For truly safe sun protection, avoid these six categories of sketchy, ineffective products.
By Emily Main


When you slather on sunscreen, you'd like to think that it's protecting you against sunburns and skin cancer, right? That's not always the case in the United States, where lax guidelines and regulations have made sunscreen your weakest tool in the fight against ever-increasing rates of melanoma, according to the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG).

For the seventh year in a row, EWG has released its sunscreen ratings, based on the findings of the group's research scientists and public health experts, who analyze the safety and efficacy of 1,400 sunscreens, lip balms, makeup products, and lotions with SPF.

What did they find? Just 25 percent of those products offer safe sun protection against both UVA and UVB rays without also being littered with unsafe sunscreen ingredients, says Nneka Leiba, EWG's deputy director of research and the lead researcher on the project. "Sunscreen awareness may be improving, but overall sun protection is not," she says.

A big part of the problem, she says, is that regulation on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is weak. In December, the agency finally instituted new rules that will require that claims of "broad-spectrum"—meaning that products protect against both sunburn-causing UVB rays and skin-cancer-causing UVA rays—be independently tested and validated. Also, the use of the terms "waterproof" and "sweatproof" will be banned. But, says Leiba, "the bar they set was so weak that most products didn't have to change formulations in order to meet those requirements." Ninety percent of the products sold in the U.S. meet the new FDA guidelines, she adds, but just 50 percent of U.S. products would pass muster under Europe's much stricter safety rules.

Why Sunscreens Can't Keep You Safe

That's not all. American shelves are littered with products that lull users into a false sense of security, don't provide full coverage, and expose people to toxic chemicals that could actually be increasing their risk of skin cancer. EWG's report highlighted a bunch of those products, and here are their picks for the six worst kinds of sunscreen:

#1: Sunscreens with Retinol
Retinol, or vitamin A, can increase the risk of tumors on sun-exposed skin, according to a number of government tests. Yet it's commonly added to sunscreens and lotions owing to its antiaging effects. "That's especially concerning in light of the fact that melanoma rates have risen 2 percent each year over the past decade, says Leiba. It's become such a risky ingredient that the Canadian government is considering requiring warning labels on vitamin A–containing products that say the ingredient "may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Please limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards." Exactly what you want to read on a bottle of sunscreen, right?

#2: Sunscreens with SPFs Higher Than 50
SPF is a measure of protection against sunburn-causing UVB rays only, not of cauncer-causing UVA rays, and UVA protection in these products is poor, according to EWG's analysis, says Leiba. High-SPF products also lull you into a false sense of security. "Because they protect you longer from UVB rays, you may not get burned, which you associate with time to go inside," she adds. Thus, you stay outside longer and absorb too much skin-damaging UVA. The FDA has proposed rules that would prohibit companies from advertising SPFs higher than 50, which they call "inherently misleading," but those rules have never gone into effect.

#3: Sunscreens that Contain Oxybenzone
Oxybenzone is a chemical sunscreen agent that gets absorbed by your skin. The problem with it, says Leiba, is that it penetrates the skin very easily and gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Once inside your body, it mimics the hormone estrogen, which, over the long term, can lead to reproductive issues and thyroid problems, and autism researchers suspect that the chemical is also neurotoxic. More than half the products EWG analyzed contained oxybenzone, and government studies have detected the ingredient inside the systems of 96 percent of Americans. Read labels carefully to avoid it. It can also be listed as benzophenone or benzophenone-3.

#4: Sunscreens in Powder, Spray-on, or Towelette Form
Anything you could potentially inhale shouldn't be saturated in sunscreen chemicals that act like hormones in your body, EWG warns. Plus, "when you're spraying on sunscreen, it's hard to tell if you're getting the amount of coverage you need," Leiba says. The same goes with powders and towelettes. In fact, this is the last summer you'll see either product on store shelves. The FDA has said that it won't allow powder- or towelette-based sunscreen products to be sold after the end of 2013.

3 Surprising Skin Cancer Risks

#5: Sunscreen/Bug Repellent Combos
They're unnecessary and potentially harmful. Bug repellents can contain effective but potentially irritating chemicals that you need only apply once a day, whereas sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. Beyond that, you don't need them, says EWG. Unless you're on a long hike in the wilderness, bugs are mostly pesky at dawn and dusk, not during the heat of the day when UV rays are strongest.

#6: Moisturizers, Lip Balms, and Makeup with SPF
Fewer than 10 percent of these meet EWG's criteria for providing UVA and UVB protection, and for that matter, most products on the market can't claim "broad-spectrum" protection as defined by the FDA. So any claims that they can prevent skin damage from sunlight are overstated, EWG has found. Plus, most women apply these just once a day, and any protection they do offer will last only a few hours. If you really like those products, see below.

Better Bets for Safer Sunscreen
What sunscreens should you buy? There are some good ones out there, EWG found. When they look at sunscreen effectiveness and safety, the EWG researchers use models to determine how much of a sunscreen you absorb and how quickly it breaks down when exposed to sunlight. Also, they analyze ingredients for any, like vitamin A, that raise red flags.

Their 2013 sunscreen database highlights the most effective products with the fewest harmful ingredients, and breaks them down into the following categories:
• Beach & sport sunscreens
• Moisturizers with SPF
• Lip balms with SPF 
• Makeup with SPF

MOST importantly, realize that sunscreen should always be your THIRD line of defense against skin cancer and sunburns, recommends EWG, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the World Health Organization—among many other advocacy groups. The first should be to seek shade or stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV radiation is strongest. The second, to cover up with hats, long sleeves, and long pants. Once you have these defenses in place, then cover your exposed skin with sunscreen.

Dr. Alex Morton joined us on Smart Health Talk the day after she filed this lawsuit against the Canadian Federal Government and Marine Harvest Hatchery in response to as high as 90% disappearance of wild salmon in BC Canada (hear interview: http://www.smarthealthtalk.com/). 

Fish recently confirmed with ISA virus have been approved to be sold for human consumption in BC Canada w/o labeling of course. US has refused to allow ISA infected imports so red flag there. May be hopeless to think it can be stopped as ISA virus spreading along coast to WA, OR, CA. This ISA originated in Marine Harvest farmed salmon closed pens in Norway. 

Would have to think the Canadian gov't is protecting multi billion dollar Marine Harvest Hatchery as a move was recent made to pass a law, Bill #37 making it illegal to report infected animals/fish with a penalty of 2 years in jail and $75,000 fine so Dr. Morton could have been jailed if passed. 

Rivers now full of thousands of dead wild salmon and the government doing nothing but protecting the corporation with the introduction of laws that thanks to watchdog non profits were able to be stopped temporarily because proven to be blatantly unconstitutional.  So much so the legislator that introduced it admitted that it may be a little unconstitutional.  Apparently still sits there ready for passage if there is enough support to do it.

Another virus brewed in the hundreds of Norway farmed salmon closed pens run by Marine Harvest is called PRV (Piscine Reovirus) and is spreading like wild fire. For ten years scientists in Norway could not figure out why farm salmon were dying from heart disease they called Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (HSMI).  It spread to 400 farms. Fish heart muscle broken down to mush. Salmon have heart attack before spawning.  Die on the way there with all their eggs still inside.

Dr. Morton's blog (http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/ states:
“it is urgent that measures be taken to control PRV … due to the potential for transmission to wild salmon populations” (Palacios et al. 2010) In a popularized version of this paper one of the authors states: “If the potential hosts are in close proximity, it goes through them like wildfire,” said Lipkin. Science Wired.

So many wild salmon dead that hungry grizzly bears upstream are eating each other. 

Wild salmon are significant as a "Keystone Species" that is the foundation from which many other species are dependent on life.

Dr. Morton said on Smart Health Talk that caring customers buy farmed salmon thinking they are helping protect wild salmon populations, but every purchase of farmed salmon is hurting and killing wild salmon.  

Each farmed salmon purchase is supporting a single multi billion dollar corporation instead of thousands of fishing families. Boycotting farmed salmon is the most important action anyone can take to protect our future wild salmon populations. 

Fish farms are big issues.  http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5755 

Knowing which fish to buy that are sustainable and reproduce quickly is top recommendation from Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Their phone app can help you learn about these new fish choices and make the right decisions at the store and restaurant. 

Oceana reported on Smart Health Talk the 100% Red Snapper on restaurant menus tested was NOT Red Snapper.  It doesn't exist anymore.

Cost of farmed salmon protein is not cost effective and wastes resources with high environmental destruction. Farmed salmon are fed GMO corn/soy.  GMO excrement from fish goes into rivers/oceans. GMO corn and soy do not belog in these water and cause another pollution problem in itself.

Only alternative for fish farmers is to take food meant for wild populations and give it to their farmed fish.  Taking wild fish food and giving it to farmed fish does not make sense either because it also creates a negative environmental impact.  Those costs have to be factored in when calculating true cost of food.

Huge populations of parasitic lice on farmed fish escape everyday and are creating epidemics of parasitic lice infestations to all fish in rivers/oceans that pass by fish farms. Now even found on small baby fish.

Look out Genetically Engineered (GE) farmed salmon on the way. When food supplies reduced GE salmon will turn to cannibalism and eat other salmon.  CANNIBALISM NOT A WILD SALMON CHARACTERISTIC.  

What will happen after GE salmon escape from pens into rivers and oceans A daily occurance for fish farms.  If mixed GE/wild salmon population and little food available for GE salmon voracious appetite, how will wild salmon defend themselves against GE Salmon Cannibals?  

GE Salmon are 3x larger than wild salmon and grow at a much faster rate thanks to AquaBounty genetic insertion of a DNA strand from an unrelated species into salmon DNA strand.  The other species grows faster than wild salmon and they want to force fish to grow much faster than nature ever intended even through this is a totally new technology that we know nothing about the long term consequences in the real world.

Fish infected with these viruses that are brought home from grocery stores and washed in our kitchen sinks can spread through sewer systems. Lean more. 

We already know a virus was able to wipe out an entire Sockeye salmon population. That virus gave fish a "Leukemia/AIDS" type of disease. The government, also part owner in salmon farm hatcheries, did nothing.  Court orders from it's own judicial system were ignored. 

Other fish raised in "farmed fish environments" such as koi fish, are spreading diseases such as "Koi Herpes Virus" causing worldwide outbreaks. No so much in Japan where traditional, sustainable koi fish farming techniques that support healthy eco systems has shown no sign of disease. 

Support Dr. Alex Morton's brave efforts to stand up for the rights of the salmon that depend on us to save them.  Will cost you zero dollars.  Just boycott farmed fish.

A native of Riverside, Nesbitt has been in the water practically since birth. She was a key member of the Riverside AQuettes from 1964 to 1972, and swam for Riverside Poly High School, winners of three league championships during her time there. She attended San Jose State in 1977, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation. She swam for the Santa Clara Aquamaids for five years, winning fourteen international titles and eighteen national titles with them during that time. She was a finalist for the 1977 Sullivan Award.

Nesbitt successfully coached the Canadian National Synchronized Swim Team for ten years. She also coached the Australian National Team in the 1984 Olympics. In 1991, she returned to Riverside as head coach of the AQuettes, her goal being to build a strong program in Riverside that would allow swimmers to stay close to home to achieve their goals. Nesbitt fostered a powerhouse program that has won two Junior National overall championships and sent four athletes, so far, to the Olympics. In 2004, two of her athletes (including her daughter Stephanie) were chosen to represent the United States in Olympic Synchronized Swimming competition. The team proudly took home a Bronze medal.

Nesbitt has recently retired from active coaching, but continues to teach and consult with clubs and swimmers across the country. Some of her many other awards and achievements include: two-time Developmental Coach of the Year in Nova Scotia, Canada; Coach of the Year in Canada; two Citizens Savings Hall of Fame Awards; and Women’s Sports Hall of Fame induction. Nesbitt still resides and mentors youth in Riverside. Nesbitt and her two daughters, Barbara and Stephanie, make up what Ohio State’s The Lantern referred to as “one of the sport’s rare family dynasties, one that is as important to synchro as the Mannings are to football.” Her goal over the years has been to produce good people and strong citizens, and she has gone above and beyond in achieving this goal.