Hello,

In my inaugural post to my blog, it is my intention to help explain the importance and the differences in sunscreens and sun protection. I realize that to many, a sunscreen just might be a typical "sunscreen,' meaning that aren't they really all the same? That's certainly what I thought until I was introduced to a completely organic sunscreen that was invented in Australia, Soleo Organics sunscreen. The Aussies have more incidences of skin cancer per capita than anywhere else in the world, so it makes sense that the latest in sunscreen technology and research would eminate from their as well.

What I found in doing my own homework was pretty astonishing, to say the least! If you don't believe me, just type "chemical sunscreens" in Google (don't you just love Google?) and do your own homework.

So, I'd just like to share a few of my thoughts with you over the next few weeks. Ready? Here goes!

Although our skin is the largest organ in the body, it’s often the one that we neglect the most. You wouldn’t sit down to a meal of titanium, aluminum, sulfates or urea, so why put them on your skin? Scientific research shows that a considerable amount of what you apply to your skin is absorbed into your blood stream to some degree. The body finds it hard to expel many of these foreign ingredients, so they accumulate and can potentially cause a wide variety of health problems. Yet, these are some of the most common types of ingredients found in many of the sunscreens sold in this country annually.

In addition to this chemical sensitivity is a growing problem in America, with many people being unable to use common skin care products because they suffer symptoms such as itching, burning, redness and/ or swelling of the skin, as well as eczema and acne breakouts. Sunscreen poses a particular concern because when certain sunscreen chemicals are exposed to heat, reactions occur between the skin and the chemicals. Most chemicals in sunscreens act to absorb
UV rays, which cause particles to increase in energy levels. When particles drop back to their former lower energy level, energy is remitted. It is thought that this process causes skin damage as the released energy enters the epidermis.

Australian Toxicologist Dr Peter Dingle says “many of the chemicals in sunscreens have been found to cause photo toxic, photo allergic or photogenotoxic (DNA altering) effects and some sunscreen chemicals may increase the risk of developing skin cancer”. Dr Dingle’s comments relate to independent research in America, UK, Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and Japan, which has raised concerns about some synthetic chemicals commonly used in sunscreens, finding them to be potentially toxic and damaging to the skin.

Sunscreen actives that have been under examination include titanium dioxide, Octinoxate (octyl-methoxycinnamate or ‘OMC’) 4-Methyl-benzylidene (4-MBC), PABA, padimate-O (Octyldimethyl PABA) and benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone). Titanium dioxide and / or Octinoxate are found in up to 90% of sunscreens around the world.

International medical research articles that have shown many synthetic chemicals used in
common sunscreens have the potential to:
• be carcinogenic
• produce toxic free radicals and cause DNA and skin tissue damage
• mimic the actions of the hormone estrogen
• cause the deactivation of natural antioxidants
• cause contact dermatitis and photo-allergic dermatitis

In addition to the chemical UV-absorbers, many synthetic preservatives used in sunscreens can also pose similar problems. International research has found some synthetic preservatives to; be carcinogenic, or become carcinogenic when they react with other ingredients, disrupt hormone activity, cause the release of formaldehydes and / or react with other ingredients to form toxic Nitrosamines (both of which are highly carcinogenic) and to cause contact dermatitis.

So, as I draw to the end of my first post, what's my point? My point is simply be aware of what you put on your's or your family's skin, there can be significant issues. Do your homework, and share information. That's one of the greatest benefits of the web and blogging! Next time, I'll talk about about what potential damage chemical sunscreens can do to fragile marine environments!