T&T: Best sunscreen

[Jeffrey Siegel]

The topic of sunscreen seems like it should be simple.  Just put it on.
Especially for us boaters.  And it needs to be used every day if you
have any chance of exposure.

But the reality is that it is way more complex of an issue.  Sunscreens
aren't regulated and it's pretty hard to know if the product you're
using actually works.  In addition, it's a material that you're placing
on large areas of your skin for long periods of time.  Those materials
are getting absorbed into your system and accumulating in your body.
And guess what?  Some of the materials used in many of the common
sunscreens have questionable safety levels.  Some are considered toxic.

The Environmental Working Group did a huge study of more than 700
sunscreen products.  They found, amazingly, that 84% of the products
with an SPF of 15 or higher don't adequately protect you or contain
ingredients with safety concerns.  84% !!  I'll fully admit that we had
been using one of the less-than-healthy ones on our boat.  But not any
longer.

There's a small report all about it and a database of all of their
findings:
http://www.ewg.org/node/21719

You don't need to sign up for their newsletter in order to get to the
database.


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Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53PH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
The Interactive Cruising Guidebook

 
 
 

 
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