PORTIMOM Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Sunscreen is so very important. We are outdoors more, and in the strong Mexican sun. Yet use an inferior product, and you may be exposed to toxic ingredients (see link below) and the protection to suns rays may be sadly lacking. http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/ Not many of us realize (I surely didn't years back) how chemicals in sunscreens can present hazards. Many of also assume that a sunscreen will block rays effectively. Not so. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has all the information you will require, to make an educated choice in sunscreen protection. Do take a moment and read which chemicals can disrupt your hormonal balance, including the thyroid systems. Today I located a paraben free sunscreen, which has the European ingredients below (and available in canada as of 2013. That is still very new to the market, that not many may be aware of it. Canada has admitted Mexoryl SX to its market and recently approved a successor chemical, Mexoryl XL. Here is the EWG link: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/does-europe-have-better-sunscreens/ Should you experience difficulty locating a product which contains the more adequate protection found in Europe/minus the parabens, simply message me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayBearII Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Thank you for this post. My sunscreen of the moment, which I use on my shoulders and arms during outdoor water exercise class, has approx. 30 ingredients. NOT either the first or second one listed in your reference. But I am not pleased to be using something with 30 ingredients, none of which (besides water and glycol) is anything I recognize. I remember bringing home this current sunscreen and having a sinking depressed feeling while reading the ingredients, but what does one do? Fortunately I am past the reproductive stage, so there's that. But I wish to avoid melanoma, and sunburn, and I am very light-skinned, so I make myself use sunscreen on my shoulders before I go in the pool. (And I wear a hat!) If you have a sunscreen to recommend, I would certainly enjoy learning about it. I am not planning a trip to Europe soon, but I am going to the US, and I can order online, if there is something good I could be using. And I could be more strict about showering off as soon as I get home, if that would help. In the meantime, just having returned from water exercise, I will go shower off! This is all making me itchy!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Not being fair-skinned, I use none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORTIMOM Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 The list is on this link http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/ The two mentioned in my post (Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL) are considered safe. All you can do is be aware of which ingredients are to stay clear of, and which are safer. Also avoid parabens. I am seeing if the place I found here, can order Vichy with Mexoryl XL for me. I will let you know if they can. They have other Vichy products, and in Mexico you can get European items... Nice perk eh? Where as the US often cannot get those products due to the FDA having to approve, and that takes some time. I will update you... Should know by next week if they are able to get the sunscreen I specified! Thank you for this post. My sunscreen of the moment, which I use on my shoulders and arms during outdoor water exercise class, has approx. 30 ingredients. NOT either the first or second one listed in your reference. But I am not pleased to be using something with 30 ingredients, none of which (besides water and glycol) is anything I recognize. I remember bringing home this current sunscreen and having a sinking depressed feeling while reading the ingredients, but what does one do? Fortunately I am past the reproductive stage, so there's that. But I wish to avoid melanoma, and sunburn, and I am very light-skinned, so I make myself use sunscreen on my shoulders before I go in the pool. (And I wear a hat!) If you have a sunscreen to recommend, I would certainly enjoy learning about it. I am not planning a trip to Europe soon, but I am going to the US, and I can order online, if there is something good I could be using. And I could be more strict about showering off as soon as I get home, if that would help. In the meantime, just having returned from water exercise, I will go shower off! This is all making me itchy!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzanjo Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 50+protection. "Very high UVA protection. For Sensitive skin. Dermatologist tested. Allergy tested. This and many more good choices available at Dirmika store by Marissas Bakery, by the old casino site, across from Bougi Plaza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORTIMOM Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Correct... They do have many which are at the Dermika store... But none with the ingredient Mexoryl XL The EWG link in my prior post states why that is better. I did go to Dermika. They have a great selection of skin care products. When I mentioned that (Mexoryl XL) European ingredient which is superior, the Dermika Doctor was kind enough to come over to the store. She thought they had one with that ingredient. After reviewing, she instructed the sales clerk to order the one that does have that. Now I just have to wait to see if it does come in! PS: I've ordered a product from Dermika, that has the Mexoryl XL. I don't relish the thought of something I slather on to protect me, doing harm in areas of disrupting my hormonal balance. I've learned a lot about that topic, in Dr. John Lee's research. Three of the most harmful items found in sunscreens are: Oxbenzone: Acts like estrogen in the body; alters sperm production in animals; associated with endometriosis in women. Octinoxate: Hormone-like activity; reproductive system, thyroid and behavioral alterations in animal studies Homosalate Disrupts estrogen, androgen and progesterone 50+protection. "Very high UVA protection. For Sensitive skin. Dermatologist tested. Allergy tested.This and many more good choices available at Dirmika store by Marissas Bakery, by the old casino site, across from Bougi Plaza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Australia still caps sunscreen at 30, because they feel that science shows anything higher is misleading and expensive. Many countries cap it at 50... thanks in great part to lobbying from the industry, with fuzzy scientific studies and lots of money. My stepfather was one of the first to introduce "sunblock" to North America in the 1970's; I was one of the first people ever to use it, on a trip to Barbados. He told me at the time that their own labs believed anything over 25 was pointless... and risky, because of potential skin irritation. If you put on a 15 or 20, properly, you won't get any sun damage at all. And you will save yourself some money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORTIMOM Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I didn't cover the 30 vs 50 (or any other) here in this post. That's yet another topic all together than what I covered here. Yes, you are correct in stating higher SPF is not necessarily better. Much misleads the consumer into thinking they are safe. To slap a 50 or higher SPF on a product, gives a false sense of safety. There are many ways to mislead, and sunscreens which lack the better ingredients like Mexoryl XL, do mislead the consumer into thinking they are safe. SPF is not AS important as knowing how to use and the limits of a product. It's important is to apply liberally, as most people put on only about a quarter as much as require to achieve the products SPF rating. If you expect one application to last beyond a few hours, you might be surprised at how unprotected we are left. Or if we put an inferior product, then you think you are protected. You may indeed not burn. However, you may still expose yourself to skin damage and skin cancer later. Topic I broached here in this post is not the level of SPF, but rather the quality and potential toxicity of ingredients, and what to avoid / look for when choosing a sunscreen. Australia still caps sunscreen at 30, because they feel that science shows anything higher is misleading and expensive. Many countries cap it at 50... thanks in great part to lobbying from the industry, with fuzzy scientific studies and lots of money. My stepfather was one of the first to introduce "sunblock" to North America in the 1970's; I was one of the first people ever to use it, on a trip to Barbados. He told me at the time that their own labs believed anything over 25 was pointless... and risky, because of potential skin irritation. If you put on a 15 or 20, properly, you won't get any sun damage at all. And you will save yourself some money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La-de-di Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I have been using zinc (Penaten baby cream) on my nose when playing tennis (yes, I look ridiculous) and have tried to find the zinc sticks we used to have - they came in all colours, like a box of crayons, and were fun and easy to apply - war paint, kind of. I asked everywhere I could think of when I was in Canada last time but couldn't find any ... wondering if they are still being made or might be available elsewhere ... anyone remember them or seen them recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside7 Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Sunscreen is so very important. We are outdoors more, and in the strong Mexican sun. Yet use an inferior product, and you may be exposed to toxic ingredients (see link below) and the protection to suns rays may be sadly lacking. http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/ Not many of us realize (I surely didn't years back) how chemicals in sunscreens can present hazards. Many of also assume that a sunscreen will block rays effectively. Not so. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has all the information you will require, to make an educated choice in sunscreen protection. Do take a moment and read which chemicals can disrupt your hormonal balance, including the thyroid systems. Today I located a paraben free sunscreen, which has the European ingredients below (and available in canada as of 2013. That is still very new to the market, that not many may be aware of it. Canada has admitted Mexoryl SX to its market and recently approved a successor chemical, Mexoryl XL. Here is the EWG link: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/does-europe-have-better-sunscreens/ Should you experience difficulty locating a product which contains the more adequate protection found in Europe/minus the parabens, simply message me. Sounds like the Avon Lady Calling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORTIMOM Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Sounds like the Avon Lady Calling Ah I don't think so... If I am hearing you correctly... I am loving my retirement! Simply trying to give back, rather than *just* take. I've gotten great info from others.... (prescription sunglasses, sups for eyes) and wanted to give back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowyco Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 The list is on this link http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/ The two mentioned in my post (Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL) are considered safe. Mexoryl has some good qualities, but it also has some serious drawbacks. The UVB range of sunlight from 280 to 320 nanometers is the range of sunlight radiation that causes skin cancer. Mexoryl has it's main absorption peak at 345 nm - outside the range of cancer protection - which means Mexoryl keeps us from getting a sunburn, but it allows significant cancer causing rays to damage our DNA , leading to nasty melanoma skin cancers. Mexoryl XL has a smaller UV absorption peak at 303 nm, but because it does not absorb enough UVB cancer causing rays (esp down at 280-290 nm), Mexoryl XL and other Mexoryl products must be paired with a good UVB absorber like titanium oxide or stabilized avobenzone to actually reduce skin cancer risks. If our goal is to stop sunburn, then Mexoryl products work fine. If our goal is to prevent skin cancer or reduce skin cancer risks, then Mexoryl products alone do not protect us very well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drometrizole_trisiloxane Mexoryl XL Since Mexoryl products have been around since 1993, their properties have been well studied and are well known - as sunburn blockers - not so good for cancer reduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowyco Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Note how small the Mexoryl XL UVB absorption peak is (on the left at 304 nm) meaning low ability to block UVB cancer-causing rays versus Meroyl SX's very strong sun-burn blocking UVA 355 nm peak in the center.. The small Mexoryl XL peak for blocking cancer causing rays is only 45% as effective as the large Mexoryl SX sunburn blocker. As the title indicates "WHY JUST NOT ANY (SUNSCREEN) WILL DO ! Conclusion: If we choose Mexoryl products, be sure that our sunscreen also has titanium dioxide or stabilized avobenzene too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Listened to a dermatologist interview on CBC radio years ago- he said anything above 15 Sunscreen is unnecessary and just a marketing ploy, as the number protection level is exponential- i.e. 4 might be twice as protective as 2, but 30 is not twice as protective as 15, the difference is miniscule. The protection level between the numbers decrease significantly as they rise. A friend's sons were on her case about quitting smoking- they were both surfers and she asked them to read out the list of ingredients that were in the sunscreen they smeared all over themselves constantly, then asked them if they knew what any of those chemicals were, which of course they didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORTIMOM Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Thanks for this info... Very good. Great points on the other ingredients. Trick is finding one that has the desired ones, without the undesirables. I think I may have found one, but let's see what the actual label states when they phone me! Note how small the Mexoryl XL UVB absorption peak is (on the left at 304 nm) meaning low ability to block UVB cancer-causing rays versus Meroyl SX's very strong sun-burn blocking UVA 355 nm peak in the center.. The small Mexoryl XL peak for blocking cancer causing rays is only 45% as effective as the large Mexoryl SX sunburn blocker. As the title indicates "WHY JUST NOT ANY (SUNSCREEN) WILL DO ! Conclusion: If we choose Mexoryl products, be sure that our sunscreen also has titanium dioxide or stabilized avobenzene too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORTIMOM Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 The sunscreen I found contains: (Let's see if there are any changes to ingredients when it arrives in stock) Octocrylene (not too happy about that ingredient, but better than others) Titanium Dioxide Avobenzone Drometrizole trisiloxane (mexoryl XL) Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulofonic Acid (Mexoryl SX) (No Parabens) If anyone researching this finds better, I'd appreciate that info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.