As we approach the summer months and increase the time we spend outdoors, it’s important to protect our skin from UV damage. But, is your sunscreen affecting your health? Are you aware of the connection between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and hormone health?
There are many chemicals we’re exposed to on a daily basis that can interfere with hormone health. These endocrine disruptors can:
- increase the production of certain hormones (such as estrogen);
- decrease production of others;
- imitate hormones (aka xenoestrogens);
- cause cells to prematurely die; and
- compete with nutrients.
These hormone disruptors can result in something called estrogen dominance which occurs when you have too much estrogen in proportion to progesterone. One way this occurs is when estrogen-mimicking chemicals (xenoestrogens) get into our bodies and they increase the total amount of estrogen. Estrogen dominance can cause severe PMS, weight gain (particularly in hips, midsection, thighs), fibrocystic breasts, fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal menstruation, fatigue, and reduced sex drive.
How can estrogen-mimicking compounds get in our bodies? Some common sunscreens contain hormone-disrupting chemicals (such as benzophenones, camphor derivatives and cinnamate derivatives). These chemical UV-filtering products are absorbed when we apply it to our skin. Few human studies have investigated possible side effects of UV-filters, although exposure to humans is high as sunscreens are more regularly used to counter skin damage and cancer. Animal studies have shown developmental and reproductive, as well as thyroid effects associated with chemical UV-filtering sunscreens. Instead of relying on chemical sunscreens, choose products that focus on physically blocking UV rays, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The Environmental Working Group provides more information on making informed sunscreen choices https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/. In the past, I used Bare Republic Mineral sunscreen but it had an off putting smell. I’m currently looking into purchasing either Butterbean Organic Original Healthy Sunscreen or Mineral Sunscreen Lotion by Nurture My Body. What mineral-based sunscreen do you like?
