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http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/storie....15f5bc1b.html#
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Safety concerns shine light on sunscreens
06:31 PM EDT on Monday, May 11, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH – As summer approaches, the ads begin, reminding you to use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Jennifer Hines of Norfolk knows all too well what can happen if you don’t. She says she didn’t use it for years and now is being treated for melanoma at the Virginia Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center.
"What people have told me could happen has happened. They weren't lying. They weren't kidding," Hines says.
But how safe are sunscreens?
Hines says she's never thought about the ingredients, just about things like whether it's waterproof, can it be used on her face and what are her friends using.
Medical experts say the ingredients are key to protection, but debate rages about the safety of a common ingredient in sunscreen – oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone 3, an organic compound.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control found the compound in 97 percent of the 2,500 human urine samples tested.
Now some health experts and environmentalists question its safety.
A database created by the Environmental Working Group, based in Washington DC, lists more than 1,000 sunscreens and their ingredients. The EWG found four out of five sunscreens contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don’t adequately protect skin from the sun's rays.
Oxybenzone is listed as a chemical related to cancer, developmental reproductive toxicity and allergies.
When applied, oxybenzone penetrates the skin.
Virginia Beach dermatologist Dr. David H. McDaniel is a consultant to several cosmetic companies and is the director of the Institute for Anti-Aging Research.
He says studies outlining risks associated with oxybenzone are beginning to surface, but there are no long term studies. Despite that, he feels there’s reason for people to be concerned.
"Most Americans probably have some of this in their body. It's been so widely used. There are some concerns about the toxicity of that chemical. I think it makes sense to avoid it," he notes.
McDaniel says that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use sunscreens. He recommends looking for ones with "z-cote," a transparent zinc oxide that protects skin from UVA and UVB rays.
He recommends La Roche Posay Anthelios and Neutragena Ultimate Sport with helioplex. Sunscreens with zinc and titanium top the list of recommended sunscreens by the Environmental Working Group. It recommends avoiding dozens of name brand items. None of market leader Coppertone's 48 sunscreen products met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness.
Schering-Plough, the manufacturer of Coppertone, defends its products.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Samolewicz tells 13 News, "Schering-Plough is committed to the science and safety of suncare and is concerned about the impact reports like the one recently released by the Environmental Work Group (EWG) will have on individuals who wish to protect themselves when they are out in the sun. EWG's assertion that product safety can be determined primarily by examining a list of ingredients is inappropriate. The EWG incorrectly suggests that certain sunscreen ingredients are unsafe. On the contrary, independent scientific research and the FDA have determined that wearing sunscreen containing these approved ingredients is a safe and effective way to protect individuals from the sun."
Banana Boat also responded to the EWG study.
In an email to 13News, officials said, “Energizer Personal Care’s Sun Care products, Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, use only ingredients that are safe and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other worldwide regulatory bodies. Energizer Personal Care continues to stand behind the safety and efficacy of Banana Boat’s® AvoTriplex® Technology and Hawaiian Tropic’s® SunSure® Technology, which provide broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection.
“Additionally, after reviewing the extensive formula, safety and efficacy data, the Skin Cancer Foundation officially recommends all Banana Boat® and Hawaiian Tropic® products with SPF 15 and higher as effective UV sunscreens. “
McDaniel says, if given a choice, he would avoid products with oxybenzone. He also recommends not using spray sunscreens because of the on-going debate over the safety of inhaling ingredients.
"As long as we put a cream on our skin and we're not breathing it in and it doesn't penetrate, it's not going through our skin, those have stood the test of time and they work well," McDaniel adds.
06:31 PM EDT on Monday, May 11, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH – As summer approaches, the ads begin, reminding you to use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Jennifer Hines of Norfolk knows all too well what can happen if you don’t. She says she didn’t use it for years and now is being treated for melanoma at the Virginia Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center.
"What people have told me could happen has happened. They weren't lying. They weren't kidding," Hines says.
But how safe are sunscreens?
Hines says she's never thought about the ingredients, just about things like whether it's waterproof, can it be used on her face and what are her friends using.
Medical experts say the ingredients are key to protection, but debate rages about the safety of a common ingredient in sunscreen – oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone 3, an organic compound.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control found the compound in 97 percent of the 2,500 human urine samples tested.
Now some health experts and environmentalists question its safety.
A database created by the Environmental Working Group, based in Washington DC, lists more than 1,000 sunscreens and their ingredients. The EWG found four out of five sunscreens contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don’t adequately protect skin from the sun's rays.
Oxybenzone is listed as a chemical related to cancer, developmental reproductive toxicity and allergies.
When applied, oxybenzone penetrates the skin.
Virginia Beach dermatologist Dr. David H. McDaniel is a consultant to several cosmetic companies and is the director of the Institute for Anti-Aging Research.
He says studies outlining risks associated with oxybenzone are beginning to surface, but there are no long term studies. Despite that, he feels there’s reason for people to be concerned.
"Most Americans probably have some of this in their body. It's been so widely used. There are some concerns about the toxicity of that chemical. I think it makes sense to avoid it," he notes.
McDaniel says that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use sunscreens. He recommends looking for ones with "z-cote," a transparent zinc oxide that protects skin from UVA and UVB rays.
He recommends La Roche Posay Anthelios and Neutragena Ultimate Sport with helioplex. Sunscreens with zinc and titanium top the list of recommended sunscreens by the Environmental Working Group. It recommends avoiding dozens of name brand items. None of market leader Coppertone's 48 sunscreen products met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness.
Schering-Plough, the manufacturer of Coppertone, defends its products.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Samolewicz tells 13 News, "Schering-Plough is committed to the science and safety of suncare and is concerned about the impact reports like the one recently released by the Environmental Work Group (EWG) will have on individuals who wish to protect themselves when they are out in the sun. EWG's assertion that product safety can be determined primarily by examining a list of ingredients is inappropriate. The EWG incorrectly suggests that certain sunscreen ingredients are unsafe. On the contrary, independent scientific research and the FDA have determined that wearing sunscreen containing these approved ingredients is a safe and effective way to protect individuals from the sun."
Banana Boat also responded to the EWG study.
In an email to 13News, officials said, “Energizer Personal Care’s Sun Care products, Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, use only ingredients that are safe and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other worldwide regulatory bodies. Energizer Personal Care continues to stand behind the safety and efficacy of Banana Boat’s® AvoTriplex® Technology and Hawaiian Tropic’s® SunSure® Technology, which provide broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection.
“Additionally, after reviewing the extensive formula, safety and efficacy data, the Skin Cancer Foundation officially recommends all Banana Boat® and Hawaiian Tropic® products with SPF 15 and higher as effective UV sunscreens. “
McDaniel says, if given a choice, he would avoid products with oxybenzone. He also recommends not using spray sunscreens because of the on-going debate over the safety of inhaling ingredients.
"As long as we put a cream on our skin and we're not breathing it in and it doesn't penetrate, it's not going through our skin, those have stood the test of time and they work well," McDaniel adds.
Seeing as I'm going to be outside more this summer than usual, I'm going to be sure to pick up a sunscreen that doesn't use Oxybenzone. I've never used the sprays before, largely because I didn't want to breath the aerosol mist in.
You can also watch a video of the news segment if you follow the link at the top of the post.
This post has been edited by The Shadow: 13 May 2009 - 12:44 PM
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MultiQuote
spray-on sunscreen. You just hold your breath while you spray like you would with bugspray. It's not rocket science.
