisturizers, all of which list an SPF number on the label.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Most experts agree that a very high number isn’t necessarily better. It’s a relative term and, in fact, the July issue of Consumer Reports reveals that many products don’t really deliver the SPF that they claim. (Watch video describing how the tests are done.)

According to health experts, you should aim for an SPF of 40. Super high SPFs aren’t really necessary. Choose a product that claims to give “broad spectrum” protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Also, find one that claims it is “water-resistant” for either 40 or 80 minutes.

You  should reapply sunscreen at Woman Applying Sunscreenleast every two hours, more if you’re sweating or toweling off from swimming.

The federal Food and Drug Administration issued new labeling and testing regulations a year ago in June so older sunscreens may no longer meet the new standards.  There’s also an ongoing investigation by the FDA on the risks of spraying sunscreens.

Fortunately, the EWG safety guide recommends many safer brands available locally — some for children as well as adults.  But they also advise certain items don’t belong on your trip to the beach or backyard.

The no-no’s include:  no spray sunscreens; no products with the ingredients oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate; no combination sunscreen/bug repellents; no loose powder sunscreen; no sunscreen towelettes; and no tanning oils.

You can find out why here , plus more important sun safety tips.

Photo of Mamaroneck beach by June Marie Sobrito. Other photos courtesy the Skin Cancer Foundation.

 

 

 

Joyce Newman
Joyce Newmanhttps://joycehnewman.wordpress.com/
Joyce H. Newman is an Emmy Award-winning environmental journalist, educator, and gardener. She holds a Certificate in Horticulture from The New York Botanical Garden, and is a tour guide there.
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