Burning warning on sunscreen products

With the scorching sun threatening to burn us to a crisp, we’re reminded never to leave the house without putting on sunblock or sunscreen. Lots of it! And of course, if you’re going to the beach, you should stay protected — that is, from the ultraviolet rays UVA, UVB, and ever heard of the UVC rays? In summer, even just a brief exposure to UVC radiation can cause a light sunburn. UVA is the bad guy because it penetrates the skin more deeply and remains constant all hours of the day all through the year.

So stop wondering why even on a cloudy day, you can get sunburned. UVB is the good guy because it helps the skin produce vitamin D (boning up on it, a deficiency of this vitamin causes osteoporosis). But of course, we don’t want the sun to catch us without sunscreen because for a lot of us women, wrinkling or premature aging is a fate worse than death.

How sunscreen products

actually promote cancer

So, what could be a hotter topic this summer (aside from the May 10 elections) than sunscreens? But before you slather on gobs and gobs of sunscreen, listen to this burning warning from a consumer advocacy group to all parents: You may think you’re protecting your family with sunscreen, but the truth is, you may be getting burned. And reports from the Organic Consumers Association (June 29, 2008) and CNN Health (July 1, 2008) tell us more about this burning controversy.

Experts warn: “Slathering a carcinogenic agent onto your skin may in fact be worse for your health than ingesting it, as it goes straight into your blood stream. By following experts’ recommendations to apply generous amounts of sunscreen every few hours to prevent skin cancer, you are likely absorbing a fair amount.”

The Best Sunscreen Products

According to the Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, four out of five name-brand sunscreens don’t adequately protect consumers and may even contain harmful chemicals. Note that sunscreens are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as OTC (over-the-counter) drugs, not as cosmetics. Their active ingredients block, reflect or absorb the UV rays.

Sunscreen products are rated according to their SPF (sun protection factor) — the higher the SPF, the better protection you get against sunburn. But the Environmental Working Group warns consumers that the SPF rating of a sunscreen is not the only thing consumers need to know. What they should know is that many sunscreens don’t offer enough protection and may even contain unsafe ingredients.

All Terrain natural sunscreen products giveaway

Now, how do you protect yourself from overexposure to the sun safely?

Here’s health activist Dr. Joseph Mercola’s natural remedy: “Two non-toxic ingredients that scatter both UVB and the more damaging UVA rays are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. They’ve been used all over the world for over 75 years as safe sunscreens…”

He adds this hot tip: “I believe it’s imperative to do your homework and only use a natural sunscreen with safe, non-toxic ingredients, so as not to add to your toxic load.” To know what dangers may be lurking in your harmless looking sunscreen bottle, take time to visit the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website this summer before you step out into the sun for some fun.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....

Sunscreen products: Be smart and protect yourself this summer!

Sunscreen products: Be smart and protect yourself this summer!

At the start of the holiday season, the European Commission is seeking to alert consumers to the importance of protecting themselves better this summer. (see IP/09/1057). Sunscreen products protect from UV radiation and can be effective in preventing sun-burn and skin cancer.

Consumers should therefore use sunscreens appropriately, and clearer labelling of sunscreen products should help consumers to make better informed choices.

The Commission is also seeking to remind consumers that there are several reasons why sunscreen products should be only one out of a number of measures to protect from the UV radiation of the sun. See information, facts and figures and pictograms below.

1. Choose sunscreen products with UVA and UVB protection

Most importantly, consumers should choose sunscreen products offering protection against UVB and UVA radiation as both are harmful to human health: While “sun-burn” and cancer risk are mainly provoked by UVB radiation, UVA radiation is responsible for skin ageing, impacts on the human immune system and is an important contributor to the skin cancer risk.

The problem is that the “sun protection factor” (SPF) only indicates protection against UVB radiation. In the past it has been difficult for the consumer to know whether a sunscreen product also protects against UVA radiation, due to varying claims, such as "broad spectrum", "broad extra UVA, UVB", "100% anti UVA/UVB/IR".

"keeps short UVA radiation away", " UVA of 30A", "strengthened protection UVA", "UVB absorption spectrum 30/UVA 30", "25B 7 A", "SPF 30, UVA protection index factor 10", "SPF 60-IPD 55-PPD12", "broad spectrum contain UVA filters", "with UVA filters", "protection according to the Australian standard", etc.

Following a Commission recommendation of September 2006, simple claims should be used (such as "low", "medium", "high", very high"), as well as a standardised logo for UVA protection. With this logo, consumers can know they have a quantified minimum UV-A protection which increases in parallel with the increasing sun protection factor and is based on a standard testing method.

2. What should consumers know about sunscreens for this summer?

There is an improved labelling regime with clearer information for consumers since summer 2007, which increased market share in 2008 and 2009. Virtually all (96%) sunscreens produced in 2009 will bear the new labelling, according to the cosmetics industry.

3. What sun protection factor should consumers choose?

The sun protection factor (SPF) is a score used to describe the ‘strength’ of the product to protect against “sun–burn”, i.e. mainly UVB radiation. It is important to know that an SPF over 50 practically does not increase the protection against sun burn and UVB radiation.

Rather, if a product is applied correctly (see below), an SPF of 15-25 suffices to protect a person with normal skin from sun burn.

4. There is no sun block or total protection

Sunscreen products cannot deliver total protection from UV radiation. Even the high SPFs do let some of the UV radiation through. This holds also true for products claiming to be a “sun block” or to offer “total protection”. Claims giving the impression of total protection, such as “sunblocker”, should be phased out and disappear.

5. Consumers are advised the following:

Use sunscreen products only as one out of many measures to protect against the sun. Measures include:

Avoid excessive sun exposure at peak hours, which is usually between 11am and 3pm;

When it is not possible to stay out of the sun, keep yourself well covered;

Hats and sun glasses can give you additional protection;

Avoid direct sun exposure of babies and young children;

Use sunscreens products protecting against both UVB and UVA radiation;

Apply sunscreen products regularly to maintain the protection claimed;

Apply sunscreen products in sufficient quantity.

Read Full Article, Click Here Now ....