If you’re like me, you wear sunscreen religiously. Various skin maladies –
skin cancer and premature wrinkling, to name a few – have been linked to sun
damage. It’s important to protect your skin whenever you step outside. There’s
just one problem: Your sunscreen might not be doing its job.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit health and environmental advocacy
group, tested over 900 different sunscreens. Eighty percent of them, including many
from name-brand manufacturers, failed to meet the EWG’s standards. Some sunscreens
only blocked UVB rays; UVA rays, the other component of the sun’s ultraviolet
light, reach deeper into the skin and can cause cancer. The EWG also found that
many popular sunscreens contain potentially toxic chemicals that can enter into
the bloodstream.
Don’t be dissuaded from using sunscreen. The EWG’s report includes a
list of the sunscreens that passed its tests. The next time you buy sunscreen, make
sure it protects your skin like it should. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going
into the sun, and use the following tips to further protect your skin:
- Avoid going into the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
- Wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat.
- Store your sunscreen in a cool place, and never use expired sunscreen.
- Don’t neglect your eyes: Wear sunglasses.
View the
EWG’s report to learn which sunscreens are the safest and protect
the best.