What You Need to Know About Suntan Lotions.

Skin cancer is real and the atmosphere seems to be getting thinner in certain places.  People need to protect themselves from the harmful rays of the sun, but that doesn’t mean being perpetually stuck indoors.  One way to be protected from the sun’s harmful rays is sunscreen.  But skin care must be taken into account when using sunscreen, because not all lotions are the best for an individual.  It’s good to explore what brands there are, and find those which best fit the required needs of the person who will be using the lotion.

Sunscreen Has Two Families:

Those which block out the sun’s harmful rays through chemical formulas, and those who block out the sun’s harmful rays through mineral mixtures.  There are ups and downs for either kind of compound.

On the chemical side of things, six separate ingredients are usually mixed together in twos. It’s possible to find octinoxate, oxybenzone, homosalate, avobenzone, octocrylene and octisalate in most sunscreen formulas; each of which chemical compound is unique in its effects.  For example oxybenzone acts like estrogen and has been found to alter sperm production in animals; it also has a high instance of allergy in many people.  In contrast, octinoxate, which is found in mothers’ milk, alters reproductive and thyroid hormones in animals.  In fact, all the chemical compounds of sunscreen listed above have been found in mothers’ milk, which indicates some of the chemicals in the sunscreen actually penetrate the skin.  So the individual doesn’t get a sunburn, but they do get a toxic chemical inside them.

On the other hand, mineral sunscreens are made from zinc and titanium dioxide.  These have been shown relatively safe, but they rely on nanoparticles, and used incorrectly, there could be a possibility for skin damage.  The solution has been a sort of inert coating which reduces photo activity.

What to Consider About Skin Care And Sunscreen

However the biggest consideration to keep in mind as regards skin care and sunscreen is allergic reaction.  They use a preservative to keep the sunscreen in the form most useful, and this preservative has been linked to allergic activity.  According to the American Contact Dermatitis Society the compound methylisothiazolinone was the allergen of the year.  You can read about it in this article from ewg.org.

This compound is in many, but not all, suntan lotions/sunscreens.  What’s important is to know one’s own dermatological condition.  Knowing whether or not one’s skin is sensitive to certain compounds is very important when determining which suntan lotion to purchase.  The safest option seems to be the nano particle zinc and titanium oxide blends, however it is most wise to take a look at who is producing these suntan lotions.  Sometimes that is all the information needed to determine whether or not the buy is worth it.  Unheard of, under-priced brands are more likely to cut corners in order that their overhead be met.  This is where problems with nano particle sunscreen solutions could arise.  In general, cheapness does not always equate with quality or safety.

In the end, what sort of sunscreen an individual chooses is up to them.  Skin care is a personal thing, and can’t be regulated by the government.  It shouldn’t ever be.  But by understanding just what makes up most sunscreens and suntan lotions, one has a much greater chance of avoiding adverse skin reactions.  Check for the ingredients listed in this article.  Many authorities recommend mineral blend sunscreens, but not all do.  For proper skin care, however, the individual is going to want protection from harmful UV rays.  The situation is somewhat of a catch-22; but sunscreen is very necessary.  There’s no reason to burn.