{"id":19792,"date":"2022-07-27T13:40:01","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T18:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=19792"},"modified":"2023-03-06T15:44:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T20:44:34","slug":"doctors-debate-chemical-vs-mineral-sunscreen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/doctors-debate-chemical-vs-mineral-sunscreen\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctors Debate: Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many of us, the scent of sunscreen is tied up with nostalgia, good and bad. A whiff can conjure up memories of quality time with family at the beach \u2014 or the pain of a severe burn from missing a spot. <\/span>Sun exposure<\/span><\/a> can and does damage the skin. When you\u2019re asking how best to protect your skin from sun damage, parsing all the conflicting information out there can be a challenge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What works best? Do certain sunscreens contain harmful chemicals? How often should we really reapply? We asked medical providers to weigh in on the sunscreen debate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What types of sunscreen are out there?<\/h3>\n

These days, your local pharmacy\u2019s sunscreen options seem nearly limitless. Spray or lotion, SPF 15 or 100, scented or not\u2026 the list goes on. But the active ingredients in sunscreen \u2014 components which help prevent sunburn \u2014 fall under two categories: mineral (also called physical) or chemical. Many sunscreens use both.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sunscreen components, we call them \u2018ultraviolet filters,\u2019\u201d says Dr. Elma Baron, professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. \u201cThese are the actual ingredients that filter <\/span>ultraviolet light<\/span><\/a>,\u201d the wavelength of sunlight that is most damaging to the skin and is linked to skin cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mineral or physical sunscreens use mineral compounds like zinc oxide or titanium oxide to form a physical barrier against ultraviolet light. That\u2019s why mineral sunscreens appear thicker and are harder to spread.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDecades ago, you would see lifeguards with white noses, almost like cement,\u201d Baron says. Luckily, chemists have improved upon the old formula, so today\u2019s physical sunscreens are much easier to blend into your skin. But the thick or chalky feel of physical sunscreens (or the memory of them) has some consumers reaching for alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chemical sunscreens deflect ultraviolet light by absorbing it, turning it into heat and releasing it from the skin, though your skin won\u2019t feel warmer because of this reaction. These sunscreens are also known as organic sunscreens, though don\u2019t confuse that with organic foods; they use carbon-based ingredients to protect against UV rays, while mineral sunscreens use inorganic ingredients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMineral sunscreen is basically just ground-down rocks,\u201d explains Lisa Quale, health educator for the University of Arizona Cancer Center\u2019s <\/span>Skin Cancer Institute<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s leaving a physical layer on top of your skin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chemical sunscreens use a variety of active ingredients, but due to different regulatory policies, every country favors different types. In the United States, sunscreen is <\/span>regulated as a medical drug<\/span><\/a>, so you\u2019ll find fewer options than in the European Union and South Korea, where sunscreen is considered a cosmetic. Some experts have pushed the US to approve more options, especially as concerns grow over the <\/span>harm caused by certain ingredients<\/span><\/a> on coral reefs and other marine life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What\u2019s the controversy over chemical sunscreen?<\/h3>\n

Both types of sunscreens are effective, and dermatologists widely agree that the harm of ultraviolet radiation is a much greater threat than any of the ingredients in sunscreen. But some consumers may be concerned about chemical sunscreens, largely due to a 2001 study that linked significant exposure of oxybenzone, an active ingredient in some products, to hormone disruption in rats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have no conclusive evidence that oxybenzone is dangerous for humans. A <\/span>2011 letter<\/span><\/a> in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted that to reach the level of oxybenzone exposure equivalent to that which caused hormone disruption in lab rats, a person would need to apply sunscreen every day for 277 years. Since low levels of oxybenzone are present in countless everyday items, <\/span>dermatologists note<\/span><\/a> that avoiding it in sunscreen doesn\u2019t make much of a difference. However, oxybenzone has been shown to <\/span>contribute to coral reef bleaching<\/span><\/a>, which is why Hawaii <\/span>banned sunscreens that include the compound<\/span><\/a> in 2018.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other research has found that some chemical sunscreen ingredients can be <\/span>absorbed into the bloodstream<\/span><\/a>. In 2020, the <\/span>Food and Drug Administration said<\/span><\/a> it <\/span>hasn\u2019t found evidence<\/span><\/a> this causes any harm to people, but they\u2019re still studying the matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Which type of sunscreen is better?<\/h3>\n

Because research hasn\u2019t found chemical sunscreens to be unsafe, the FDA and the American Academy of Dermatology endorse both types of sunscreen. So does Baron. \u201cI hesitate to make statements like \u2018Chemical sunscreens are more dangerous than physical sunscreens,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cWe haven\u2019t really done the research that is necessary to determine that, ingredient by ingredient.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For patients concerned about putting sunscreen on young children, Baron tells them to use physical sunscreen if it makes them more comfortable. Meanwhile, mineral sunscreens are generally a <\/span>better option<\/span><\/a> for people with sensitive skin, or with skin conditions like rosacea or psoriasis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quale thinks mineral sunscreen is a safer bet in general, given that research into chemical sunscreens is still ongoing. \u201cMy general takeaway is, if you\u2019re worried at all, stick with the mineral-based sunblock,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whichever sunscreen you\u2019re using, make sure to follow the written instructions on the package. Reapply regularly, generally every two hours, especially if you\u2019re swimming or sweating. The <\/span>AAD recommends<\/span><\/a> using a waterproof sunscreen, SPF or 30 or higher, with broad spectrum protection, which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. And while spray sunscreens are popular for their easy application, Baron says it\u2019s better to <\/span>stick to lotions<\/span><\/a>: \u201cSprays can evaporate more quickly, so I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s really staying on the skin for two hours.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>American Academy of Pediatrics<\/span><\/a> says children older than 6 months should wear sunscreen on sunny days, with an SPF between 15 and 50, and cover up with clothing and hats whenever possible. Babies younger than 6 months should stay out of the sun entirely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Beyond sunblock<\/h3>\n

Both Quale and Baron agree that protecting your skin from the sun requires more than sunscreen. Limiting sun exposure, especially during peak sunlight hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., is the most effective way to protect your skin. Shielding your skin from the sun with hats and clothing is more effective than sunscreen, which needs to be reapplied regularly and doesn\u2019t block all UV rays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wear sunscreen on my face and in makeup,\u201d says Quayle. \u201cBut otherwise I am covered from head to toe.\u201d She recommends wearing clothing enhanced with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor). You can also buy a laundry additive like SunGuard, which adds UV protection to your clothing and is good for several washes. As for beach trips, it\u2019s getting easier to find stylish swimwear for kids and adults that covers more of your body, like long-sleeved rash guards, typically used by surfers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hats are also a great addition to your sun-blocking wardrobe. While a baseball cap will help shade your face, it doesn\u2019t protect the back of your neck or your ears. \u201cWe see a lot of skin cancer on the ears,\u201d Baron says. She recommends a wide-brimmed hat that provides all-around shade.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quale, who\u2019s been educating the public on sun safety for 15 years, shares an easy acronym to help people stay \u201csun-smart\u201d: ACE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA is for \u2018avoid too much sun\u2019; C is for \u2018cover up, with sunscreen and clothes\u2019; and E is for \u2018examine your skin and go to the dermatologist,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s our major message.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ready to book a doctor\u2019s appointment? Visit\u00a0Zocdoc.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What type of sunscreen should you slather on before a trip to the beach? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":19793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[21,81,56,151],"class_list":["post-19792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-dermatology","tag-preventive-care","tag-primary-care","tag-skincare","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"\nDoctors Debate: Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What type of sunscreen should you slather on before a trip to the beach?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/doctors-debate-chemical-vs-mineral-sunscreen\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Doctors Debate: Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen - 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