SPF yeah or nay?

[mzbees]

My ND recently told me to avoid mainstream sunscreens. :icon_scratch: I'm researching the issue, and wanted to know if anyone has any pro vs. con information readily available?

So far, I have read most sunscreens do not block UVA, therefore they are not as effective as advertised. Also, the most well known sunscreens have been shown in studies to cause harm.

That is all well and dandy, however, we live in the desert. Summer around here is pretty darn hot and sunny.

 

[jen19]

What was the definition of a mainstream sunscreen??? I prefer the physical sunblocks, such as zinc oxide, over the chemical blocks, I have heard some negatives lately about the chemicals. Right now I am using up an spf 30 that has both types, and I use Bare Minerals foundation, which has zinc oxide and an spf 15.... I was thinking about a bit of research into this before buying my next spf face lotion, so whats "mainstream" and why should we avoid them??

 

[Saja]

I hate the physical ones....they leave that film on your skin, and feel even grosser when your in and out of the ocean

 

[Becka]

as far as my face goes, I just rely on whatever SPF is in my MU. On my body I'll use sunscreen if I'm sitting out in the sun, I don't see any other option of anything else I could use.

 

[girlnextdoor]

My guess is that they can't be any more harmful than staying out in the sun unprotected.

 

[Marisol]

Same here. Both my moisturizer and foundation have SPF so I feel pretty safe with the amount of coverage.

 

[ArbonQueen]

I had an article on this and cannot find it at the moment. What I do remember is that spf is an irratant (sp) to the skin and they say to not go extremmely high. I am unsure of what it explained about UVA and UBA protection, but I agree...Using something is better than nothing.

Ann Phelps /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Zoey]

Sun is the main factor of skin aging and I really reccomend using food creams with UVB and UVA protection-US has some problems with those,since FDA won't let some checmical filters to be in use,but I reccomend L'oreal ones od at least 30 for every day!even on a cloudy day!

 

[kaeisme]

I am a tad confused...What exactly would you use if not the mainstream blocks??

 

[vanilla_sky]

I agree, most mainstream sunscreens do not have good filters, they do not protect well against UVA and are not very photostable. as mainstream I understand products widely advertised and accesible (loreal, lancome, estee lauder, clinique, oil of olay etc). in general, filters that are sold in the US are much worse than these available in Europe, but as far as I know Cetaphil spf15 gives relatively better uva protection than most mainstream sunscreens, although the spf factor is not too high. it is best to get sunscreens in europe or canada, cause they contain mexoryls and tinsorbs - the best UVA filters /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Also., according to Allure (april 2006) Nuetrogena came out with a new formula to stabilize Parsol/ avobenzone (UVA sunscreen available in US) so it supposed to be more photostable (works for up to 4 hours) than in other sunscreens. Avobenzone is stabilized with an ingridient called Helioplex.

 

[KrazyPhish]

I reccomend L'Oreal solar expertise, I have very pale skin and I live in the 2 harshest UV environments in the world (Australia during Uni semester and New Zealand during the holidays) and L'Oreal solar expertise is the only sunscreen that I don't burn through. It claims to block UVA and UVB while also somehow helping you skin build up it's own natural protection (not sure if I believe that...) I know there's talk of SPF doing more damage than good and how in few years they'll probably find that it's also carigenic, but I can't live with out my sunscreen! I'll get burnt on the way to uni -a 15 minute walk, mostly in the shade and it's autumn at the moment!

 

[tendereyes]

I use Banana Block (edited...put in wrong product) Maximum Sunblock 50...it's better than nothing and something I use particularly every summer since where I'm at...it's sunny most of the time and between that or melanoma...lol...well..much rather deal with the sunblock first rather than worry about skin cancer particularly since I lost a close relative due to skin cancer (and other cancer related complications).

 

[Kelly]

Confused? What are the "physical ones"? Is there an internal or???? Sorry I'm really in the "not understanding" mode.

My face is VERY sensitive to several suncreens and I'm still searching for a suncreen for oily skin (so I'm not a grease pot) and that is ok and doesn't burn/sting when I apply it to my face.

Anyone have SPF sensitivity? My body on the other hand, can handle most sunscreens - go figure???

 

[beautynista]

I'm confused as well...what are "physical sunscreens" as opposed to? So...what ingredients should we look for? zinc oxide? Olay Daily UV moisturizer contains zinc oxide...

 

[Arinna]

My facial skin is extremely sensitive to chemical sunscreen - will result is rashes, burns and pimples depending on concentration. Chemical sunscreen breaks down the UV rays thus making it harmless. Chemical sunscreen tend to be absorbed into the skin, and seems to disappear. Examples of chemical sunscreens: Methoxycinnamates, Avobenzones, Parsol

Physical sunsreen reflects the UV rays away from the skin. However, physical sunscreens are not absorbed into the skin. It will form a film on the skin (which usually freel uncomfortable). Since it is not absorbed by skin, it won't cause irritation. It is known to leave a white cast on the skin. That is why most physical sunscreens come in tinted version, as to mask the white cast. Examples of physical sunscreens: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide.