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Possible dangers of Sunscreens
by Dr. Mary Shackelton |
This year more than 1.3 million skin
cancers will be detected in the United States. Of those,
7300 will be fatal.
We must be careful to employ new methods to protect skin
from sun-exposure damage – if we are to reduce the
frequency of skin-cancer diagnoses and age-related skin
problems.
Until recently, sunscreens have been our best protection
from the sun. But their protection is not ideal because
of inadequate use, incomplete UVA/UVB protection, and/or
toxicity. |
Doctor Mary Shackelton MPH, ND.
Naturopathic Physicianof the
Women's Center for
Natural Medicine in Boulder, Colorado |
In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
says that due to the additional costs and risks from
increased concentrations of active ingredients, the
maximum SPF should not exceed 30.1
Choose natural sun protection – a hat, sunglasses, and a
long-sleeved shirt. And when you and your children race
for the outdoors this spring and summer, keep in mind
this information to help you choose a safe and natural
sunscreen product.
A few safe products for you and your
children include: Alba Botanica SUN, Aubrey Organics
Sunscreen. Below are a few tips on picking sunsceens. |
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Ingredients to
avoid: |
Why |
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Benzophenone-3, Homosalate Octyl
Methoxycinnamate, 4 Methyl-benzylidene camphor
(4-MBC),
Ocryl-dimethyl-PABA |
When applied to breast cancer
cells in (test tubes), these chemicals increased
cancer cell proliferation - growth 2
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PABA |
Contributes to allergic reactions, rashes |
| Mineral Oil |
Contributes to water
pollution and is not bio-degradable |
| Petroleum |
Damages and pollutes aquatic
environments 3 |
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Ingredients to
look for: |
Why |
| Vitamin E |
Antioxidant; slows cell
damage
Anti-carcinogenic protection 4
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Titanium
Oxide |
Provides a
physical barrier to the sun and is less
irritating to skin, sun absorber and light
reflective properties
5 |
| Zinc Oxide |
Protects against UVA and UVB |
| Green Tea |
Reduces damage from sun
radiation6 |
| Vitamin C |
Protects against DNA damage
from UVA/UVB damage 7 |
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Mary F.
Shackelton MPH, ND is a Naturopathic Physician with a
practice in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Shackelton practices
family medicine with an emphasis on children's and
women's health. Within the children's health specialty
she successfully treats most common childhood ailments
including: ear infections, immune dysfunction,
allergies, eczema, asthma, behavioral disorders, and
other chronic illnesses. Dr.Shackelton can be reached
at:
mary@allnaturaldoc.com
The content and opinions expressed on
this Web page do not necessarily reflect the views of
nor are they endorsed by the Grouptrails.com
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1 DeSimone EMn:
FDA proposes changes in sunscreen regulations. American
Pharmacy NS34(6):26-31, 1994
2 Environmental Health Perspectives,
Volume 109, Number 3, March 2001,
In Vitro and in Vivo Estrogenicity of UV Screens.
Margaret Schlumpf, Beata Cotton, Marianne Conscience,
Vreni Haller, Beate
3 Environ Health Perspectives 107 (suppl
6):907-938 (1999).
4 J Am Acad Dermatol 2003, Jan: 48(1): 1-19.
5 Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2003
Oct;19(5):242-53.
6 Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2001
Mar-Apr;14(2):69-76.
7 Anticancer Res. 2002 Nov-Dec;22(6C):3873-7.
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