The dark side of sunscreen

Many chemicals found in sunscreens have been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. The most dangerous ingredients found in sunscreens are oxybenzone, synthetic fragrances, and retinyl palmitate (vitamin A).

Sunscreens have also been linked to damage to coral reefs and other marine life. It is safest to use sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, not nano-sized particles.

Sunscreen and vitamin D

Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, is different from other vitamins because it affects the entire human body. And while many researchers refer to vitamin D as a vitamin, it is actually a steroid hormone that you can get through sun exposure, food, and oral supplements. Vitamin D receptors are found everywhere in the body, from normal cells to bone and brain cells.

Unfortunately, many dermatologists and the media have a misconception about sun protection by using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and ignore how important sun exposure is for humans. Because many people do not realize that vitamin D deficiency not only increases the risk of skin cancer but also causes many other common cancers, including melanoma - one of the most malignant cancers.

The most dangerous ingredients found in sunscreens are: oxybenzone, synthetic fragrances, and retinyl palmitate (vitamin A).

Breast cancer and prostate cancer are two classic examples of how vitamin D deficiency can make you more vulnerable to disease. Vitamin D deficiency also makes us more susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other chronic diseases. A growing body of scientific evidence details the benefits of UV exposure, both in terms of vitamin D synthesis and other benefits.

But the most important thing is that you prevent skin cancer by spending time in the sun every day in the smartest way.

The risk of skin cancer only comes when you are overexposed to the sun and are not sensitive to that exposure. What is overexposed? First, it is the condition of your skin getting sunburned and then your sunburns are continuous, repeated many times. So, being exposed to the sun but not getting sunburned is the smart way to sunbathe.

The dark side of sunscreen

Protecting your skin from UV rays by applying chemical sunscreen is not the right way. Scientists at Elizabeth Plourde labs show that applying chemical sunscreen even if you diligently remove your makeup every day still puts you at risk of skin cancer.

Furthermore, some of the chemicals in chemical sunscreens, including oxybenzone, are threatening the lives of many marine creatures. The widespread use of sunscreens has overloaded the environment with pollutants and threatened the marine ecosystem.

Scientists estimate that wearing sunscreen at the beach releases about 6,000 tons of chemicals into the world's oceans each year. Sunscreen has a profound effect on the growth, development, and survival of many marine animals.

Sunscreen contains many dangerous chemicals

While the sunscreen industry has replaced oxybenzone with avobenzone, many scientists are wondering if avobenzone is a safer choice. Probably not.

Oxybenazone is an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to low sperm count and endometriosis. At least nine chemical sunscreen ingredients have been linked to endocrine disruption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Oxybenzone, which is found in 70% of chemical sunscreens, can penetrate blood vessels and cause hormone disruption.

With the same mechanism, there are many substances in sunscreens such as octyl methoxycinnamate, para-aminobenzoxic acid, octyl salicyclate, phenylbenzimidazole, octocrylene, octisalate, dioxybenzone, menthyl anthranilate, homosalate, octinoxate, cinoxate, parabens. Many sunscreens also contain vitamin A or vitamin A precursors such as retinol, retinyl palmitate, which are all linked to the risk of skin cancer and increased growth of malignant cells.

Be careful with nanoparticles

Spray sunscreens may pose a risk to humans by releasing nano-sized particles into the air. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously expressed concern about the possibility of young children inhaling these tiny chemical particles and warned parents to avoid using spray sunscreens.

The two safest ingredients in sunscreen are probably zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are commonly used in spray sunscreens. These two minerals are very safe for the skin, but inhaling them is a different story. If inhaled, these minerals can irritate lung tissue and potentially lead to other serious health problems.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified titanium dioxide as a probable human carcinogen when inhaled at high doses. According to the agency, titanium dioxide causes various degrees of inflammation and is involved in respiratory system effects including lung epithelial cell damage, granulomas, cholesterol and fibrosis, which have been demonstrated experimentally in mice.

Is it safe or unsafe to have titanium dioxide and zinc oxide?

Most nanoparticles found in sunscreens made in the US contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Animal studies have shown that inhaled nanoparticles can penetrate into every corner of the respiratory tract and cause irritation where they lodge, and are difficult to eliminate, so before they cause lung disease, they probably enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body.

Other research has shown that nanoparticles can cross the blood-brain barrier. If they enter the lungs or penetrate the skin, they can cause widespread damage to cells and organs, affecting immune, neurological, heart, and brain function. Some researchers believe that these particles are the size of viruses and can activate the body's immune system.

Inhalation of large amounts of zinc oxide also causes a syndrome called “metal aspiration fever” characterized by symptoms such as chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, chills, malaise, decreased lung volume, and leukocytosis. An animal study showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles also cause cytotoxicity that disrupts the body’s zinc balance and ultimately causes programmed cell death.

Research in India also concluded that zinc oxide is cytotoxic to lung cells through inhibition of programmed cell death.

Human studies are limited and it is not possible to draw a definitive conclusion about inhaling zinc oxide. However, there is no need to put yourself at risk by using spray sunscreen. There are many safer alternatives that contain the same ingredients.

How to choose safe sunscreen

There are thousands of sunscreens on the market, so how do you choose the right one?

When choosing a sunscreen, choose a liquid or thick cream that contains zinc oxide because it is more stable when exposed to sunlight and also provides the best protection against UVA rays, followed by titanium dioxide.

Make sure the product is nano-free and protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Remember that SPF only protects you from UVB rays - the rays that help your skin synthesize vitamin D. Most of the danger lies in UVA rays, which cause skin cancer and damage the skin structure. Sunscreen with an SPF above 50 should not be used. Although not harmful, high SPF tends to make users subjective in sun protection, meaning they will stay in the sun longer than recommended. In fact, there is no difference between people who use sunscreen with a high SPF and low SPF in terms of UV protection.

According to VNN