Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer

[WhiteTara]

http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/19488158

WASHINGTON (May 24) -- Almost half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A or its derivatives, according to an evaluation of those products released today.

AOL News also has learned through documents and interviews that the Food and Drug Administration has known of the potential danger for as long as a decade without alerting the public, which the FDA denies.

The study was released with Memorial Day weekend approaching. Store shelves throughout the country are already crammed with tubes, jars, bottles and spray cans of sunscreen.

The white goop, creams and ointments might prevent sunburn. But don't count on them to keep the ultraviolet light from destroying your skin cells and causing tumors and lesions, according to researchers at Environmental Working Group.

In their annual report to consumers on sunscreen, they say that only 39 of the 500 products they examined were considered safe and effective to use.

The report cites these problems with bogus sun protection factor (SPF) numbers:
The use of the hormone-disrupting chemical oxybenzone, which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream.
Overstated claims about performance.
The lack of needed regulations and oversight by the Food and Drug Administration.

much more, including list of best and worst.

[Ian David]

1. Sunscreens containing Vitamin A and oxybenzone make great gifts for Conservative neighbors & familly

[Scuba]

2. AOL has a news department?

[tandot]

3. Here is a link to the EWG list of best and worst sunscreens

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/


I'll be ordering some of those sunscreens for my son and us from Amazon.

This is disgusting. Europe, of course, has more choices:

"But in the U.S., there is currently no sunscreen that meets all of these criteria. European countries have more chemical combinations to offer, but in the U.S. the major choice is between the "chemical" sunscreens, which have inferior stability, penetrate the skin and may disrupt the body's hormone systems, and "mineral" sunscreens zinc and titanium dioxide."

Those damn socialists - protecting their citizens against harm - how dare they.

[Peace Patriot]

4. THANKS FOR THIS INFO! nt

[intheflow]

5. This completely validates what I've been saying for years:

smearing chemicals on your body to prevent cancer is like eating fish with high mercury levels to get your omega-2 fatty acids. The "cure" may be worse than the illness. For years friends have laughed at me as I wore long-sleeved shirts and long pants and baseball caps to the beach, but it appears like that's the safest way to prevent skin damage. Added bonus! You're not slimy.

[frylock]

6. kicking for later perusal..

i've been using a high SPF sunscreen for a couple of years now. however, i don't ever lay out to tan, but rather use it when i'm hiking, riding, fishing, etc.

[supernova]

7. The SPF numbers

lead many people to think they can stay out in the sun longer than they really are able to.

Like the poster above me, I only use sunscreen when I want to be outside doing other things, then only for a couple of hours at a time.

Having said that, I wish we did have more choices, I didn't know about the Vit A added. That is so crazy. You can get a derivative of it, afterall, to give yourself a chemical peel facial.

:crazy: