“Healthy Monday is our way of kicking off the week with useful health tips, information or news put together by our team of Health Consultants.”
Today is Memorial Day in the United States, the traditional kickoff of summer beach season, and several residents of the country will be hitting the beach and pools to enjoy the beautiful summer weather! Sunscreens is almost a must in any beach bag as its use coupled with the avoidance of too much direct sunlight for certain skin types are considered important in preventing skin damage.
A new study has found out that 80 percent of sunscreens in the market are not as effective as advertised and/or contain potentially harmful ingredients. Since, most people will be using Sunscreens more as Summer kicks off, we thought it was important for us to share this information with our readers!
The analysis, published this week by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG), found that four out of five of 1,700 sunscreens, lip balms, and moisturizers tested by the advocacy group do not live up to their promises. The EWG’s 2015 Guide to Sunscreens contends that the vast majority of available sun-protection products offer “inferior sun protection or contain worrisome ingredients like oxybenzone and vitamin A.”
Oxybenzone can penetrate the skin, enter the blood stream, and mimic the action of estrogen, disrupting the hormone system. Some studies suggest that adding vitamin A to the skin may even heighten sun sensitivity and speed development of skin tumors and lesions.
Some of the Best sunscreens listed by the advocacy group are: John Masters Organics, Seventh Generation, Adorable Baby, Alba Botanica, Allure, Blue Lizard, Bull Frog, Burt’s Bees, Earth’s Best, Nature’s Gate, Raw Elements USA, Tropical Sands, True Natural, and Vanicream.
Worst sunscreens on their list include sprays, lotions, and baby products manufactured by Neutrogena, Banana Boat, Coppertone, NO-AD, and Ocean Potion.
While the EWG report was critical of many sunscreen manufacturers, the organization singled out Neutrogena for its advertising hype that is further from reality than any other major brand.
“Neutrogena’s ‘Pure & Free Baby’ sunscreen claims ‘special protection from the sun and irritating chemicals’ and ‘hypoallergenic,’ but it contains a preservative called methylisothiazolinone, or MI, that some researchers call a potent allergen and that is deemed unsafe in Europe,” the report concludes.
A word of advise to everyone – as you hit the beach and pools this summer, make sure the Sunscreen sprays and lotions you are using are those that are void of harmful ingredients that can cause more damage to your skin and overall health in general!
Have a Healthy Week!
