Are Sunscreens Toxic?

 Sunscreens were created to protect our skin, the body's largest organ, from UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is divided into UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is filtered by ozone in the stratosphere, whereas UVA and UVB reach the earth's surface. UVA can penetrate deeper through the skin than UVB, it is not filtered through glass and it is estimated that approximately 50 percent of exposure to UVA occurs in the shade.
Acute exposure to UVB causes effects such as erythema, edema, tanning, thickening of the epidermis and dermis, and vitamin D synthesis. Chronic exposure to UVB can result in photoaging, immunosupression and photocarcinogenesis. Exposure to UVA is more efficient in inducing tanning and causes less erythema, but it is also involved in photoaging and acute chronic photodermatoses. Both UVA and UVB are associated with immunosupression and carcinogenesis; therefore, there is a need for protection.
According to Benjamin Fuchs, R.Ph, "SPF is misleading, this is only for UVB. UVA rays cause the aging. Sunscreens can be toxic."
Sunscreen lipophilicity means means penetration, never use on babies, adds Fuchs. Sunscreens have estrogenic structures. UVA blockers (oxybenzone, Parsol (TM), are especially toxic.
Fuchs recommends sunblockers, preferably those with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. These are non-hormonal, non-chemical. These ingredients block UVA, UVB and UVC with limited penetration.
Zinc Oxide offers healing, soothing, is non-toxic, biogenic and very effective, thus being safe for babies.
Diet plays a huge role in sun protection in addition to its' vast other beneficial qualities of sustaining a healthy life. Eating vegetables stimulates the skins natural immunity.
Inorganic UV filters, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide act by scattering, reflecting and/or absorbing UVR dependent on their refractive index, the size of the particles, dispersion in the emulsion and film thickness. The drawback of inorganic mineral sunscreens is that they are opaque on the skin. To improve cosmetic acceptability, particle size can be reduced to 20-50 nm, rendering them transparent to visible radiation, but this also reduces their ability to scatter and reflect UVR. The availability of microfine Zno (for example Z-cote from BASF and Zin Clear from Advanced Nanotechnology Ltd., Australia) and TiO2 has increased the formulation of these inorganic filters in sunscreen products, thus permitting high SPF values and broad spectrum absorption, with reduced amounts of organic filters.
Fuchs recommends a sunblock with broad-spectrum with either Zinc Oxide or Titianium Dioxide. It is also imperative to reapply the sunblock if you go in the water or sweat while in the sun.
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