What's the big deal about sunscreens, anyway? Well, for a start, the numerous chemicals in sunscreens, even diluted in ocean water, are considered harmful. Can you imagine the impact most sunscreens have when applied directly to human skin?

My research began in 1992, after reading a study, "Could Sunscreens Increase Melanoma Risk?", published in the American Journal of Public Health. With increasing rates of skin cancer worldwide, we needed to take a closer look at our use of chemically based sunscreens.

Sunlight activates processes necessary for good health. Sunlight is necessary for healthy teeth and bones and, as many winter-weary souls can tell us, it's also important for our emotional well-being. Unfortunately, too much sunlight without proper protection can accelerate aging as well as causing other damage - including sun burns, melanomas (skin cancers), DNA damage, suppressed skin cell immunity and other illnesses.

Ninety five percent of the visible signs of aging are associated with UV exposure. Ninety percent of sun exposure in a lifetime occurs before a person is 18 years old. Children should be encouraged to wear hats, protective clothing and regularly apply chemical-free sunscreens with UVA protection.

UVA stands for the longer sun rays (340nm-400nm) found to cause cancer and accelerate aging. UVB rays are shorter (290-320nm) and are called the "burning rays". UVB rays penetrate the top layer of skin, the epidermis. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the second layer, the dermis. UVA rays also synthesize with UVB rays to cause burning.

SPF testing only rates the length of time an average person can be in the sun before burning. For instance, an SPF 15 will protect you from burning 15 times longer than if you were wearing no sunscreen. So, if you would typically burn in 20 minutes, you'd have 5 hours of protection before burning if you were wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen.

In August of 2007, the FDA proposed a new 4-star rating on sunscreens that will affect most sunscreen manufacturers. It highlighted the fact that sunscreens can actually be harmful and requires companies to retest against the new criteria.

Consumers are confused when medical and scientific reports indicate that the more people use sunscreen, the higher the incidence of skin cancer. This is a serious problem. I believe we all need the Vitamin D from daily sun exposure and we also need products that are proven to keep us safe. So when you don't get Vitamin D from sunshine because you are wearing a sunscreen, it's important to have Vitamin D supplemented in the product.

The use of chemicals in sunscreens is increasing the incidence of skin cancer. Melanoma has more than doubled in the last 25 years - directly proportional to sunscreen sales. Users stay in the sun longer without getting the burn, which would have been nature's warning signal. Some harmful ingredients to avoid in your sunscreens are:

· Benzophenone (listed on the PAN Pesticides Database as a toxic pesticide)

· Avobenzone, octylmethoxycinnamate, and octocrylene (free radical generators that penetrate through the epidermis)

· Methoxycinnamate (has been implicated in causing cancer) · PABA (may play a role in cellular DNA damage and is a skin sensitizer)

Most of these chemicals easily penetrate into and through the epidermis. They're designed to absorb ultraviolet radiation energy. Since they can't destroy this energy, the radiation has to convert the light energy into chemical energy - usually released as free radicals. Free radicals then react with other molecules and produce damage to the fats, proteins, and DNA of the cells - the types of damage that produce skin ageing and the development of cancer.

A recent study at the University of California-Riverside concluded that high quality sunscreens, which include UVA filters, are the most effective at preventing future signs of ageing. It recommended they be used liberally and often on children and young adults exposed to the sun.

Bottom line - consumers are looking for chemical-free sunscreens that eliminate the potential problems from chemicals, including:

·Free radical generators, which can lead to melanoma

·Estrogenic activity, which impact hormones in men AND women

·Synthetic chemicals, which penetrate skin and are stored in the body's fat cells

So, what is the big deal? Well, enjoying a walk in the sun is still an important part of staying healthy, but educating yourself about harmful ingredients in common products - including your sunscreen - is just as important. Read labels carefully. Wear hats and shirts with long sleeves when in the sun for longer periods of time. Use safe, chemical-free sunscreens to protect your exposed skin from over exposure to UVA/UVB rays.