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How to choose the right sunscreen for you

Caroline Del Col

Just like drinking water, wearing sunscreen is critical to your health. UV exposure is the number 1 cause of skin cancer and it can also cause wrinkles, freckles, sun spots and, of course, the dreaded sunburn. So it's no surprise that store shelves are crowded with tons of different sunscreen options. There are lotions, sprays, gels, sticks, even powders — and then there's the question of ingredients. Which ones are best for you and your family?

When it comes to active ingredients in sunscreen, there are two main types: mineral and chemical. Both protect you from the sun's UV rays, but they do so in different ways. Mineral sunscreens, which are also called physical blockers, contain ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These mineral sunscreens literally shield the skin from UV rays like a parasol, creating a layer between your skin and UV rays. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, contain chemicals such as avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, and octisalate. These chemicals absorb UV rays and actually change them from light to heat before they hit your skin so it prevents the rays from causing damage. Essentially, they absorb and change light into heat, which doesn't cause damage.

Here at Merryfield, we only recommend mineral sunscreens since many chemical sunscreens are environmentally harmful and could possibly have negative health impacts. Most chemical sunscreens are being reevaluated by FDA, which said in 2019 that additional research was needed to determine if they are safe. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that using sunscreen for just one day — applying about 1 ounce every 2 hours when in the sun — significantly increased the amount of four chemical sunscreen ingredients (avobenzone, ecamsule, octocrylene, and oxybenzone) in the bloodstream to levels the FDA says triggers the need for more testing, potentially raising concerns.

Research published in the journal Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine has demonstrated that mineral sunscreens may also alter UV rays as well as block them. Another benefit of mineral sunscreens? They tend to be gentler on skin because they don't contain chemicals that tend to irritate people with sensitive skin. Even the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that sensitive skin types stick to mineral sunscreens.

So if we're sticking to mineral sunscreens, how do you choose? The key is to find a sunscreen that you like and you will wear every day, whether that's a lotion, a spray or a stick. Other things to look for:

  • SPF 30 or higher: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you select a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) rating of 30 or higher. A SPF of 30 means that the sunscreen is giving you 30 times the protection that's naturally in your skin and it will take 30 times as much sun exposure for you to develop a sunburn. But be wary of sunscreens that promise an SPF of 100. In 2019, the FDA proposed that brands limit SPF values to 60 and require increased UVA protection, however no legislation has been passed.
  • Broad spectrum: This means that the sunscreen protects you from both types of harmful UV rays —UVA and UVB.
  • Water resistant: Choose a sunscreen that will endure on wet or sweaty skin for a while before you need to reapply. Water resistance usually lasts 40 or 80 minutes before you need to reapply.

At Merryfield, we're fans of ThinkSport and ThinkBaby, both of which offer mineral-based, broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreens at SPF 30+ or 50+ and all of their products come in environmentally-friendly, BPA-free packaging.

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