Soak up the Sun…Safely! (Especially for those TTC or who are worried about hormone balance)

It’s Canada Day Long Weekend and a perfect time for some outdoor fun with family & friends.

If you’re like most of us here in Toronto, we’ve been stuck indoors for way. Too. Long. So as the sun starts to shine & the temperatures start to rise (YEEESSSS!), of course, we want to soak it all up. And like the health-conscious, sun-smart folks I know you all are, this probably means you’re in the market for some new sunscreen & I’m here to help you find a safer sunscreen for you & the whole family.

Friendly Tip: Bookmark this page for easy reference when sunscreen shopping & don’t forget to share it with those who fall into these categories below.

I know what you’re thinking: Do I really need a safer sunscreen?

It’s an individual decision, but it’s something that’s worth considering for everyone, and especially if you fit into one of the following categories (but as always, talk to your health professional for recommendations that are right for you & your family):

• You are currently TTC (trying to conceive) – that goes for women AND men (eggs & sperm BOTH need protection!)
• You are planning to have a baby in the next year –  YUP, still goes for women & men too!
• You are currently pregnant or breastfeeding – & congratulations by the way!
• You suffer from irregular periods (i.e. too frequent, too long, too heavy, or too painful periods)
• You suffer from perimenopausal/menopausal concerns: hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, irregular periods (see above)
• You have or suspect you have a thyroid condition (e.g. hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
• You are a child (ok, so a child wouldn’t be reading this, obviously, so for those of you with little people, this is for your babies & children!)
• You have allergies (hayfever, environmental, food) or skin conditions (e.g. eczema, sensitive skin)
• You have an autoimmune condition (e.g. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)

So basically: everyone who has any hormone or allergy/immune system concern can likely benefit from a safer sunscreen.  

Why do I feel so strongly about this?

Because when the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested hundreds of sunscreens available on the shelves this year, 60% of them had a chemical in it that is both allergenic (which means it can also disrupt the immune system) and has the potential to disrupt the endocrine system (which means it can mess up your hormones). If you want to know what that chemical is, scroll down now to “The #1 Chemical to Avoid In Your Sunscreen”…

How Do I know if my Sunscreen is Safe?

You’re in luck! I’ve summarized the EWG’s 2022 Sunscreen Guide below to save you time shopping and the EWG also provides a list of the best recreational sunscreens here & the best baby and kid’s sunscreens here.

GOOD NEWS: a lot of them are available at your favourite health & wellness stores and many drug store brands made the list too this year. While you’re on the EWG site, try searching their database to see how your current sunscreen ranks. I recommend aiming for an EWG rating of 0-2 as much as possible, to help minimize your risk of chemical exposure.

MY #1 TIP TO PICKING A SAFE & EFFECTIVE SUNSCREEN:

Choose a mineral-based sunscreen. This means the active ingredient provides a physical, not chemical sunscreen. The only 2 ingredients you want to see under the “active or medicinal ingredients” on the label are those that have generally recognized as safe & effective (GRASE) status by the FDA:

1. Titanium dioxide
2. Zinc oxide

THE #1 CHEMICAL TO AVOID IN YOUR SUNSCREEN: OXYBENZONE (& 11+ others to avoid!)

• OXYBENZONE – Why we want to avoid it:
  • It’s allergenic – meaning it can provoke allergies, so this is bad news for anyone with hayfever, asthma, asthma, or other environmental or food allergies. It’s also not great for people with inflammatory conditions including autoimmune conditions.
  • It’s a potential endocrine disruptor (meaning it can disrupt hormones)
  • It can be transferred through human breast milk, amniotic fluid, blood & urine. We always think about safer skin products for babies, but it’s definitely important to think about it during breastfeeding and pregnancy too (and pre-conception for that matter!)
  • It’s absorbed through the skin in large amounts
    • This makes children more vulnerable because they have higher risk for the chemical to build up in their bodies (known as bioaccumulation)
    • This also means it can lead to systemic toxicity – i.e. it can spread and have effects in the whole body, not just at the skin surface

The other chemicals to avoid because they need further testing & don’t have GRASE status are (in alphabetical, not in order of threat) so may have unknown effects on the body are:

• Avobenzone
• Cinoxate
• Dioxybenzone
• Ensulizole
• Homosalate
• Meradimate
• Octinoxate
• Octisalate
• Octocrylene
• Padimate o
• Sulisobenzone

2 MORE INGREDIENTS TO AVOID!

AVOID products with these chemicals that the FDA have researched and stated are unsafe for use:

• PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid)
• Trolamine salicylate

My Top 5 Tips to Picking a Sunscreen

1. Choose mineral-based sunscreens: titanium oxide & zinc oxide
2. Avoid oxybenzone & the other 13 ingredients listed above
3. Avoid claims of SPF greater than 50+ – they offer little advantages in protection AND fool you into thinking you don’t have to reapply – SPOILER ALERT: you still do!
4. Avoid sprays/powdered sunscreens – sprays may not provide adequate coverage AND you run the risk of inhalation
5. Avoid sunscreen & bug repellent combinations – can over apply bug repellent and/or underapply sunscreen depending on your use. Get products specifically for sunscreen & bug repellent separately and apply both as needed.
6. BONUS TIP: Avoid parabens & phthalates if you answered YES to any of the categories above

A Final Sun Safety Thought…

Remember, safe & effective sunscreen is your FINAL STEP in sun safety!

• Always check the UV Index to limit exposure during peak sun hours.

• Be smart about how long you spend directly in the sun

• Cover up as much as possible. This is the time for ALL the summer accessories: a cute straw hat or a Raptors Championship cap (YESSSS!), chic or sporty sunglasses & a cute beach umbrella or pink parasol (where are my Sound of Music lovers?!) are all MORE important than sunscreen alone!

Happy Summer All!

Dr. Odette 🙂

P.S. If you want to know what I’m using for sunscreen protection, follow my Instagram feed & stories this week where I’ll be doing a mini-review of some old vs. new products to see which ones I like best!

References:

https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/executive-summary/

https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/

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