Shopping for Safe Sunscreens

When shopping for safe sunscreens, look for a few important things. First, make sure the sunscreen offers protection against both UVA and UVB. Not every sunscreen protects against both kinds of rays, so choose products that have titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or avobenzone as active ingredients. Look for phrases like “UVA/UVB protection,” “broad spectrum” or “multi spectrum.” 1

SPF
As I explained on Tuesday, SPF doesn’t give you extra protection from the sun – it simply allows you to stay outside longer without getting a sunburn. However, no SPF blocks 100 percent of the sunburn-causing UVB rays.

An SPF of 30 is all that most people need, yet one in five products offers SPFs higher than 50+. (In 2009, only one in eight products did.) 2

Recommendations
After testing more than 600 sunscreens this year, the Environmental Working Group recommends 129 in their 2011 Sunscreen Guide. Overwhelmingly they advise mineral sunscreens, made with zinc or titanium dioxide, that are water-resistant creams offering broad-spectrum protection.

(As I mentioned on Monday, I’ve been very pleased with the mineral-based Badger sunscreen this summer. If you’d like to try some on your own family, head to My Picks at the right and order it from my Amazon link. Or, just click here.)

The Environmental Working Group also recommends using shade and protective clothing to prevent sun exposure.

Don’t forget Vitamin D
Even when you buy safe sunscreen, you shouldn’t wear it every single time you go outside. The American Medical Association recommends getting 10 minutes of exposure to direct sun several times a week as a way to help you soak in enough vitamin D. (Scientists believe that wearing sunscreen blocks your body’s absorption of vitamin D.)

Vitamin D deficiencies are growing in Americans – and vitamin D is vital for immune systems, bone strength, cancer prevention and gene regulation. 3

Unfortunately there’s no magical elixir that will prevent skin cancer, aging skin and add to a body’s vitamin D production. Do the best with what’s available, though. Stick to safe sunscreens to prevent additional dangers, and monitor how much time you’re spending outside with and without sunscreen.

Disclosure: Ordering from a link in the post will result in a commission for www.accidentallygreen.com.

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Hilary Kimes Bernstein

Hilary Kimes Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mama, and journalist. She writes about making healthy decisions that honor God and happen to help the environment at Accidentally Green. Short and sweet - like her writing - Hilary is the author of several healthy living eBooks.

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