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Enviro Warrior - Wake up and smell the Homus ... then tread lightly upon the planet.

 

Does Your Sunscreen ACTUALLY WORK ?

A while ago now the Envirowarrior investigated the woes and pitfalls of our most treasured shampoos and skin products to find the horrific truth of the dangerous chemicals we place on our skins daily. We quickly realised that you cannot believe everything you read on the bottle when it says "natural", nor indeed, that you should be either consuming, nor smearing anything with a name you cannot pronouce!

(Use green links to read origianl posts)


Dangerous Beauty 1 : Introduction

Dangerous Beauty 2 : Chemical Label Savvy

Label Savvy : Chemical Emollients

Label Savvy : Chemical Humectants

Label Savvy : Chemical Emulsifiers

Label Savvy : Chemical Humectants


All avoidable right? But what about a Necessary Evil, like ... SUNSCREEN?

Have we been programmed by pharmaceutical companies, to need something that creates far more severe problems than those it purports to protect against?

The Scare:


In Australia two out of three people will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime.

The Facts:

The best ways to protect skin from the sun is by use of clothing and shade.

Residuals:

The remaining exposed skin, we are told, needs to be protected by use of a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and preferable SPF 30 .

Remember that the purpose of using sunscreens is to reduce UVR exposure, not to extend the time spent outside in the sun.

The Development of Residual Protection:

Sunscreen is used on the skin to stop harmful UVR from reaching the skin. There are two main types of sunscreens, chemical absorbers and physical blockers, both deliver nano-particles of dangerous chemicals to the skin for absorption.

The truth is that any sunscreen that absorbs UVR is a CHEMICAL BARRIER and is the most common type of sunscreen available. Additionally, these sunscreens may be waterproof, non-greasy and contain a variety of water-soluble or oil soluble CHEMICALS.

CHEMICAL sunscreens are usually easy to apply to the skin.

Technical Specifications:

A sunscreen that scatters or reflects UVR from the skin is called a physical blocker.

Zinc cream, which contains zinc oxide, is this type of blocker but is generally only used on small areas of skin as it also prevents heat loss and perspiration from the skin.

Titanium dioxide is also used in sunscreens due to its reflective properties.

The physical blockers tend to mainly reflect UVR, however, they can also absorb UVR at specific wavelengths.

The individual chemicals in sunscreens absorb UVR at specific wavelengths.

Broad spectrum sunscreens contain several ingredients that each absorb at different wavelengths and so are effective over more of the UVR spectrum.

The Dangers:

Filled with dangerous chemicals, some more dangerous than the sun exposure itself, is it worth it and are they REALLY working?

Unfortunately, new reports from the Environmental Working roups, ‘Skin Deep’ Labs., reveal that perhaps they are not, as;

An investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreen products finds that 4 out of 5 contain chemicals that may pose health hazards or don't adequately protect skin from the sun's damaging rays. Some of the worst offenders are leading brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena.

Click <<HERE>>to get the facts on your brand of suncreen; it’s true effectiveness and danger rating...










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Comments
7 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]
1. July 19th 2008 @ 15:30. Morgan Bell Says:
fascinating, as always, Lilla!
id much rather cover up than use sunscreen . . . actually id much rather stay up all night and sleep in the day! haha
but when i used to work outdoors surveying land during the day, even with a broad brimmed hat and long sleeved shirt, it was still essential to have a bit of chemical on my neck and chest and hands etc . . . im as white as a lilly, burn in less than 4 mins
2. July 19th 2008 @ 23:51. Lilla Says:
Hi Morgan,

No doubts about it, huh? It's a quandry, as you say, those residual areas need something, especially for fair people such as yourself. I am olive skinned, yet still burn ... I just take longer to cook is all.

What to do about the ever increasing strength of the sun as it bounces of the pollution particles within our atmosphere?

Thanks for the compliment and your comment... will reciprocate soon, I see you are in deep doo-doo again?

L ...
3. July 20th 2008 @ 13:24. Morgan Bell Says:
oh Lilla, i need you around orble as my spiritual centre or else i head straight to the doo-doo like a moth to a flame! haha

hey i posted an enviro article (one i wrote some years ago before i turned silly) about chemical spraying in tasmania, you might be interested?

CLICKHERE for "Freedom of Information . . . Accomplice to Poison"
4. July 31st 2008 @ 01:40. Mrs M Says:
Gossip around the school playground says that Australia is the only country to have juvenile osteoporosis.

I have linked to an article below that states we've taken the slip slop slap slogan to dizzying heights and most Australian are lacking in Vitamin D.

smh link

We need Vitamin D to absorb calcium for our bones. We only need about 10 - 15 minutes of sun in the morning and the afternoon.

So everyone should leave their cars at home and get out and walk to work, school, wherever and we should solve the problem of Vitamin D deficiency.

Save the planet, save our bones.

Love & stuff
Mrs M
5. August 3rd 2008 @ 23:59. Lilla Says:
Hi Mrs M,

A very interesting point.

Perhaps the hanswer is to get 10-15 minutes early in the morning or later in the afternoon .. perhaps better still whilst on our daily walk?

*tongue (firmly)-in-my-cheek* Sounds like too much of a lifestyle change for most, doesn't it... better to get those UV rays from the TV screen or monitor, much healthier...*chuckle* no dounts about it, having kids makes us healthier *wink*

Thanks for the comment and link.

Lilla ...
6. August 17th 2008 @ 22:58. Miswanderlust Says:
Lilla
Fabulous post. So informative as usual. I really have revised my thinking regarding sunscreen and other pharmaceuticals. I appreciate our attention to detail and your research efforts.
Mis
7. August 25th 2008 @ 04:56. Lilla Says:
Hi Mis,

...as always, thanks for your candid response.

I'm not sure about Texas - which I know can be mighty hot - but in Australia, the best way these days (what with ozone depletion and pollution and God knows what chemical cocktails)... the best way to avoid cancer is to avoid the sun altogether. Wear a hat, long sleeves and I read somewhere thast SPF 15 is much better than SPF 30 or higher, when it comes to cancer causing chemical reactions. Something about the blocking particles being too dense in the SPF 30 stuff... acutally causes cancer they reckon'.

It's getting harder to block the sun as the UV protection of the planet disintigrates and the particles of carbon increase ... it is not surprisng then that the cure would kill you quicker than the radiation.... gosh, what a mess we are in as a species.

Hope all is well with you, dear friend.

Lilla ....

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