Summer is here! It is time to replenish the family sunscreen supply! Here are some tips to help you what to look for in a sunscreen:
Products & Ingredients to Avoid:
Oxybenzone
Vitamin A
Added insect repellent
Sprays
Powders
SPF above 50+
Products & Ingredients to Look for:
Zinc
Titanium Dioxide
Avobenzone or Mexoryl SX
Cream
Broad Spectrum
Protection
Water resistant for beach, pool, exercise
SPF 30+ for beach, pool
Before Applying Sunscreen:
The best defense against harmful UV radiation is protective clothes, shade and timing.
Don’t get burned. Sunburn raises skin cancer risk.
Wear clothes. Shirts, hats, shorts, and pants shield skin from sun’s UV rays. Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV radiation (a cause of cataracts).
Find Shade. Keep infants in the shade. They lack tanning pigments (melanin) to protect their skin.
Plan around the sun. UV radiation peaks at midday. Try and go out early in morning or late afternoon (sun is lower).
About Sunscreen:
Pick your sunscreen based on your own skin, planned time outside, shade, and cloud cover.
SPF. Anything higher than “SPF 50+” can be misleading. Stick to SPF 15 – 50+, reapply sunscreen often.
Vitamin A. Spreading vitamin A (or retinyl palmitate) on the skin may not be good for you. New data shows that tumors and lesions develop sooner on skin coated with vitamin A laced creams.
Ingredients. Avoid “oxybenzone”, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates skin and contaminates the body. Look for zinc, titanium, avobenzone or Mexoryl SX. These substances protect you from harmful UVA radiation and remain on the skin, with little, if any penetration. Skip sunscreens containing insect repellent. Buy bug spray separately and apply it first.
Avoid sprays and powders. They cloud the air with particles that may not be safe to breathe.
Choose creams instead, and reapply often. Sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun and rub off.
Do not depend on any sunscreen for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays!
Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about you and your family. Start now to reduce your exposure to UV radiation.
Maid Brigade welcomes all comments, tips, recipes and ideas! For more information on healthy green living, please go to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.
