Sunscreen: Healthy or Disease-Enabling?

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   Versatile Healthposted 12 years ago

   Ok, our last couple forum threads have done pretty well and we want to do another! This one will revolve around using sunscreen and if it is more harmful than helpful. The sad truth is that many commercially produced sunscreens today contain some VERY harmful chemicals that can negatively affect those who use it. I have posted a link below with information from EWG's Skin Deep cosmetic database: it breaks down one of sunscreens main ingredients...Oxybenzone, an additive that is rated as 'Extremely Dangerous' on their website. What do you think?
   
   Leave your opinions and comments below. Thanks forum!
   
   http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/ … XYBENZONE/

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      recommend1posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Who is the 'we' you always start off with ?  are you a company or something ?

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         Versatile Healthposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yea, we are a health and wellness company based out of San Diego. We discuss the same topics on here as we do on our website to reach more people. We're just trying to get our messages to as many people as we can!

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   medicalsuppliesposted 12 years ago

   I admit right off the bat that I am no expert regarding the chemicals used in sunscreen. What I do know is that there is mounting evidence that sunscreen may be a contributing factor in some people developing vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to three dozen or so diseases and illnesses, as well as an overall poor quality of health.
   
   I'd post a link to an article on the subject, but that appears to be against the rules.

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      Versatile Healthposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Are we really not allowed to post links to other webpages? I am always posting links to studies and stuff of that nature.

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   Polly Cposted 12 years ago

   Well, I believe oxybenzene is banned in the UK and rest of europe, but of course there are lots of other chemicals lurking. I usually use natural suncreens for my children, but even then nothing is perfect. I think sunscreen has its place, but we have gone somewhat overboard in using it, because of media hype about skin cancer (not that sun can't cause skin cancer, but it is being overused to the point of paranoia by some people). Take note, however, that I am in England where the sun is often very intermittent to say the least! We do still have very hot days sometimes though, and then I will always use sunscreen.
   
   Regarding the vitamin D connection, I think there is definitly truth in that. It was in the paper last week that Mozart might have died so early because of lack of sunlight (he worked all night and slept all day). I think about my own grandmother, who loved the sun, spent a lot of time outside and lived to 97 with good health, never wearing sunscreen. The same is true for her sisters, one of whom wil be 100 next year. But of course there is a hole in the ozone layer now, which wasn't there before, so that is another point to think about I suppose.

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      Versatile Healthposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      All very good points Polly! Thanks for your comment. Your grandmother example is a perfect reflection of how the sun can be beneficial, not necessarily something to be afraid of. The ozone issue does need to be factored in tho...good point.

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