Whenever I buy a lotion, I always see to it that it’s SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is strong enough to protect my skin from the harmful radiation of the sun. Hence, I came to believe that the higher the SPF, the more effective the product would be when it comes to shielding me from the ultraviolet rays. I stumbled upon an article in LiveScience.com that educated me more regarding this matter. It was said that the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that 4 out of 5 of the nearly 1,000 sunscreen lotions that where analyzed offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain harmful chemicals. Surprisingly, the biggest offenders are well-known brand names: Coppertone, Banana Boat and Neutrogena.

Those product claims that says they offer protection all day long or for several hours are not reliable as well. According to EWG, most sunscreens start deteriorating in as quickly as 15 minutes.

Harmful Chemicals

The EWG also said that some lotions contain chemicals that are harmful to the skin. Oxybenzone (trade names: Eusolex 4360, Escalol 567), which blocks UVA, is a main offender. Oxybenzone is a derivative of benzophenone, which is well known to attack DNA in the presence of sunlight. The photomutagenic properties of these compounds might be a contributing factor to the increased melanoma (skin cancer) incidence that has been found in sunscreen users.

So where does this leave us?

Obviously, you won’t be needing the sunscreen if you avoid exposing yourself under the sun for long hours especially when the radiation is at its strongest (from 11 am to 3 pm).  Wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and hats) when exposed to sunlight also helps.

Remember, sunscreen is not a substitute for avoidance of sun exposure. Besides, do you really enjoy jogging or doing your outdoor activities at the middle of the day?