It’s that time of year again for the Freedom Medi-Spa Annual Sunscreen Report.
If you are new to Freedom Medi-Spa, you will quickly learn we advocate for daily SPF use, regardless of the season or the weather. If you are a long-time Freedom fan, we appreciate you refreshing your sun and sunscreen knowledge to better protect your skin.
Remember: any single bad sunburn can increase your chances of developing melanoma by approximately 50%. That’s a pretty scary number. So, it’s imperative to remember just how important sun avoidance and sun protection is.
Read as much or as little of this report as you wish. We have tried our best to make it as simple as possible. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always contact us.
As you know, we recommend daily sunscreen on your face and neck -- no matter the weather, rain or shine, indoors or out! Our AlumierMD 40 SPF sunscreens are mineral-based and also protect against Ultraviolet-C Radiation, which comes from blue light from our screens.
Wearing a daily SPF will help keep our skin cells protected and our collagen intact.
But with summer here, let's talk beach visits, sitting poolside, hanging out at the cottage or simply going for a walk on a beautiful day.
What do we use all over our bodies?
How do we protect ourselves and our kids from over exposure of UV rays?
There are a few things we can do:
· Try to avoid peak exposure hours of 12-4pm when possible,
· Wear SPF protection clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and protective sunglasses at all times,
· Look for the shade or bring an umbrella with you to a beach or picnic,
· And of course, wear and re-apply sunscreen every 2 hours.
And now for the sunscreens – which one to use?
Well, as we’ve said before, no two sunscreens are alike, and some sunscreens contain potentially harmful ingredients. The good news is, over the years, some sunscreen manufacturers have changed their formulas, and new brands are on the market.
All that said, it’s important to READ THE LABELS.
Our Stop, Caution and Go System will help you make the safest choice in the sunscreen aisle.
The SAFEST sunscreens to use are ones that contain mineral ingredients. These ingredients are not absorbed into the skin. This sunscreen is often called “Mineral” or “Physical”.
Look for the Active ingredients section. If you see Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide and/or Mexoryl, you are good to GO!
We understand that sometimes, the texture or experience of a mineral-based body sunscreen isn’t desirable. We have heard from our clients and tried many ourselves – some sunscreens will leave a white cast, go on thick or sticky – and we don’t all love that.
So, what do you do then?
There are a variety of sunscreens on the market that, while they contain some Active Chemical Ingredients, pose low or medium risk – and the benefit of wearing it outweighs the danger.
We suggest you use caution with these sunscreens as the ingredients pose a moderate risk. They may cause hormone disruption. I will also be putting sprays and powders into this category as you do need to be cautious during application.
These ingredients include:
· Homosalate: ideally should be no more than 5%. If it’s more than 10%, avoid it altogether.
· Octisalate: may cause allergic reactions and contact dermatitis, also a possible hormone disruptor.
· Octocrylene: high rate of skin allergies, new findings show this ingredient is easily contaminated with Benzophenone, a known carcinogen. It has been deemed safe in amounts under 10%.
· Avobenzone: low to moderate risk of endocrine disruption as well as testosterone.
All sprays or powders: Due to the inhalation risk, we recommend holding your breath while spraying or applying. Do your best to avoid inhalation. Don’t forget to spread! To ensure even coverage, you still need to spread with your hands, otherwise, you’ll be sure to miss a spot or two.
If you see the following ingredients, OXYBENZONE or OCTINOXATE -- STOP. These active ingredients are known to cause hormone disruption and could be carcinogenic. They get an absolute red light from us. If you have sunscreen at home with these ingredients, toss!
We hope you find these reports informative and helpful. Thank you to Environmental Working Group and Cancer.org for help with our research.
Stay tuned for our sunscreen comparisons – coming soon!
