The sun is out. But beware, most conventional sunscreens have endocrine-disrupting chemicals in them. Some ingredients to avoid are oxybenzone, avobenzone and propylene glycol otherwise known as polyethylene glycol (PEG) which are absorbed through our skin and can cause disruption of hormones as well as damage to the liver, kidneys and brain. Instead of chemical laden sunscreens, try mineral sunblocks that contain zinc oxide. Sunblocks with zinc create a barrier to protect your skin from the sun. Because sunblocks with zinc oxide are a physical barrier to sun, they tend to have a thicker consistency.Tip: you can use tinted versions to match your skin tone if you are worried about looking ‘pasty.’ Make sure to use an SPF between 30 and 50; anything higher than that does not provide more protection. A good resource for finding body and environment safe sunscreen is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database, which you can find online.
By Dr. Krista Imre ND