The Quick Facts: Using sunscreen (and bug spray depending on geography) is essential in the summer to protect kids and adults from exposure. In recent years information is readily available and is accessible to help make the important decision about which products to use to keep your family safe from the elements while taking into consideration health and environmental impacts.
Every summer we reach for the sunscreen and bug spray, often relying on the same brands we used last year and even the brands our parents used. There are many resources now available that provide information on sunscreen ingredients and bug sprays, and ranks products with regard to safety and effectiveness. (See Real Mama’s previous articles about specific ingredients and why they should be avoided: Safe Sunscreen for Kids and Safe Bug Spray for Kids: The “Buzz” on Chemical and Plant-Based Repellents)
Sunscreens — Top 15
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment, the top-rated sunscreens all contain the minerals zinc or titanium and not contain oxybenzone or vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), and are not sprayed or powdered. Below are some examples from EWG’s website and the corresponding number ranking the products were given (0-2 recommended; 3-6 caution; 7-10 avoid):.
Mineral Sunscreens
- All Terrain: Aquasport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30; TerraSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30; KidSport Performance Sunscreen, SPF 30 (2)
- Badger: Sunscreen for Face and Body, Unscented, SPF 30; Sunscreen for Face and Body, Lightly Scented, SPF 15 or 30 (1 & 2)
- California Baby: Sunblock Stick No Fragrance, SPF 30+; Sunscreen Lotion, No Fragrance, SPF 30+; Sunscreen Lotion Everyday/Year-Round, SPF 30+; Sunscreen Lotion, Citronella, SPF 30+; Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year-Round, SFP 30+ (1 & 2)
- Caribbean Solutions: Natural/Biodegradable SolGuard, SPF 25; Sol Kid Kare Natural Sunscreen, SPF 25 (2)
- La Roche-Posay: Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream (2)
Non-Mineral
- Beyond Coastal: Active Sunscreen, SFP 30; Daily Active Sunscreen, SPF 15 (3 & 4)
- Bull Frog: Ultimate Sheer Protection Face, SPF 30; Ultimate Sheer Protection Body, SPF 30 (5)
- Coppertone: UltraGUARD Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15; Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 15; Sport Sunblock Lotion, SPF 15 (4 & 5)
- Glytone: Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 25 (4)
- La Roche-Posay:Anthelios Water Resistant Sunscreen Cream, SPF 15 (3)
Middle of the Road
- Coppertone, Water Babies Pure and Simple Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50+ (3)
- CVS: Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 45+; Baby Sunstick, SPF 50 (3, because it contains Vitamin A)
- Johnson & Johnson: Baby Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 40 (3)
Sunscreens — Buyer Beware
Although warnings about oxybenzone, sprays, and powders have been around for years, a new caution sprung-up recently around vitamin A (retinyl palmitate). In 2009, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study indicated that retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions.
Vitamin A is added by the sunscreen industry to 41 percent of all sunscreens largely because of its anti-oxidant properties that supposedly slows skin aging. Although that may be true for lotions and night creams used indoors, in 2009, the FDA found that vitamin A’s photo-carcinogenic properties may result in cancerous tumors when skin is exposed to sunlight. The FDA data are preliminary and the agency is expected to publish a report in October 2010 that may even suggest that some sunscreens increase the risk of skin cancer. Since findings are still preliminary and some contradictory, EWG recommends that consumers avoid sunscreen with vitamin A (retinyl palmitate or retinol on the label). EWG recommends that consumers avoid the following products:
- Coppertone KIDS Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 70+ (7, contains oxybenzone, spray, and misleading SFP); Note: EWG does not recommend using spray sunscreens, particularly for children because all the chemicals become airborne and maybe inhaled.
- Banana Boat Baby Max Protect, SPF 100 (7 unbalanced sunscreen, contains oxybenzone, contains vitamin A, misleading SPF); Note: EWG recommends that consumers avoid products labeled with anything higher than “SPF 50+” and reapply sunscreen often, regardless of SPF.
- Mineral Powders, SPF anything (7, contains vitamin A, powder); Note: EWG recommends that consumers do not use loose powder sunscreens since they can enter the airways and move from the lungs to the bloodstream.
Bug Sprays — Top 3
Generally, bug sprays that are plant-based are nontoxic and safe. However, most chemical-based bug sprays have been found by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be slightly toxic, even when applied as directed. Many plant-based bug sprays that have been found to be just as effective (against U.S. mosquitoes) include oil of lemon eucalyptus and soybean oil, but they work for shorter periods of time than chemical-based ones. Below are some bug sprays reviewed by EWG in their cosmetic database and their assigned ranking:
- Badger Anti-Bug Shake & Spray (1)
- California Baby Bug Repellent Spray (1)
- Jason Natural Cosmetics Quit Bugging Me: Natural Insect Repellant Spray (2)
Bug Sprays — Buyer Beware
Most of us have heard of DEET, however, the ingredient actually being used in bug sprays is N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, and commonly known as DEET. DEET is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and EPA for use when there is a need to prevent insect-borne diseases and insects other than just mosquitoes (i.e., ticks). However, these institutions note that a DEET product with a concentration of 10% appears to be as effective as those with DEET concentrations of 30% (the maximum concentration recommended for children), with the only difference being that higher concentrations remain effective for longer periods of time. Below are some sprays reviewed by EWG and their assigned rankings as well as percentage DEET:
- Cutter Backwoods Mosquito Spray Unscented (3, contains N-N-Diethyl-M-Toluamide, 21.85%)
In sum, there are safer ways to protect your family from exposure to the sun and insects. Take a few minutes to check your beach and camp bags for the best products for your family and the environment.
Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/ (Environmental Working Group, a non-profit whose mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment)
http://www.costmeticdatabase.com (Skin Deep is a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products by the researchers at the Environmental Working Group)
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/e200399v1 (AAP News article entitled, “Follow safety precautions when using DEET on children,” from the AAP Committee on Environmental Health)
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/deet.htm (EPA, Pesticides: Topical and Chemical Fact Sheet on “The Insect Repellent DEET.”)
Tags: DEET, EWG, kids health, oxybenzone, plant-based ingredients, retinyl palmitate, safe bug spray, safe sunscreen, vitamin A
