![]() “It’s the dose that makes the poison, so if you had 6,000 people go into with nanosized zinc oxide, yes, I think there would be an impact,” he says. The impact is still being studied and may not be as extreme in some cases as chemical sunscreens, but is still something scientists like Downs are concerned about. “Nanoparticles still pose an increased toxicological risk because, just like in humans, they can be absorbed into the blood stream ,” says Downs. “There are potentially harmful effects as they seep into the skin,” which can be bad news for humans as well as marine life. As manufacturers began to micronize particles smaller and smaller, “they went too far,” says Robinson. ![]() “They tend to accumulate god knows where,” says Dr. These days, however, formulations of mineral sunscreens are getting better and grind the minerals down to a microscopic size called nanoparticles to ensure they disappear on skin quicker and more easily without leaving a film or chalky look.īut nanoparticles aren’t perfect, even those of natural substances like zinc or titanium dioxide. That’s why chemical sunscreens were developed-they sink into skin easier and don’t usually leave a white, chalky cast. “They do a better job of protecting us, but the biggest issue is that people don’t always like them because they leave a barrier,” he says. These physical blockers actually sit on top of skin, which is why dermatologists like Dr. The easiest way to think about it is to picture the old-school lifeguards or surfers with pure white zinc on their noses. Physical sunscreens also tend to be natural, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, whereas chemical sunscreens are synthetic. “In the simplest terms, mineral sunscreens deflect UV rays and chemical sunscreens actually absorb them and use heat to break them apart,” says dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD. We’d be willing to bet you’ll find one you like so much, you won’t even miss your old chemical screen. Ahead, check out the 12 best reef-safe sunscreens. But what exactly does that mean and should you make the switch? It’s complicated. (Though it should be noted that the FDA is more concerned with these chemicals’ effects on humans, rather than the environment).Īs a result, you’ve probably noticed more sunscreens promoting themselves as "reef safe". Key West followed in 2019 and around the same time the Food and Drug Administration proposed a new rule to regulate common chemicals found in sunscreens, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, pending updated testing. Their subsequent study found that there was over 14,000 tons of sunscreen in our oceans, which they have now been able to directly link to irreversible damage to coral and other marine life.īest Sunscreens | Best Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin | Best Mineral Sunscreens | Best Zinc Oxide Sunscreens | Best Face Sunscreensįollowing the growing amount of evidence that what sunscreens we put on our bodies can have a devastating effect on the environment around us, Hawaii became the first state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate in 2018, two known endocrine disrupting chemical ingredients that have been shown to drastically affect ocean life. After ruling out the usual suspects like “sewage, fuel, pesticides, and road runoff,” says Downs, they realized that there were high concentrations of chemicals found in sunscreens in the water of the highly popular tourist beaches. Craig Downs, PhD, Executive Director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, was tasked by the Federal Government to figure out why coral reefs in the U.S. In 2015, a group of scientists including Dr. ![]() But as you slather yourself in SPF (and reapply every two hours as directed, right?), you may not have thought about how what you choose to protect your body from the sun could also have a role in protecting, or deteriorating, the environment around you. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, wearing sunscreen is the best protection you can get against sun damage that can lead to skin cancer. YOU PROBABLY know by now that you need to be wearing sunscreen your mother told you, your doctor has told you, hell, even we at Men’s Health have told you (many times).
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