With the warm weather being present lately I’ve pulled out our sunscreens. I know they say you should apply sunscreen daily and all year, but I only do in the summer months. I make my kids wear it more often then myself. My family and I tan very quickly so I guess I get lazy about it.
As I try and keep my family as natural and healthy as possible without making myself go crazy I read up on some sunscreen facts and it is scary!
Some people apply sunscreen daily to avoid sunspots, premature aging, or to protect themselves from skin cancers. In actuality they could be in turn doing damage to their health and well being. If pregnant or breastfeeding it can affect your children or babies hormones depending on the type of sunscreen you are using.
What Type Of Active Ingredients Does Your Sunscreen Have?
Sunscreens use two different types of active ingredients, mineral and chemical filters. The most common sunscreen brands use chemical filters, usually, one or more of the following: Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, and Homosalate. Some mainstream brands that are trying to appear more natural advertise Zinc Oxide as an ingredient, but commonly it is combined with a chemical filter ingredient.
Many of these chemical filters are absorbed into the body or inhaled into the body (spray on sunscreen) and can be measured in breastmilk, blood, and urine! Think about the affect on a growing fetus!
Studies have found that these chemical filters mimic hormones! Researchers found that adolescent boys with higher Oxybenzone measurements had significantly lower testosterone. They have also shown to affect thyroid hormones which affects reproduction and development.
Female exposure to Oxybenzone and other chemical filters have been linked to an increased risk to Endometriosis (Kunisue 2012).
Mineral sunscreens use Zinc Ocide and/or Titanium Dioxide. These seem to be very safe from babies to adults. Thankfully this is the type of sunscreens I have been using for my family since my oldest was first born. There is good evidence in studies showing very little if any Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide minerals being absorb through the skin.
I think it’s obvious which sunscreen should be used! It just seems so crazy that our FDA isn’t on top of this stuff! Other countries seem to know all of this well ahead of us. Hope you choose the natural way for your families health!
Here are some of my favorite brands of sunscreen I’ve used over the years! Click on them to order through Amazon! Hope this is helpful!
My all time favorite is Badger Baby. I use it on the whole family and they have a cool face stick to make it easy on wiggly little noses! Two Peas Organic is a new one to me but looks great! Australian Gold Botanical Tinted Face Mineral Lotion is one for us women that like a slightly tinted lotion special for your face!
Please leave a comment and let me know what your favorite natural sunscreen is or if you use any at all!
Happy Sunning!
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