Summer…Naturally (updated)

Written by Amanda Levitt, ND

Beaches, pools, hikes, and excursions…summer is filled with many opportunities for fun family adventure.  What can we do as parents to make this summer safe as well as exciting for our children?  That is a question that parents in my practice frequently ask.  Here are the facts about sunscreen safety:

Chemical vs. Mineral sunscreens:

The most common ingredients in chemical sunscreens are oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, and avobenzone.  The most common, oxybenzone, has several potential risks associated with its use.  First of all, oxybenzone can trigger allergic reactions.  More worrisome, these chemicals are absorbed through the skin in relatively large amounts and are potential hormone disruptor by acting as an estrogen in the body.  That means that they interfere with the regulation of the reproductive, nervous, thyroid and immune systems, particularly if exposures occur during pregnancy or childhood. Some experts caution that children should not use these products, yet they are some of the most common ingredients in sunscreens geared towards children and babies.  Another surprising ingredient to avoid in sunscreen is Vitamin A listed as “retinyl palmitate” on the label. Although Vitamin A is an important fat-soluble vitamin to include in your diet, new research shows that tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with creams containing vitamin A.  It is found as an ingredient in 33% of sunscreens, so read labels carefully!

Products with Zinc and/or Titanium as the main ingredients are called Mineral sunscreens.  These safe alternatives to chemical sunscreens block harmful UV rays and reflect the rays away from the skin.  Unlike oxybenzone and other chemical sunscreens, zinc and titanium are not allergenic, are not absorbed through the skin, do not break down in sunlight, and most importantly, do not disrupt the body’s natural hormones.   Just be sure that your Zinc or Titanium product is not nano-nized.  This may sounds like something from Star Trek, but this new technique that avoids the white look associated with mineral sunscreens may pose significant health risks.  Nanonizing particles makes them absorbable through the skin, and make them inhalable, especially when they are used in a spray product.  The safest bet is to use non-nano forms of zinc and/or titanium as the main sunscreen ingredients, and apply in a non-spray cream or lotion base.

The protection of wearing hats and shirts should not be underestimated.  One study found that melanoma risk was cut by 52 percent for parts of the body usually covered by clothing during summer outdoor work.  Grab a cute hat and slide on a water t shirt for extra protection, especially for babies under 6 months.

As a mom of three wily kids, I know it is much easier to spritz a chemical sunscreen on your kids as they wiggle away.  I stop and think about how much surface area, and how often I would be applying potentially harmful chemicals onto my children and it gives me the strength and patience to have them hold still for a minute or two to apply a safer product that I feel good about.

Bottom line:

Choose: a mineral based non-nano sunscreen that contains Zinc and/or Titanium.  Creams or lotions are safer than sprays that may be inhaled.   Hats and shirts for added protection, seek shade especially during the peak hours of 12-2pm.  Remember to reapply is your child is sweating or swimming.

Avoid: oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate ), nano particles, and use of spray applicators.

Have a safe and fun summer!

in response to this blog post, a kidHaven reader asked, “I really appreciated the article about sunscreen. I have been questioning my use of sunscreen for my 4-year-old all summer! We’re outside so much, we use a LOT of sunscreen. Do you think the physician who wrote the article can recommend a specific brand of sunscreen? Or perhaps several brands if she doesn’t want to endorse a specific one?” ~R.W., parent

Here is what Dr. Levitt had to say:

“The best ingredients to look for on the label are non-nanonized zinc or titanium in a cream or lotion form.  Some brands that are commonly available are Badger, California Baby, Mexitan, Blue Lizard.  Just be sure to read ingredients, as most sunblocks geared towards children and babies have potentially harmful ingredients.

Here is a great link to the Environmental Working Groups website that rates many sunscreens:

http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/ 

You can also type in your brand and see how it ranks.  I bought a new sunscreen online this year for my three kids called: Mexitan sunscreen lotion spf 30.  It is a lotion, so spreads more easily than the thick creams (ie faster application on wiggly kids), contains 6% zinc and 6% titanium.  The only flagged ingredients are vitamin E and lecithin, which I am comfortable with in food or topically.  The mineral sunscreens do give a bit of a white sheen, so your child won’t look like a bronzed Adonis at the beach, but hey, they also won’t suffer the repercussions of being slathered daily with endocrine disrupting chemicals. Buying online may also be less expensive, the Mexitan product was 8 oz, and less expensive that the 4 oz California Baby.  Just be sure to read the ingredients carefully.  The front labels can be very misleading.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!”  ~Dr. Levitt

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Amanda M. Levitt, ND  has been practicing as a board certified naturopathic physician for over 10 years, applying her expertise in nutrition, herbal medicine, and other natural therapies to treat digestive problems, women’s health issues, pediatric conditions, and a wide range of general health concerns. Dr. Levitt is an owner and practicing physician at Whole Health Natural Family Medicine in Hamden, CT.  Dr. Levitt has three beautiful children and a wonderfully supportive husband.