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Missed: Sunblock on the Lips and Nasty Ingredients 5-5-08
When we slather up with sun tan lotion, most of us bypass our lips. We coat
our arms, our legs, our foreheads and noses with a suitable SPF -- but putting
lotion on the lips is a non starter. And few people use a separate protective
lip balm. In fact, a recent study out of Baylor University Medical Center at
Dallas found that fewer than 25 percent of Americans protect their lips from the
sun.
That's a big problem, because our lips are among the most vulnerable places on
our bodies -- exceptionally prone to cancers and aging damage. According to
dermatologist Christine Brown, "When skin cancer occurs on the lower lip, it has
the potential to be much more aggressive and metastasize to surrounding lymph
nodes."
If you're thinking, "Oh, but I use lip gloss, so I'm protected," the news gets
worse. Shiny coatings on your lips in fact attract the rays of the sun, and so
gloss and many lipsticks actually increase exposure.
"What most people don't realize is they're actually increasing light penetration
through the lip surface by applying something clear and shiny to them," Dr.
Brown says. She recommends coating the lips with an SPF 30 lotion before
applying gloss or lipstick anytime you'll be exposed for 20 minutes or longer.
But in fact, a number of companies now make 30 SPF protective lip balm.
Of course, Dr. Brown's advice assumes that suntan lotion and protective balms do
indeed offer some protection. According to studies, it ain't necessarily so.
Last year, the Environmental Working Group found that "more than 84% of suntan
lotions with high SPF (sun protection factor) levels actually fail to protect
sunbathers against all harmful rays -- or quickly lose effectiveness." That
research found that very few products worked the way they claimed they did, with
the majority protecting only against sunburn and failing to protect against
harmful UVA rays -- the rays that cause aging, immune diseases, and skin cancer.
Plus, the so-called "all day protection" claims touted on the bottles turned out
to be largely mythological, as many of the lotions quickly broke down when
exposed to sun.
Of equal concern, research confirms that most sunscreens contain toxic
ingredients. Sunscreens typically contain at least 20 chemical ingredients that
can get absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. A new study by the
CDC found that the chemical oxybenzoneone, used in almost all sunscreens, can
cause allergies, hormone disruption, cancer, and cell damage. Another study from
Mount Sinai Medical School implicated the same chemical to low-birth weight in
girls whose mothers were exposed when pregnant. The research concluded that over
97 percent of Americans have been tainted by this chemical.
Typically, zinc oxide and titanium oxide form the basis of suntan lotion, while
ingredients like oxybenzoneone and octinoxate help absorb the other chemicals
into the skin. Most studies show that the nanoparticles of zinc and titanium
oxide in the lotion cause no real problems, but chemicals like oxybenzoneone and
oxtinoxate poses serious safety concerns. Other nasty chemicals often found in
suntan products include Octyl methoxycinnamate, a carcinogen, chemical
fragrances, and propylene glycol, also used in antifreeze and brake fluid.
Okay, so now you're freaked out about putting suntan lotions and balms on your
body and lips. And yet, your mouth -- and the rest of your body -- does need sun
protection. What can you do?
Start by studying the list of comparatively safe lotions prepared by the EWG.
Don't assume that the lotion is harmless or effective just because the bottle
calls it "natural" or because it sits on the shelf at the health food store. As
you'll see from the EWG list, some natural brands contain scary ingredients. On
the other hand, some natural ingredients (green tea polyphenols, black tea gel,
and broccoli extract -- no kidding) offer great protection, and again, the EWG
list contains some good options. So find a safe product and cover your entire
exposed body with it -- including those lips.
Also, eat well and supplement with antioxidants in order to minimize
free-radical damage. Enjoy lots of tomatoes (high in lycopene), which studies
have found to offer exceptional sun protection. Wear a hat, wear protective
clothing, and forget the lip gloss altogether, as it contains many of the evil
ingredients found in suntan lotion -- and more.