75% of sunscreens either do not provide proper protection or contain dangerous chemicals –

A new report shows that most sunscreens available in the United States do not meet skin protection or environmental safety standards.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington DC-based nonprofit focused on environmental issues, released its annual “Sunscreen Guide” last week and found that about 75% of products available in the United States do not meet standards.

The most worrying problem found by researchers is that most sunscreens do not protect well against skin aging or even melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

Some also pollute local waters with hazardous chemicals when depleted, contaminate drinking water supplies and damage important ecosystems such as coral.

Carla Burns, senior director of cosmetic science at EWG, explained to DailyMail.com that many of these products can protect against sunburn, but still cause long-term damage.

The SPF or sun protection factor value in any product measures the product’s ability to prevent burns.

“What sunscreen actually measures to protect you from sunburn is sunburn, but what you don’t see is this correlation with skin aging, skin cancer, and a host of other sun issues. It’s harmful to health,” Burns says. .

EWG’s Carla Burns (pictured) said products that use zinc oxide as an active ingredient are best for personal and environmental protection.

“You can protect yourself from burns and scalds, but this is not a guarantee that the product will protect you from other sun problems.”

Burns says the reason for these product failures is because of the way sunscreens were developed in America – first and foremost, burn protection.

‘Endures’ [the] heritage and how sunscreen was born in the United States,” she explained.

“They came to the market to provide this sunscreen.”

While many manufacturers have further tailored their products to protect against skin aging and cancer, there are no specific federal requirements to do so.

Increased sun exposure can cause skin aging in a process called photoaging. This can increase the amount of wrinkles on the skin and cause other damage that not only deteriorates the health of the skin, but also looks aesthetically pleasing.

“I see a lot of patients who are very sun-damaged,” said Dr. Kathleen Suozzi, a dermatologist at Yale University, said in a statement about the hearing.

“They feel their skin is aging them, they look older than some of their peers, and they regret not being better with sunscreen in their youth.”

The EWG states that products containing the active ingredient zinc oxide are best for protecting the skin and the environment.

Titanium dioxide, another active ingredient in many sunscreens, is also a safe and effective way to protect the skin, according to EWG.

In addition to using sunscreen, the EWG also says people should monitor their sun exposure and even wear hats to protect their skin from aging and other harmful effects like cancer.

Burns also said that products with an SPF of 15 to 50 are optimal as they provide adequate protection against burns, but higher numbers can have the opposite effect, making one think they are safe for exposure. long-term skin.

The chemical does not specifically recommend products containing the active ingredient oxybenzone, as it can harm the local environment. It also causes damage when interacting with corals.

It has become such a concern in recent years that some areas, including the state of Hawaii and Key West Florida, home to a large coral population, have banned the sale of sunscreen products that use the chemical.

There are also federal limits on the prevalence of the ingredient that can be used in a sunscreen container to limit its environmental impact.

However, it can be difficult for the average consumer to identify recommended products. There is also a misleading, almost worthless brand statement on the front of the package that can mislead shoppers.

“Unfortunately, the burden is on the consumer,” Burns said.

“We recommend that you do not rely solely on marketing claims. Many terms such as “non-toxic” are used in the United States. [and] There is no “natural” and legally standardized regulatory definition.

“So one company’s interpretation of what something like ‘natural’ means can be very different from another company’s, so we really encourage consumers to turn the pack over and really understand what ingredients are used.’

CeraVe Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen (left) and Paula’s Choice Youth-Prolonging Daily Moisturizer (middle) meet Burns’ standards. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In sunscreen (right) contains oxybenzone and therefore does not meet recommended standards

Although DailyMail.com has identified two products that follow its guidelines, Burns did not specify any specific products.

Paula’s Choice Youth Prolonging Daily Moisturizer is available in SPF 50 and contains titanium dioxide as the active ingredient.

CeraVe Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen is also available in SPF 30 and 50 and contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as active ingredients.

A product such as La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In sunscreen is not recommended as it contains oxybenzone.