Is Sunscreen Safe?

Not all sunscreens are safe!

It’s summer time and sunscreen season! Outdoor activities, from hikes to beach days to sports, require us to be in the sun. And no one wants a sunburn or sun-damage–or, worse, skin cancer. With many conflicting opinions, from dermatologists to organic product advocates, sunscreen use seems a little confusing. UNTIL NOW.

Let me preface this conversation by saying I do not sell any sunscreen products. Allen Acupuncture is all about wellness and helping people get or stay healthy.

Sunscreen chemical study

I read a disturbing article in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) from May 2019. This study reports the levels of sunscreen chemicals found in people’s blood plasma.

Chemicals are absorbed through the skin

It has long been known that the skin absorbs what we put on it. This is the theory behind essential oils as well as medications that are delivered by patches (everything from nicotine patches to birth control). But for some reason, there has been some debate as to whether the skin absorbs sunscreen chemicals.

Now, we have a definite answer. YES, the body absorbs these sunscreen chemicals. Not only that, but the body doesn’t get rid of them well, and they accumulate in the blood (and therefore the body).

Let’s break down the study.

First, it was a small study involving 24 healthy people. Second, the people had to put on sunscreens over 75% of their body (like when wearing a bathing suit) every 6 hours. They did this for four days, and measured the results with bloodwork after a few hours, during the four days, and even up to seven days after the sunscreen applications. The POINT is that this mimics what a person would do if they were on vacation or in the sun a lot–or even more scary, if a person has sunscreen in their make-up, their lotion, and then applied it a couple of times during the day.

Sunscreen chemicals are absorbed through the skin.

The FDA hasn’t really studied the dangers of the sunscreen chemicals. First, we have to prove that these chemicals are found in the blood above 0.5ng/mL (that’s nanograms per milliliter). This is what the study was trying to do.

Four chemicals were tested: Avobenzone, Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, and Ecamsule. Oxybenzone is in 95% of commercial suncreens. The BENZONES have been shown to be hormone disruptors that mimic estrogens in the body. They are closely tied to endometriosis. They are worse than BPA (which most of us know to avoid in plastics now) as hormone and immune system disruptors. There are actually 12 sunscreen chemicals that have NOT BEEN PROVEN SAFE. But the FDA needs to study them more with clinical trials to prove their toxicity.

FINDINGS–this is CRAZY!

DAY 1: The study showed that with just ONE application in ALL PARTICIPANTS, Avobenzone levels were higher than the allowed 0.5ng/mL within 6 hours of application. Oxybenzone levels crossed the threshold in 2 hours, and Octocrylene levels were elevated within 6 hours. Ecamsule levels on day 1 passed the maximum in 5 of 6 participants.

DAY 4: By the fourth day, the participants reached the maximum blood levels. If the recommended maximum is 0.5ng/mL, here’s the average levels on Day 4:

  • Avobenzone: 3.4ng/mL–680% more than FDA max
  • Oxybenzone: 191.3ng/mL–38,260% more than FDA max
  • Octocrylene: 5.5ng/mL–1100% more than FDA max
  • Ecamsule: 1.5ng/mL–300% more than FDA max

DAY 7: Blood levels were still elevated over the 0.5ng/mL levels, even though participants stopped putting on sunscreen on DAY 4. After application, some of the chemicals took over 84 hours to break down only HALF of them.

Why is this important?

Avobenzone is a hormone disruptor

If the FDA hasn’t studied the long-term or cumulative effects of these chemicals, and other studies have shown them to be hormone disruptors, commercial sunscreen brands can be MORE HARMFUL THAN HELPFUL. We just don’t know the effect of chemical levels that are 38,260% ABOVE the recommended FDA levels. We cannot assume that these chemicals are NOT the cause of cancers in the body. Many cancers are triggered by estrogens–and these mimic estrogens. This is SERIOUS stuff!

What IS safe?

Our body needs sun to produce Vitamin D

First of all, the SUN provides our skin with the essentials for producing VITAMIN D. This is an essential nutrient associated with a strong immune system, healthy bones, and improved absorption of other minerals, to say the least. Supplements of Vitamin D are helpful, but can’t replace our own bodies’ Vitamin D production. We NEED about 15 minutes or more of sun exposure every day to make Vitamin D.

On the other hand, the SUN exposes us to harmful Ultraviolet rays (both UVA & UVB) that damage the skin. This is RADIATION. Side effects of UV rays are sunburn, sun poisoning, and skin damage–and ultimately, may cause skin cancers.

Here are the HEALTHY, SAFE OPTIONS:

Wear safe sunscreens and cover up.
  1. Choose sunscreens with Zinc Oxide or Titanium Oxide. These chemicals have been proven SAFE for the body.
  2. Cover up. Wear a “swim shirt” or cover up that blocks out UV rays. These shirts can get wet and then dry quickly. They also “breathe” so you don’t get overheated.
  3. Wear a hat. A BIG hat. A baseball cap may shade the forehead and nose a bit, but the ears, cheeks, chin and neck are still vulnerable. A wide-brimmed hat with good ventilation is the best choice. One that can get wet and then dry quickly is a bonus.
  4. Use an umbrella/parasol. They are not just to avoid getting wet. Many umbrellas provide great SPF protection from the sun and cooling shade, too.
  5. Wear Sunglasses. The eyes can be severely damaged by UV rays, both in the short- and long-term. Cataracts, retina damage, and overgrowth of the whites of the eyes can be caused by UV radiation.
  6. Limit Sun Exposure. The most damaging UV rays are between 10am and 4pm. Plan your days to be outside more in the mornings or late afternoons when the sun isn’t as strong.

The Takeaway

There are many ways to protect your skin from UV radiation

Remember that there is BIG money behind the commercial sunscreens. Big money means lobbyists advocating for sunscreen companies–to doctors, lawmakers, and the FDA. Just like many medications are being proven toxic and dangerous to the body LONG AFTER they have been used (Prilosec, Advil, etc…), we will eventually know for sure what is obvious right now: commercial sunscreen chemicals are absorbed through the skin and dangerous to the human body.

Have fun in the sun!

So have fun in the sun, and wear SAFE sunscreens. If you do get a burn, there are herbs and acupuncture that can help you recover faster. Click here to learn more about setting up an appointment.

Year End Health Savings

Calendar Year

The year is almost at a close. In addition to health insurance, many people have Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to help pay for deductibles, medications and copays.

Most people don’t realize that HSAs and FSAs can be used to cover acupuncture visits.

These funds can be used to cover acupuncture even if the insurance policy doesn’t cover acupuncture.

HSA funds can usually rollover to the next year, but normally, any left over money over $500 in FSA accounts normally cannot be carried over to the next year–this is the last week to use what’s there. In many ways, that money has already been spent, but it hasn’t been used. It’s “use it or lose it.” What better way to use that money than on health and wellness?

Why use HSA or FSA for acupuncture?

An appointment at Allen Acupuncture & Wellness can help address many health concerns: joint or back pain and discomfort, digestive or weight problems, allergies and symptoms, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hormone imbalances, colds, flus, and weakened immune systems… The list goes on and on!

Acupuncture relieves stress

Besides the health benefits, acupuncture is very relaxing. Many patients say that they feel like they’ve spent a day at the spa–yet appointments typically last about an hour. Acupuncture can help reduce holiday stress. It can improve sleep as well, so patients wake up with more energy for daily activities.

Allen Acupuncture & Wellness focuses on holistic medicine and the underlying cause for a symptom. We treat the person as a whole, not just the problem.

Not just acupuncture.

A “visit” at Allen Acupuncture & Wellness might include acupuncture, but often includes cupping, tuina (a Chinese manual therapy), acupressure, muscle testing utilizing applied kinesiology, food therapy and lifestyle tips, and herbal recommendations.

Get a “Second Opinion” on your health.

Why not get another perspective on your health? A “second opinion” on your condition from a holistic perspective? Sara Allen, AP, Dipl OM, works alongside your doctor’s diagnoses and treatments to provide the very best of integrative medicine.

Call 561-922-7535 today to see how you can have Better Health for a Better You before your HSA or FSA closes out for the year and the new year begins!

Do you have health insurance? Be sure to check whether your insurance company covers acupuncture HERE.

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