How to Choose a Healthy Sunscreen: Today, more people than ever before are aware of the importance of protecting their skin from the harmful UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun. Since both types of rays are capable of causing skin damage, including premature signs of aging and skin cancer, health conscious people are increasingly turning to sunscreens to shield themselves from these harmful rays. However, very few people are aware of the ingredients that are used in chemically-based products and their potential to irritate the skin or cause other adverse health effects. Fortunately, there are a number of organic skin care options that may provide better results without the risks associated with chemical sunscreens.
Products that are not labeled organic tend to contain numerous ingredients, such as parabens, octisalate, oxybenzone, and avobenzone, to preserve their shelf lives and improve their textures. These ingredients can be synthesized at low costs, and as a result, are used in the majority of the sun care products that are currently on the market. Since these ingredients are easily absorbed into the skin and the bloodstream, they have the potential to cause harm by disrupting a person's hormonal balance, damaging DNA, causing skin irritation and increasing the skin's sensitivity to the sun.
Many organic sun care products avoid using harmful chemicals in their formulations and use minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, instead. Both zinc oxide and titanium oxide are mineral formulations that have been proven to protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays, with zinc oxide providing more protection than titanium oxide.
