Cleanse + Detox Week: SUNSCREEN. The active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms - mineral and chemical filters. Each may pose a threat to our health. The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters. These products typically include a combination of two to six of these active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. A handful of products combine zinc oxide with chemical filters. Look for straight zinc oxide, a natural sunscreen form your health food store, or DIY at home. 1. Oxybenzone: Terrible stuff. Its primary function is to absorb ultraviolet light. Oxybenzone is also believed to cause hormone disruptions and cell damage that may provoke cancer. According to EWG:2. …the chemical oxybenzone penetrates the skin, gets into the bloodstream and acts like estrogen in the body. It can trigger allergic reactions. Data are preliminary, but studies have found a link between higher concentrations of oxybenzone and health harms. One study has linked oxybenzone to endometriosis in older women; another found that women with higher levels of oxybenzone during pregnancy had lower birth weight daughters. 2. Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A palmitate): Sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol, and retinyl palmitate. The problem occurs when this form of vitamin A is exposed to the sun (as opposed to when it is used in night cream, for example), which is why sunscreens that contain it should be avoided. 3. Fragrance: This term covers any number of harmful chemicals that do not have to be listed individually on the label. Some common fragrance chemicals include: Parabens: Synthetic preservatives known to interfere with hormone production and release. Phthalates: Another synthetic preservative thats carcinogenic and linked to reproductive effects (decreased sperm counts, early breast development, and birth defects) and liver and kidney damage. Synthetic musks: These are linked to hormone disruption and are thought to persist and accumulate in breast milk, body fat, umbilical cord blood, and the environment. What to do? Make you own using coconut or carrot oils, use zinc oxide, or lookout for a natural sunscreen - containing none of the above chemicals - from your health food store or online. I personally dont use sunscreen unless I have to be outside in Summer in the midday sun for longer than about 20 minutes. In this case I use straight zinc oxide, and cover up - Slip, Slop on zinc and Slap. #janellascleanseweek #nontoxicsunscreen
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:00:01 +0000
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