If there are chemicals in that product your body then has to deal with that chemical. When these chemicals are used regularly and accumulate this is when they can have detrimental effects.
Just last month the TGA recalled the Banana Boat brand spray sunscreens due to a possible presence of benzene. They write on their website: “Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, a substance that could potentially cause cancer depending on the level and extent of exposure.”
It is not normally found in sunscreen, but it is suspected to be a contaminant from raw materials used in the product manufacture.
It's definitely time to ditch the chemical based sunscreens!!!
The difference between natural and synthetic sunscreen doesn’t just lie in the ingredients list, but also in how each of them acts. You see, synthetic sunscreens actually allow the UV rays to penetrate your skin, only instead of causing damage, the rays are absorbed by the ingredients in the lotion.
Natural sunscreen, on the other hand, contains a series of ingredients and minerals that create a protective barrier that doesn’t allow UV rays to penetrate the skin at all.
But some people wonder if natural sunscreens work. The quick answer is that they do. Basically, both types of sunscreens offer protection, only they act in a different way to achieve their goal.
Conventional sunscreens can contain the following ingredients:
Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is one of the most frequently used chemical UV filters worldwide. OMC easily penetrates the upper layer of the skin and, when exposed to UV radiation, generates free radicals in skin cells.
Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), octyl-dimethyl-PABA and octinoxate – which is used for its ability to facilitate skin penetration of the other ingredients in the product. It is believed that oxybenzone’s capacity of filtering UV rays causes it to disrupt hormone activity (eg thyroid), and can also potentially lead to allergic skin reactions. It is also shown to be damaging to algae and coral formation, leading it to be banned in the state of Hawaii from 2021 (Hooray!)
4-Methyl benzylidene camphor (4-MBC) Laboratory tests on rats exposed to 4-MBC revealed that male rats born to mothers exposed to this compound had lower testis weight, experienced delayed puberty and decreased adult prostate weight. Human trials found that both OMC and 4-MBC were readily absorbed through the skin and were detectable in urine. There is also a study that shows pituitary change showing up as hypothyroidism.
Padimate O (2-Ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate ) shown to bioaccumulate in the liver and kidneys of fishies!
Fragrance chemicals – As many as 150 chemicals can be used in the catch-ingredient ‘fragrance/parfum’ on an ingredient list. One family of chemicals often found there are called phthalates which are the ‘sticky, plasticiser’ chemicals that make a fragrance long-lasting. What phthalates have also been shown to do, however, is be harmful to our reproductive systems as potent endocrine disruptors.
Retinyl palmitate: This ingredient is actually a combination of palmitic acid and retinol. The latter has a compound that can produce free radicals when exposed to the sun’s rays. As you might know, free radicals may cause cell damage, which can eventually lead to severe problems, such as skin cancer.
Methylisothiazolinone: This ingredient was recognised back in 2013 as being the allergen of the year. It can cause major skin allergies, particularly in people with sensitive skin, such as children.
So, what makes a natural sunscreen natural? Well, amongst the ingredients in the formula of such a product you will actually find minerals that are sourced from the Earth, hence the use of the term “natural”.
These sunscreens generally have one of two active ingredients (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), but there are formulas out there that contain both. The ingredients will sit on the surface of your skin, prevent the sun’s rays from penetrating the barrier.
I’m still advocating the need for sunscreen, to make that clear. Sure, we also need some uncovered sun exposure for our Vitamin D levels to be healthy, BUT, that’s achieved in 10-15 minutes on our face, arms and legs early to mid-morning.
In Australia & NZ especially with our harsh sun, covering up is essential at peak times and if out in the sun for a while. Please refer to a UV smart app for times when the sun is harmful where you are and at what times of day.
You can get natural sunscreens online - some suggested sites are Flora&Fauna or Nourished Life
Further reading and more in-depth explanations from trusted sources, backed by numerous study citations, which I have verified. Also a link to an extensive exploration of nano technology by the EWG.
http://www.novamagazine.com.au/article_archive/2008/08_12_toxicsunscreen.htm