(Australia-NewsWire.Com, May 17, 2016 ) Sydney, Australia -- It's an age-old advice given by dermatologists and skin experts: Apply sunscreen! This is supposed to protect the skin from the harmful UV rays from the sun and spare it from the risks of developing skin cancer. Today, about 30 percent of women and 14 percent of men regularly apply sunscreen. However, experts now say some sunscreens may be doing harm than good.
According to the Environmental Working Group's review of more than 1,700 skin products with SPF, 80 percent barely had enough to significantly protect the skin. The review also indicated that some products "contained worrisome ingredients" that could damage skin. One of the said ingredients is oxybenzone.
Oxybenzone, studies have found, could disrupt the endocrine system. Another ingredient, retinyl palmitate, a type of Vitamin A that may increase the risks of developing tumors. Meanwhile, well-known brand, Neutrogena has been found to only have SPF 50 despite the SPF 100 indicated on its sunscreen bottles.
Dr. Jasmine Chan, a Sydney-based dermatologist and consultant for skin products company, Hydracol USA, warned users to be extra careful in choosing sunscreens. "The said review is very alarming. Aside from the said harmful ingredients, there are also some companies that have been lying about the protection their products provide," Dr. Chan said.
"For example, some sunscreens that claim to be safe for babies and pregnant women aren't safe at all," Chan said. "There are also those that claim to be ‘hypoallergenic' but they actually contain unsafe preservatives that have been banned in Europe. The point is, everyone should be very picky with their skincare products. If possible, only use products that are organic or use mostly natural ingredients."
About Hydracol
Since 2007, Hydracol's aim is to create an effective and ethical range of skin care products that deliver amazing results. Using only the most pure and natural ingredients, these range of products harness the immense power of nature to deliver only the very best results.