Dear Elmo,
How can I keep my kids safe from sunscreen chemicals?
The best way to steer clear of sunscreen chemicals is to do what I do – avoid sunscreen completely. Have your kiddos wear our sun shirts instead. The safest sun protection is definitely a sun shirt, and the potentially harmful ingredients in sunscreens are a big reason why.
What sunscreen ingredients are recognized as safe?
In a 2021 regulation update, the only two sunscreen ingredients the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) deemed as safe and effective were:
- Zinc oxide
- Titanium dioxide
What potentially harmful ingredients are in sunscreen?
Twelve other sunscreen ingredients fall into the potential danger zone, not generally recognized as safe and effective by the FDA. These are:
- Avobenzone
- Cinoxate
- Dioxybenzone
- Ensulizole
- Homosalate
- Meradimate
- Octinoxate
- Octisalate
- Octocrylene
- Oxybenzone
- Padimate O
- Sulisobenzone
Why are these sunscreen chemicals harmful?
All of the ingredients penetrate the skin, which means they can work their way into the body. Some have been found to cause hormone disruption. Others can cause skin irritation, allergies and even inhalation issues.
Not only are the ingredients not considered safe for you and your kids, but they can also be harmful to coral reefs and other marine life – not to mention your pets. While you’re (hopefully) not about to slather sunscreen on your dog, we do like to lick things. An arm covered in sunscreen may be one of those things.
The Bottom Line = The Sun Protection Top
If you MUST wear a sunscreen, look for one that only contains the two ingredients deemed as safe for humans, coral reefs and other marine and animal life:
- Zinc oxide
- Titanium dioxide
If you’d rather make it easier for yourself and your kids, go for a UPF50 sun shirt. The fabric does not lose its sun protection power; provides breathable, moisture-wicking comfort; and protects against UVA and UVB rays.
Quick Note on this Sunscreen Chemicals Blog
This blog is from a series called: Short Answers to Common Sun Shirt Questions. We could have put all the info in one big-long blog but then it would be one big-long thing to read. We’re keeping it short and sweet.
Know that when it comes to sun tips and sun shirt questions, we got you covered – in UPF sun protective clothing to be exact. Visit our Cape Life shop in downtown Cape Coral or shop online right here at CapeLifeApparel.com.
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