3 Reasons You Need to Switch to Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral Sunscreen is Less Likely to Irritate Sensitive Skin
Mineral sunscreens are generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin because they aren’t absorbed into the skin like chemical sunscreens are. Instead, mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin and act as a screen that deflects UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, can cause photo-allergic contact dermatitis because their ingredients penetrate the surface of the skin.
Zinc oxide is both antimicrobial and non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging), sunscreens that contain it are a good choice for people with redness and rosacea due to extremely sensitive skin. And the antimicrobial properties of zinc can aid in healing burns and other skin damage that results from sunburn.
Mineral Sunscreen Provides Protection Against the Full Spectrum of Ultraviolet Radiation
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide protect against UVA and UVB rays because they form a physical barrier when on the skin. UVA, is the wavelength that penetrates clouds and glass and causes significant photo-aging in the form of wrinkles and sun spots. Mineral sunscreens also start protecting your skin immediately after application, whereas chemical sunscreens take 20 to 30 minutes to fully absorb and begin to work.
Chemical Sunscreens Can Disrupt Your Hormones
Studies show that chemical ingredients in sunscreens can increase the risk of endometriosis in women, decrease sperm concentration in men, and lower testosterone levels in adolescent males.
Despite the fact that these compounds have all been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), research shows potential risks for several of them, including:
- Octinoxate
- Oxybenzone
- Octocrylene
- Padimate O
Before these chemicals can offer any UV protection, your skin has to absorb them. Trace amounts of the chemicals found in chemical sunscreens can trickle into your bloodstream. Once in your bloodstream, they can filter into other bodily fluids, such as breastmilk. A study published by a team of scientists at the University of Zurich found trace amounts of at least one sunscreen chemical in the breast milk of 76.5 percent of the women they tested. Three other FDA-approved sunscreen chemicals—oxybenzone, octocrylene, and padimate O—were also found in significant amounts. This raises serious questions about how safe these hormone-disrupting chemicals are for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
If research found that these chemical compounds might negatively affect your health, why did the FDA approve them? The short explanation is that the FDA approved these chemicals when they first began regulating sunscreen in the late 1970s. At that time, most of these chemicals had already been used in sunscreens for years. Because of that, they were essentially grandfathered in.
Those are my top 3 reasons why mineral sunscreens are so much better for you than chemical ones; but there are many more reasons why you should switch to a natural sunscreen!