Brighter Than Sunshine: Is Your Sunscreen Doing More Harm Than Good?

1. Octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate) — Most sunscreens have octinoxate, which helps to absorb the UV-B rays of the sun and protect the skin from its effects, but is an oestrogenic chemical. Octinoxate can create hormonal imbalance and cancers, and nursing or expectant women are advised not to use cosmetics that contain this chemical.

There are sunscreens of reputed brands in the market that have a dose of oxybenzone in them, which can wreak havoc on the natural hormonal balance of the human body, along with causing harmful skin allergies and reactions. Oxybenzone enters the skin and is absorbed into the bloodstream, according to toxicologists and the Environmental Working Group. Any product that contains more than 0.5 per cent of oxybenzone should be labeled dangerous.

In recent studies, retinyl palmitate has come under the scanner for being one of the reasons for skin cancer. Retinyl palmitate is known to promote cancer-causing cells in the body, as it leads to enhancing photo-carcinogenicity, increasing skin lesions, and heightening the presence of squamous cell neoplasms — the beginnings of skin cancer. Hence, it is advised not to pick up sunscreens that have retinyl palmitate in it.

Although it is one of the most popular sunscreen ingredients, it is also known to be a free radical generator. Too much avobenzone can cause degenerative diseases, along with premature ageing.

1. Protective cotton clothing can be opted for. Long-sleeved shirts, stoles, scarves, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses should be your go-to choices.

2. Look for sunscreens that have titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in them, which are safe for the skin.

3. Try not to leave home when the sun is at its all-time high. If you must, don the protective clothing mentioned earlier, to be stylishly protective.

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We don’t live under the foliage of a dense rainforest, and the sun is beating upon us each day, causing sunburn and skin allergies galore! The harmful UV rays of the sun, coupled with the onslaught of free radicals, can cause skin cancers and tumours. This is why we are asked to use sun block/sunscreen lotion every day.

However, some researchers say that unfiltered sun exposure is really good for our health. It makes the body produce vitamin D3, which helps keep a check on phosphate and calcium levels in the body.

Depending on the duration of your sun exposure, you need the right amount of SPF to protect the skin from sunburn and blisters. However, research has shown that some sunscreens can do more harm than good to the body, since they contain harmful synthetic ingredients that can cause hormonal imbalances and cancers of the skin.