Safe Summer Sunscreen Guide

What to Look for When Buying Sunscreen

What are you looking forward to most this summer? Ditching the boots and taking out those sandals? Not having to get the kids up for school? Perhaps a fun vacation?

While all of that sounds great to busy moms, we have to remember sun safety. It’s important to protect our family’s skin from the elements of the harsh summer sun. Not only is skin cancer the most common of all cancers – more than 3.5 million cases in the U.S. each year – but it is one that can easily be prevented.

The easiest way is to avoid long exposure to intense sunlight. But if you are planning on spending lots of time in the sun this summer, make sure you and your family are wearing sunscreen. It’s important to keep in mind that not all sunscreens are treated equal.

Did you know that many of the popular, advertised brands of sunscreen contain toxic ingredients?

Here are a few tips on how to look for more healthy sunscreens for your family this summer:

Steer clear of sprays. Yes they can be convenient, but they can cause some health problems if inhaled.
You need protection from UVB and UVA rays. UVA rays are the ones that are linked to skin cancer. Typically sunscreens will label that they protect from both or they will say “broad spectrum”.
Anything above an SPF of 50 is misleading and you do not need it. Note: SPF only protects against UVB rays.
If Oxybenzone is an ingredient, you need to know that this will penetrate the skin and get into your bloodstream. Oxybenzone acts like estrogen in your body and may cause an allergic reaction. Also, the additional chemical estrogen is not good for kid’s and thier developing bodies.
Vitamin A (or retinyl palmitate) may sound like something you want in a sunscreen, but you don’t. Research in lab tests have shown that this actually CAUSES skin cancer.
Consider brands that don’t contain parabens and phthalates which are hormone disrupting chemicals. (See last week’s post ‘Detoxify Your Personal Care Products“).

Leann Forst, MBA, CHC, CEOC — Holistic Health Practitioner

Leann is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner and Certified Essential Oils Coach. She holds a Master’s degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University. Accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, Leann is an award winning author of 2 books “How to Get Your Kids to Beg for Veggies” and “100 Ways to Lose Weight”.

Born and raised as an Iowa farm girl, she moved to Texas in 1998 where she lives with her husband and 2 kids.

As a wife of a brain cancer survivor, Leann has a special interest in anti-cancer nutrition and detoxification. She works with individuals and groups, and speaks regularly at hospitals, schools and organizations. Leann’s goal is to teach people how to attain optimal health by getting to the root cause of chronic and inflammatory conditions, while using healing modalities such as essential oils. Click here to get Leann’s free report, “37 Cancer Facts You Should Know…But Probably Don’t”

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