Fast Facts about Sunscreen
Every User Should Know
Sun blocks and sunscreens have recently received much attention for the harmful chemical ingredients they contain. Sun block and sunscreen users are now confused as to which should be avoided, the dangers of sunscreen or the dangers of ultra violet rays.
Know the fast facts about suncreen every user should know.
The Importance of Sunblock and Sunscreen
People generally use sunscreen as a way of protecting themselves from the harmful effects of Ultra Violet Radiation. To understand why Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) is harmful, let us go back to our basic lesson about natural sunlight. Natural light is made up of a spectrum of colors which we all know of by the code ROYGBIV, where V stands for violet and is the last in the spectrum. This then makes this particular spectrum the most pressing type of radiation to reach the Earth and touch human skin. Remember that light travels and therefore has a frequency which should give us the idea that the whole spectrum of light is a bundle of energy and that this very energy in the form of light waves reaches us and touches our skin through the UVR. The longer we stay unprotected and exposed to the light's energy, the greater the amount of natural sunlight power that tends to blast away at the molecules of our skin cells. This is evidenced by the sunburn we experience as an indication that the molecules of our skin cells are getting damaged.
Prolonged exposure will allow more energy to reach the cells' nuclei and will subsequently result to premature aging as the skin tends to dry-up at a faster rate. Medical studies have also gathered that it can cause skin cancer with its ability to activate cancer causing free radicals. These are molecules that could not find compatible electrons to pair-up with, which will eventually cause imbalance in the body cells' function. Such functions include cell regeneration and self-healing processes.
Are All Sun Blocks/Sunscreens Safe?
No, not all sunscreens are safe sunscreen. In the article Caution: Your Sunscreen May Have a Harmful Chemical Composition you will be acquainted with the different harmful chemical ingredients present in a large majority of sunscreen products currently being sold in retail outlets. In another published article entitled, Hidden Sunscreen Dangers, Causing Cancer?, you will learn about the possible health hazards of the dangerous ingredients found hidden in sunscreen and the harms it can do to the body.
What Does UVA or UVB in Sunscreen Mean?
UVA is the protection provided by sun blocks or sunscreens against ultra violet radiations with wavelength measured at about 400-320 nanometers. On the other hand, ultra violet radiations with shorter wavelengths measured at 320-290 nanometers are considered as more harmful than UVA because the radiated energy or force that affects the human skin has greater impact if coming from a source that spans a shorter distance.
Although sunscreens are basically intended to reduce the free radicals formed as a result of overexposure to the sun's UV radiations, the dangerous ingredients in sunscreen were also found to be capable of releasing cancer causing free radicals as well. The Environmental Working Group, a consumer product research group which was established to provide the buying public with relevant information regarding the safety or non-safety of cosmetic and other personal care, disclosed that only the ingredients benzophenones, octisalate, and Mexoryl used in sunscreen have little or no indications to cause the release of cancer-causing free radicals while providing protection against UV rays.
If Most Sun Blocks or Sunscreens Have Harmful Chemical Ingredients, What Can we Use as Alternative Protection?
The US Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) both maintain that there are no scientific studies that show support for sun blocks or sunscreens alone as the ultimate protection solutions against the harmful UV rays of the sun. It can be inferred from IARC statements that sunscreens give people a false sense of protection since their agency's researchers have noted that people who wear sunscreens tend to stay under the sun longer than is necessary, as in the case of sun bathing. These extended periods of exposure only increase the user's vulnerability to the development of melanoma or skin cancer.
Thus, the common consensus by those who have made careful studies about sunscreens all agree that protection against harmful UV rays should not be dependent on the use of commercial sun blocks or sunscreens alone. Reverting back to the traditional shields used before the advent of commercially prepared sunscreens, like wearing clothing or body coverings as well as putting on wide-brimmed hats that provide shade for the face, are still the best protections against UV rays that hit the Earth's surface. In doing this, there are fewer areas that will require sunscreen protection while under the sun.
People should also consider the preventive measure of staying outdoors during the sun's peak hours as another alternative. In addition, another published article tells of how the ancient Egyptian people or those from tropical countries, made use of natural oils that may protect from the sun as their natural sunscreen protection. The sources for basic ingredients that can provide sun protection are wide-range and abundant hence, they are widely available as chemical free sunscreen covers for body parts that remain unprotected by garments.
How to Check if the Sun Block or Sunscreen You are Using is Safe?
The Environmental Working Group maintains Skin Deep Database, where you can fast facts about sunscreens you are using to determine if they are chemical free if there are dangerous ingredients in sunscreen present. EWG further provides information about the safe sunscreen brands you can use, based on the resulting hazard ratings. In the process of checking, you should also take note if the manufacturer is a signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, wherein they have agreed to commit to cooperating with EWG in ensuring the safety of their products.
