Put That Can Down!

Do I have your attention? 🙂 This is one point I really want to make because it is so important to me. Spray on sunscreens are harmful. In fact Sony Lunder, Senior Analyst at The Environmental Working Group, a DC non-profit that researched public health issues says spray on sunscreen is “basically the worst format of sunscreen.” And an often used ingredient in spray on sunscreens, Acrylate was named the number one allergen of the year in 2012 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

While easy and quick, spray on sunscreens offer spotty, thin coverage at best and have some pretty awful side effects…think chemical burn and blisters. The ingredients in these sunscreens are far more harmful to our skin and cause more damage in the long term. In fact any chemical sunscreen will induce inflammation and heat the cell so of the skin up as they absorb the chemicals and the UV Rays. Far better to apply a physical (soothing!) sunscreen that bounces the suns rays off of our skin.

Some other points to consider are the facts that spray on sunscreen are flammable and lung irritants. Many people have caught fire after applying spray on sunscreen. And breathing it in can irritate the lungs and harm asthma sufferers. I highly recommend holding off on using it — especially with children as inhaling the ingredients could cause lung irritation and bring on asthma attacks.

And for all ages the toxic chemicals in chemical sunscreens (spray on or not) are hormone disruptors and potent allergens.

If you find yourself in a bind and spray on is your only option, try to avoid spraying it in the face (go indoors if it is windy outside). And if you have to apply it to your face, spray it in your hands first then rub on to the face. For the body, spray it up close and have someone help you rub it in evenly across the back.

If you have anymore questions feel free to email me. If you missed my last email on sunscreens and pregnancy let me know and I will forward it along to you.

As always, I hope this was informative and helpful.

Sun and smiles,
Jenny