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Sunscreens Cause Cancer

• Posted on July 17, 2008 at 9:45 PM
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80% of sunscreens suck, according to science

A research group in Washington, DC -- The Environmental Working Group (EWG) – just released a study indicating that “4 out of 5 of the nearly 1,000 sunscreen lotions analyzed offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain harmful chemicals,” according to a report by Christopher Wanjek at LiveScience.com. And the zinger: of the 1,000 tested, not one product from the industry leaders (Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena) made it into the top 100.

The highlights, in a nutshell:
* SPF ratings only refer to UVB, so though you may have a ton of UVB protection in your SPF 70, you may be much more exposed to UVA
* when it comes to standards for sunscreen ratings, the FDA relies on 30-year-old science
* claims of all-day protection aren’t accurate, and most sunscreens start deteriorating within 15 minutes (Wanjek is a little lax on the details or proof on this point)
* many/most leading sunscreens contain oxybenzone, which may cause worse cancers than the basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma that are usually attributed to UVB. However, Wanjek says this is “the minority view.” He doesn’t make clear whether he’s in that minority or not.

Of note, Wanjek does state that “some dermatologists criticize [the report] for hyperbole,” which Wanjek seems happy to continue. (And I guess I am, too.)

Wanjek does have a way with words, though: “Total UV protection is within reach and has been used for millennia. It's called clothing.”

RECOMMENDED SUNSCREENS

Good luck finding these at your local drugstore. The best rated products turn out to be:
* Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock, SPF 30
* Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+
* California Baby Sunblock Stick Everyday/year-Round, SPF 30+
* California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+
* Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30

I know I do not have easy access to these products. Neither, it seems, does the EWG, because they produced a second list, ranking the best of the sunscreens that you may actually be able to get your hands on:
* Blue Lizard (anything without oxybenzone)
* California Baby (anything with SPF 30+)
* CVS (with zinc oxide)
* Jason Natural Cosmetics (Sunbrellas Mineral Based Sunblock)
* Kiss My Face ("Paraben Free" series)
* Neutrogena (Sensitive Skin Sunblock)
* Olay Defense Daily UV Moisturizer (with zinc)
* SkinCeuticals (Physical UV Defense)
* Solar Sense( Clear Zinc for Face)
* Walgreens (Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears)

See all the recommendations from the EWG.

See Wanjek’s report.

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