![]() In other words, because the organism is not adapted to effectively digest and expel these chemicals, they are stored in its body instead.Ī lovely purple sea urchin Photo credit: David Monniaux Current research: diving deeper into the science of sunscreen When this happens, there is a risk of these chemicals bioaccumulating, meaning that they can become concentrated in the body of a living organism. The zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can soak into the ground or get washed into the water. Where does the rest go? It’s simple, into our environment. If you use spray-on sunscreen, you might feel lucky-as many of us do-when half of it ends up on your body. Though the Food and Drug Administration is supposed to review the safety of sunscreens, the agency hasn’t completed review of spray-on sunscreens. However, most people don’t know that even mineral spray-on sunscreen is bad for you if you inhale it. Spray-on sunscreen is really popular right now, especially with kiddos who don’t like to stay still. There is no regulation on non-nano particle sunscreen labeling, so it’s up to the company making the sunscreen to be truthful about their products. If you are trying to buy non-nano mineral sunscreen in the United States, you might look for sunscreen labelled “Non-nano.” Unfortunately, that label-officially at least-means nothing. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), “some studies indicate that nanoparticles in large doses can harm living cells and organs.” The smaller the particles are, the higher the chance of it penetrating your skin. The chances of your skin absorbing mineral sunscreen goes up when zinc oxide and titanium dioxide get broken down into nanoparticles. Kiddos don’t understand we have the best intention at heart… *sigh* The bad I call that a little victory for the environment and the parents. Parents, think of it this way-your kiddos can run around longer without you having to haul them out of play time on the beach to reapply sunscreen. Another good thing about mineral sunscreen is that it stays on your skin longer, meaning that it will protect you from getting a horrible sunburn longer than chemical sunscreens do. If you have sensitive skin, that’s good news. This property also means that they are noncomedogenic, meaning that they don’t clog your pores. Because of this, they cause little to no internal complications. Another good thing about these two substances is that, as long as they aren’t used in their nanoparticle form, they do not get absorbed by our skin. ![]() Once you have mineral sunscreen on, you don’t have to wait before doing your fun, sun-filled activities. There are some good things about zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, one being that they give you instant protection from the sun. The good, the bad, and the things we don’t yet understand The good Let’s dive in so we can understand mineral sunscreen a little better. You need to protect your skin from the sun, and mineral sunscreen is still the best option other than avoiding exposure to the sun. ![]() Evelyn is shocked to find out her mineral sunscreen can have negative effects on the environment *gasp* it’s okay we convinced her to keep it.īut, hold on! Don’t throw away all your mineral sunscreen just yet.
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