Sorting through lip Sunscreens
For years I suffered from eczema and dry lips in the summer time. I could not figure out why; I would always wear lip sunscreen. The worse it got the more cautious I was to reapply my lip sunscreen. Finally, this year in school I learned why this was happening. IT WAS THE SUNSCREEN!! This was revolutionary information for me, and I have not had eczema all summer long.
Top 3 ingredients to avoid in your lip sunscreen:
Oxybenzone: This ingredient has been suspected as a photo-carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer following illumination), allergen, and a hormone disrupter. When compared to other sunscreen chemicals, oxybenzone is most commonly linked with allergic reactions triggered by sun exposure. Hence my eczema! You may be wondering why the FDA approved oxybenzone? Well, this ingredient was approved in 1970, and has not been re-reviewed since.
Phenol: Phenols are widely used in household products and as intermediates for industrial mixtures: cosmetics, hair care, lining in some canned goods, etc. According to the Material Safety Data Sheets phenol is very hazardous in case of skin contact and inhalation. Skin contact with phenol can produce skin inflammation, characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering. As well, the MSDS indicates that repeated skin exposure can produce local skin destruction, or dermatitis, and repeated inhalation of dust can produce varying degree of respiratory irritation or lung damage.….HOW IS THIS ALLOWED IN OUR SUNSCREEN?!!!
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that is added to skin products because manufacturers believe it slows down the appearance of aging. This is correct in the case of lotions and night creams used indoors. However, studies have shown that vitamin A may have carcinogenic properties when exposed to sunlight. This raises the possibility that it may speed the growth of cancerous tumors.
There are good lip sunscreens out there, you just need to know what to look for! Some great brands are Aubrey, Ava, and Burts Bees.
If you are wondering about your lip sunscreen visit http://www.ewg.org/skindeep You can find tons of sunscreen brands here with great information on what they are doing to your health.
To learn more about our Marvellous Monday blogger Aly Shoom visit her personal blog