Is Sunscreen Poison?

[TeamAllen]

My Mom & Dad just returned from a cruise to Alaska. They went to a health class while onboard. Somewhere in the discussion it came up that you should never use any sunscreen above 30spf, because it is poisonous to your body.

This was the first I've ever heard of this. I did a quick search on Google and found this one "Green" website that seems to share this viewpoint.

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/artic...or-poison.html

It doesn't mention anything about using above or below 30spf. The only thing I found about that was on a baby website.
http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-k...abies_12504.bc
"The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15, but you generally don't need to go above 30: Higher than that and you're getting smaller and smaller amounts of added protection — which, in a chemical sunscreen, means a higher dose of unwanted chemicals. It's fine to use a "children's" sunscreen, but don't go out of your way to buy one of these, since they're usually no different from the adult versions."

I obviously haven't done any extensive research and probably won't. I will ask a Dermatologist the next time I get a chance. I also usually think the "green living" ideas are extreme. I use 30 spf myself and plan on continuing to do so. I just thought I would get thoughts from the rest of the TO Family.

[Dan and Christy]

I heard that same thing back in my high school days. Maybe there is some validity.

[da.bell]

I have heard that anything above spf 30 isn't as effective as reapplying spf 30.

I am sure the amount of chemicals that are added to sun tan lotions aren't natural either.

We only live once, right?

[FacePlant]

Have heard the same thing, but I don't touch the stuff! BURN BABY BURN!!!

[skyski_tige]

BABY OIL ROCKS!!!!

[jwanck11]

We use 30 and sometimes 50.

being on the boat on the water can be a real burning experience!

[Jason B]

What doesn't kill you or give you cancer??? At least I kow if I put sunscreen on I don't get burned. If I get cancer how would I ever know to blame it on any ONE thing when it seems as though EVERYTHING is unhealthy?

Bring on th booze, cigarettes, and radiation!!!

[dogbert]

I was using 25-30 SPF. This year, I started putting 45 on my face. It actually prevents you from getting tan. Bull Frog is the nuts, especially their surfer gel. It goes on like Vasoline and doesn't come off without soap and water.

[rogersbm82]

there is a budlight real men of genius commercial about that. Mr. 80spf sunscreen wearer. lol

It probably is in someway toxic to your skin but if you had any idea of the toxins taking on just from drinking a coke would shock you. If it was that bad, they wouldn't sell it.

[Jason B]

... If it was that bad, they wouldn't sell it.

Oh contrere mon frere!! How many people died from Phen-Phen or remember when watches had glow-in -the-dark paint on the faces--turns out all the assembly staff died a slow, horribly painful death from radiation poisoning. Oops.

But you just keep thinking that way. Silly little goose.

[talltigeguy]

Where are all the dead people?

Cancer has and will probably always be the second leading cause of death (heart disease is first). So everyone loves to say 'my uncle was exposed to X (insert your favorite thing here, like sunscreen) all of his life and he died of cancer...must have been X that caused it.

I would stick with 30 SPF or better. Sun exposure has proven to cause skin cancer. Once they start carving away bigger and bigger chunks of your nose, it does not get pretty.

[TeamAllen]

Quite a spectrum of opinions so far.

I don't think the health guy on my parents cruise was saying don't wear sunscreen. He only said don't use anything over 30 spf. They got his email address, so I'll send him one to ask his reason and make sure I've got the story straight.


So far it seems to me that some of the chemicals used in sunscreen are bad. Worse in larger quantities. Using more than 30 spf raises the amount of chemicals, in sunscreen, required to make it last longer.

[Coach]

Here is a listing of over 600 sun screens and their ratings.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/bro...t=1&nothanks=1

I found a bunch of interesting items about the different chemicals used from many different sources. I am in the sun most of the day and for the last 5 years I have been practically bathing in sun block. Some things that have gotten worse since I started using more sun block are sense of smell is gone as my nose is constantly clogged, migraines (never had them when I was younger), eximia has flared up and been terrible. There can be other causes but I am going to give some of the less toxic sun screens a run for 6 weeks and see what the results are.

[dogbert]

Great info, coach

[TeamAllen]

Great info, coach

X2

The Coppertone Sport 30, I use has a high health hazard rating 7.