Sunscreen Is A Really Hot Topic and Rightly So

As we destroy our natural ozone we will need to be more aware of how the sun affects our skin and health. There has been great concern by day care centers, schools and others groups who are responsible for child safety. They have been the thrust of the need to use sunscreen in an effort to protect the children and avoid law suits. Even to the point that they have told parents in no uncertain terms that they would be looked upon as irresponsible parents if they do not apply and supply sunscreen for their child each and every day.

I agree, but only in principle. I am not pointing a finger at the day care providers for they can only work within the regulations and the parent's wishes. My daughter and I have had many children in our daycare and after school programs that we encouraged to apply sunscreen (often using the daycare's sunscreen) so that we were compliant and didn't have sunburned children. The problem is that although you must protect the child from getting sun burned, the means for accomplishing that can be as harmful as the suns rays. Dare I say most sunscreens contain toxic chemicals? It would be a shock if you thought you are doing the right thing for everyone involved and then found out years later you had not been properly informed and found the toxins where effecting peoples health. You may be wondering how your good intentions could have gone so wrong. How was this was allowed to happen?

The Environmental Working Group's Executive Director, Richard Wiles, issued the following statement:
"FDA's been dragging its feet on sunscreen safety standards for more than 30 years. Meanwhile, most Americans are not adequately protected: A recent EWG study found that 85% of sunscreens we tested do not offer enough protection from UV rays, are made with potentially harmful ingredients, or have not been tested for safety. We applaud Sen. Dodd, but Congress shouldn't have to force FDA to do its job."

Who knew?
Several natural skin care companies knew, Environmental Working Group knew, and even the companies that put the toxins in their sunscreen knew. It's hard not to trust Huggies or L'Oreal just a little when they say you are safe and protected. Who doesn't want to hear that? Marketing corporation with large budgets are not given lie detector tests when they create ads and labels. Corporate America is not covering your back.

How do I know that these companies have some understanding of the toxic side effects of their products? Because they are now modifying their formulas in an effort to secure their hold on market shares. They will modify the sunscreen just enough so they can put "natural" or "new improved" on the labels in the hope that you will continue to use the brands you have trusted for years. But awareness is rising and we just won't buy the products that are not safe with blind confidence like we did in the past. Your dollars do talk and our power lies in the fact that we can decide who to support. 

I want to support the companies that have gone the extra mile to give us products that were good for us from the beginning. Companies that produce a superior sunscreen without waiting for law suits or consumer pressure to take chemicals out of the products. They knew that additives were not benefiting our health. Statistics state that 3 of 5 brand-name sunscreens either don't protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals — or both.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) are constantly testing and lobbying for accountability in product creation. They have a great website that shows all sunscreen products tested (1,625 of them) and you can find out how your sunscreen scores. Many products I thought were safe are shown to be harmful. The one that really surprised me with a bad score was baby sunscreen called Huggies Little Swimmers. Get informed and take charge of your purchasing power while improving your health at the same time.

I will give a vote of support and confidence to people with awareness and ability to create beneficial products for me and the environment. The time to act is now and we are primed to redirect our attention toward our health and that of the planet. Organic products are a future we can all live with.