Sun creams are a must for all of us in the summer. However, sunscreens that are not chosen correctly do more harm than good.
An American non-governmental organization that conducts environmental research entitled Environmental Working Group made alarming statements in the fourth edition of the ‘Sunscreen Handbook’ published annually. Scientists have tested 500 different sunscreens for the reliability and factors of the ingredients they contain. But why did most sunscreens fail?
According to a study conducted by the FDA, a type of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate can cause the progression of tumors and lesions in the skin when applied to the skin under sunlight (NTP 2009). This information is quite disturbing, considering that the sunscreen industry adds vitamin A to 1 out of every 4 products. Manufacturers add vitamin A to their products because of their anti-aging antioxidant properties. However, unlike home lotions and night creams, sunscreens are applied to the skin under sunlight. In an FDA study conducted on animals for one year, in cases where both groups were exposed to high intensity sunlight for only 9 minutes a day, tumors and lesions were observed in the skin of animals that received vitamin A cream in a shorter time than those not applied. It has been known for some time that vitamin A applied to the skin under sunlight causes excessive cell growth called hyperplasia on the skin and the formation of free radicals that damage DNA. Of course, all these findings increase the question marks on the preferred sunscreen since they are thought to protect against skin cancer. Although the results from the FDA study are not yet sufficient for a final verdict, the Environmental Protection Group currently recommends avoiding sunscreens containing vitamin A.
* (Vitamin A is specified on labels as retinyl palmitate or retinol