What's In Your Sunscreen?

Education about the use of sunscreen has been successfully imposed for decades now and yet more than a million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year. The incidence of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of the disease, is escalating. Many sunscreens on the market are not effective at broad-spectrum protection which is crucial to public health. In addition, certain chemical additives have been linked to endocrine disruption contributing to a cascade of other health problems. Some of the chemicals which are used as the active ingredient are avobenzone, benzophenone, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnimate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl methoxycinnamate, oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) and PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid). However, PABA is no longer used as widely as it once was. A better option would be to choose sunblocks containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, both inert, opaque compounds that block almost the entire spectrum of the sun's damaging rays without causing other health problems. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide act as mechanical, rather than chemical, sun barriers. Check your sunscreen to see if it passes the test. Check the ingredients labels to avoid the above chemicals that not only don't do the job, but hinder your health in other ways. To find a list of safe sunscreen products, visit the following link...

http://www.goodguide.com/