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Posts: 60
| This was brought up in the tackle and equipment section but I thought it was an important warning for all of us that spend a lot of time on the water.
It turns out that the majority of commercially available over the counter sunblocks are either ineffective or contain a synthetic estrogen ingredient that actually INCREASES the risk of certain types of skin cancer. In addition, the same chemical has been linked to birth defects!
Link: http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-...
The highest rated sunscreens are from Badger and a few others. There is a link to the rating website embedded in the news article. If your are going to be outside casting on the water, you best be informed on what is the best sun protection.
Personally, I have had a small patch of skin cancer taken off me so I have to be extra careful. It is a cumulative exposure problem. Years of sun exposure builds up like leaving toast in the toaster for too long. Eventually you are going to get burned so to speak. That is why you need to make sure your kids are properly protected when they are outdoors.
I am switching to Badger. It has to be rubbed in to make it less "white" on the skin, but it is the number 1 rated product according to this independent study. However, because of its ingredients keep it away from open cuts or sores. (I will also add that I have no connection in any fashion to any of these products or companies.)
Steve V
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Location: New Hope MN | the link isn't working for me |
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| Here is the links:
http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-...
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/
Brian
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| The FDA is completely useless. Just listen to all the "potential" side effects from all the drugs advertised on TV and elsewhere. Ya just gotta laugh. |
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Location: New Hope MN | Steve Jonesi - 5/25/2010 12:48 PM
The FDA is completely useless. Just listen to all the "potential" side effects from all the drugs advertised on TV and elsewhere. Ya just gotta laugh.
I read a study one time that listed the amount of deaths associated with the delay in FDA approving a drug. scary stuff. More people die because of the delay than bad drugs are caught by the FDA. How's that for safety? |
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| Actually, the EWG is completely useless. They’re a fringe group from CA that knows very little but professes to know a lot. They base none of their findings on science. They definitely play to the ‘uninformed’ consumer. The mentioned findings of the FDA need to be taken with a grain of salt. Yup, Vitamin A might cause cancer….when lab animals are exposed to 800X the normal dosage. Just about anything you get exposed to at an exaggerated dosage will cause cancer. Vitamin A in sunscreens is in there at such a small level, it is hardly detectable. Usually about 50ppm in a typical formulation. I work in the industry and have developed sunscreens and I get emails all the time from concerned friends, coworkers, marketing all freaked out when EWG launches some new findings. I have to keep from laughing most of the time as most of it is a complete misrepresentation of the truth. |
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Posts: 60
| The 7 year efficacy requirement for new drugs imposed by the FDA goes back to the Thelidomide disaster in the 1960's. Europe approved its use quickly and ended up with massive numbers of birth defects. The US was cautious and avoided approval and use in this country.
Let's not get off-topic entirely. The main point is to use a good, safe and effective sunscreen when we are roasting ourselves in years to come.
Steve V
Edited by SteveV 5/25/2010 1:05 PM
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Posts: 221
Location: Detroint Lakes, MN |
So we have an anon poster working in the sunscreen industry claiming that the study is bull.
Who to believe?
JS |
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| One other ting I might add is to save your$$ and don’t buy anything over SPF 50, its just a waste of money. Efficacy testing for anything over 50 (really SPF 30 is just as good as the 50 from an efficacy standpoint) basically shows you get a VERY small amount of additional protection. You might get 97-98% protection with an SPF 30-50 while you could get up to 98.5-99% protection with an SPF 100. And honestly, that extra 1-1.5% of protection especially won’t do you any good if you’re not applying enough sunscreen to begin with or if you’re not reapplying it every couple of hours.
The key to any sunscreen really is first to apply enough to begin with and then to reapply often. Simple as that. Heck, I formulate product for myself that I take on the boat & everywhere else in the sun and I don't even bother formulating anything over SPF 50. |
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Posts: 60
| Guest, what about the charges about oxybenzone, one of the common ingredients. This is reported to be a synthetic estrogen that can cause problems including birth defects. Any help on that ingredient?
I am not dismissing your info becuase you are a guest. I am truly interested in the topic and would appreciate any info you could share.
Steve V |
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| Honestly, I wouldn't like work knowing that I'm on the boards here when I should be in the lab making stuff, haha..... I can PM you John and give you my credentials if you like. |
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Posts: 60
| I did google oxybenzone. I found this information on WebMD that seems to give a balanced viewpoint:
"Some doctors and medical organizations disagree. “I recommend sunscreens with oxybenzone whole-heartedly,” says Kate Puttgen, MD, a pediatric dermatologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. “I haven’t seen any data that suggest the miniscule amount of absorption causes any risks.” The American Academy of Dermatology continues to recommend sunscreens with oxybenzone.
If you're worried about chemical exposure, there is some common ground: both sides agree that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sunscreens are safe and effective. They’re also ideal for young children and people with sensitive skin. Although these sunscreens used to have a reputation for leaving a chalky film, new formulations are micronized so that they’re barely visible.
"
The Badger product mentioned up-thread would seem to satisfy both camps, as it has excellent protection and no oxybenzone. Quite frankly I am not so concerned about the oxy for me as we are done having kids, but would worry about build up exposure for my son.
Good discussion.
Steve V |
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| There is information and misinformation on the web regarding oxybenzone. As you probably have seen, EWG and other organic/holistic groups are usually associated with these reports. What you posted previously is true, the inorganics are completely safe to a point. Ti02, Zinc Oxide work to reflect or scatter the rays while the other organic chemicals undergo a chemical change to ‘absorb’ the rays. The inorganics have come a long way from a formulation standpoint as the big turn off was the white residue left behind on the skin. One other note which I’m sure you’ll probably come across on the web is the last few years have seen extensive development of nano sized inorganics. Just mention the word ‘nano’ and their body and people freak out…. |
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Posts: 60
| Yep, the warning on the nano products is not to put it on near an open wound or cut.
Steve V |
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| i'll take the _potential_ risk posed by some miniscule amount of an obscure chemical in my sunscreen over the _definite_ risk of skin cancer from sunburn.
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Posts: 60
| Lambeau, you can also use a sunscreen product that all the experts agree is safe and effective.
Steve V |
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Location: Ogden, Ut | Titanium dioxide, huh? I wonder if I get enough titanium in me, will I easily bend back to my old shape?
All kidding aside, I'm a sunscreen guy; already had enough small chunks burned/frozen off to make me sit up and take notice. Also, living at altitude makes you more aware of how little time it takes to get a damaging burn. Any sunscreen is probably better than no sunscreen; use what you're comfortable with, but at least use something.
S. |
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Location: Eau Claire | lambeau - 5/25/2010 2:43 PM
i'll take the _potential_ risk posed by some miniscule amount of an obscure chemical in my sunscreen over the _definite_ risk of skin cancer from sunburn.
+1 |
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Posts: 221
Location: Detroint Lakes, MN |
So I just bought 3 bottles of Coppertone for my family.
Couple for the wife and me and a kids formula.
Is this stuff really not safe? How do I know if the findings in this article are accurate or not?
That badger stuff is pretty spendy, but if the other doesn't work than I guess there isn't much choice.
JS |
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Posts: 60
| John, it all works, but the Badger stuff (and others) is universally regarded as safe and effective. I wouldn't sweat it. Use what you have and then buy the other stuff when you are out.
Steve Viltoft |
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Location: APPLETON, WI | Wow... very interesting. |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI |
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Location: Iowa Great Lakes | Never have used sunscreen and see no use for it personaly for myself. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Slamr, that's...Outstanding. |
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Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | sworrall - 5/25/2010 10:03 PM
Slamr, that's...Outstanding.
You're old, I figure you can appreciate ramblings such as that video/audio. |
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Posts: 999
| How's that spray on stuff supposed to be? |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Slamr, that's a fact. You might notice, as I age...so do you. The wonder of ratio. |
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Location: APPLETON, WI | Mr Musky - 5/25/2010 10:22 PM How's that spray on stuff supposed to be? I actually bought a can of the aerosol stuff last week... I was out all day last Saturday and Sunday hiking and it seemed to do the trick. I've got SPF50 but it looks like there was an SPF30 version available, as well. My skin didn't feel greasy or oily either like it will after applying most lotions... so in that respect, it was really nice. |
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Posts: 1220
| I can't give any sort of expert testimony on the effects of estrogen in sunblock, but my breasts do seem to be larger in the summer. I've also noticed that I seem to cry more easily over a lost fish. Marty Forman |
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Location: Money, PA | Junkman - 5/26/2010 7:13 AM
I can't give any sort of expert testimony on the effects of estrogen in sunblock, but my breasts do seem to be larger in the summer. I've also noticed that I seem to cry more easily over a lost fish. Marty Forman
LOL....I love that reply best!! |
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