Hello and Happy Summer! To kick off the first day of summer with a health tip, we are sharing the pearls from the 2019 EWG sunscreen guide.
To create this report, EWG’s team has analyzed over 1,300 products with SPF for ability to offer adequate sun protection and for safety profile of their ingredients.
In summary:
- Commonly used ingredients that are generally recognized as safe are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
- There is insufficient data for other common ingredients including: avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene and oxybenzone (oxybenzone is concerning for its endocrine disruption ability, allergic reactions and toxicity, as well as skin absorption).
- Less commonly used or unused ingredients for which there is insufficient safety and efficacy data: cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, meradimate, padimate o, and sulisobenzone.
- PABA and trolamine salicylate, which are rarely used in sunscreens, are considered unsafe based on available scientific literature.
The good news is that the FDA is proposing many changes that will make sunscreens safer and more effective, but until these changes take effect, I recommend cross-referencing the EWG’s Skin Deep database or EWG’s Healthy Living app, before purchasing your sunscreen.
A few quick reminders:
- Remember to avoid going out in the sun between 10am and 2pm.
- When you go out, apply sunscreen generously to all sun exposed areas at least 15 minutes before going outside to allow enough time for your skin to absorb the sunscreen.
- Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher and provides coverage from UVA and UVB.
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours while outdoors and immediately after swimming or sweating.
- *Adapted from American Academy of Dermatology Association
Wishing you a happy and healthy start of summer,
Dr. Bojana
