Sunscreens have changed the way Americans play. There was a time when tennis players, golfers, swimmers and just about anyone else who needed to be outside was at the mercy of the sun’s rays. People frequently got bad sunburns or, if they were being prudent, built up a tan gradually in the early summer. Even then, cautious people wore hats and long sleeves if they had to be outside in the middle of the day. Nowadays you could sunbathe in the nude for 8 hours and not turn pink, provided you slathered on the sunscreen every few hours. Most products block the UVB radiation that causes sunburn. The very effectiveness of modern sunscreens, which allow people to spend so much time outdoors, has put them at greater risk of exposure to UVA radiation. These rays are less likely to burn the skin, but they can cause long-lasting damage leading to premature aging and skin cancer. Few sunscreens block UVA rays effectively. Perhaps even more disturbing are reports about toxic ingredients in commonly used sunscreens. Oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone-3 (BP-3), is found in hundreds of sunscreens, moisturizers, lip balms, conditioners and anti-wrinkle creams. Animal studies have suggested that oxybenzone may affect the liver and kidneys. More alarming, though, are reports that this chemical may be a hormone disruptor. There is growing concern that environmental exposure to estrogen-mimicking compounds could alter nervous system development in fetu ...
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