As summer is approaching, it is important to keep your skin healthy and moisturized. On those sunny summer days, it is important to wear sunscreen and to put it in your children before going outdoors. Sunscreen protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun that can cause an array of problems with the skin. It is important to purchase the correct kind of sunscreen depending on if you are an adult, or a child. Although sunscreen is made to protect the skin, some brands contain harmful ingredients that can actually be bad for your skin.
Most sunscreens are great for preventing sunburns and will decrease the chance of the skin turning red or becoming irritated from the heat of the sun. Some sunscreens can actually cause negative effects. Some of these negative effects are but not limited to dryness of the skin, allergic dermatitis, irritant dermatitis, acne, cancer, skin aging and photo sensitivity. With some brands of sunscreen, even there mere inhalation of the product can cause problems with your body. It is important to find the right sunscreen for you and that these symptoms do not occur with your brand.
Ingredients in sunscreens such as alcohol and isopropyl can really dry up the skin. These ingredients also promote brown spots and the premature aging of the skin.
Allergic Dermatitis
Ingredients such as parabens, methylisothiazolinone, methylcloroisothiazolinone, bronopol, propylene/butylene glycol, quaternium and steraralkonium sometimes cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Photosensitivity
Some sunscreens contain ingredients that cause photosensitivity. This may be a strong skin reaction that resembles a sunburn after exposure to the sun. An ingredient called PABA is known to do this but that ingredient is rarely found in sunscreens today.
Acne
Especially for individuals who are acne-prone, many sunscreen that are applied to the skin can cause a break out of acne. Mineral oil is one of those ingredients that clogs pores, thus causing acne. Other ingredients are liquidum paraffinum, paraffin oil, paraffin wax and petrolatum. If you are prone to getting acne, you should avoid these ingredients in your sunscreen.
Skin Aging
Not only can the sun itself age your skin, but some ingredients in your sunscreen can also have that aging effect. One of these aging ingredients is mineral oil.
Cancer
Some ingredients in sunscreen have been linked to cause cancer. TEA, DEA, MEA can cause liver and kidney cancer. It can also be corrosive to eyes and cause allergic reactions. Formaldehyde can be irritating to the eyes and throat and cause allergic reactions. Diazolidinyl and imidazolidinyl urea is carcinogenic. FD&C; color pigments are carcinogenic and can cause skin sensitivity. Nitrosating agents, lanolin, mineral oil and talc are also known ingredients that can cause cancer.
Fragrances and proplene/butylene glycol have also been known to irritate the skin in some individuals. Also symptoms from these ingredients can cause headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin coloration, violent coughing, skin irritation and sometimes vomiting. No sunscreen is 100% safe or effective but you can usually find one that works well with your skin and protects. Avoiding the above ingredients are the best alternative to have healthy skin. Choosing an appropriate sunscreen for you and your family is the best choice to avoiding harmful complications.
