Last year I wrote brilliant song lyrics about my galaxy of moles, along with my elevated risk for skin cancer and my family history of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. A couple of weeks ago, my dermatologist removed two more moles from my back. Both came back benign from the lab. However, despite my good news, the rate of melanoma continues to rise, both in the general population and in my family. With summer almost upon us, I’m thinking more about sun exposure and sunscreen, both for myself and for my boys.

Possible Toxins

Growing up, I used a great deal of sunscreen but didn’t really think much about what it contained. Provided the SPF rating was high enough, it should be fine. This year I discovered that some people are concerned about certain ingredients in common sunscreens. Great, I thought, more toxins to worry about. Google “sunscreen toxins” if you want to join the debate. The most-hated chemicals list seems to include oxybenzone, which has been linked to various cancers and hormone disorders, and vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), which is suspected of accelerating skin lesions and tumors. Other complaints include misleading advertising, ineffective regulation by the FDA, and general ignorance and/or apathy among Americans regarding sun exposure.

A nonprofit organization called Environmental Working Group is helping to raise awareness of these issues. It posts an annual evaluation of over 1700 different sunscreens and their content, claiming that only about 20 percent of the sunscreens on the market are relatively safe. It also posts some helpful tips for sun safety and sunscreen selection.

Are these guys quacks? I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s a mixture of fact and scaremongering. The American Academy of Dermatology disagrees with some of EWG’s positions. But I think the argument is worth considering. Given the choice, I might start buying sunscreens that don’t have some of the “worst” chemicals just in case.

Misplaced Trust

Something else to consider: sunscreen can give us a false sense of security, especially when the SPF is really high. SPF refers to its theoretical ability to block UVB rays, which can cause sunburns and skin cancer. SPF does NOT address its ability to block UVA rays, which can cause signs of aging and skin cancer. Sunscreens are generally better at blocking UVB rays than UVA rays, even in so-called “broad spectrum” sunscreens that block both types of rays to some degree. I imagine that many people spend more time in the sun than they should because they think their sunscreen is keeping them safe. They are only partially correct.

What do you think? Do you seek out certain types/brands of sunscreen for health reasons, or is all sunscreen good enough? How much time do you spend in the sun, and how do you protect yourself?