Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that sunscreen is toxic?

199 replies

Pitbull · 27/04/2017 20:33

Some women proudly say they wear sunscreen every day even in the winter. But isn't it kind of toxic? If you think about it sunscreen is loaded with chemicals. The ingredient list is full of long, unpronounceable names. Why would you wear it on your face all the time? When I put spf on my face when it's really hot and sunny I obviously avoid the eye and mouth area. Yet, within about twenty minutes my eyes start watering, and I feel a toxic chemical taste in my mouth. Which means it seeps through my pores deeper into the skin and some of it gets into the bloodstream, and via the blood vessels they go everywhere. Yuk. Why would you wear a toxic mix on your face every day?

OP posts:
NoDramasPlease · 27/04/2017 21:03

*medications

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 27/04/2017 21:04

UK too and we dont wear it apart from when its too warm and the suns blazing

Heat is not an indicator of UV levels. Again, you don't need to burn, it is cumulative exposure.

The toxicity wouldn't worry me, but the lack of Vitamin D would

Supplements. You are probably got D deficient anyway.

Gwenhwyfar · 27/04/2017 21:04

"we don't get enough of it during winter as it is."

Exactly so you're better off taking it as a supplement anyway.
It's not just about skin cancer, lots of people use suncream every day to prevent premature ageing and wrinkles.

QuietNameChange · 27/04/2017 21:05

What else? wide brimmed hats! seriously... And of course sunglasses, I alwas have sunglasses in my bag.

I sometimes wonder how tan I'd be if I didn't do these things? I've been a week in Italy over Easter (also in a place with warm beaches because it's a vulcanic ilsand and stuff... so, I wore a bikini etc.) but despite using suncreen with a high spf, sunglasses, wide brimmed hat etc I'm already tan!

seeing as I once heard tanning is already a sign of sundamage that makes me a bit "eh"?

But I luckily don't burn (especially not in the UK...)

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 27/04/2017 21:05

And the effects of many more chemicals on the incredibly complex human body are just not understood.

The effect of UV rays on the other hand are well known, they are known to cause cancer.

QuietNameChange · 27/04/2017 21:06

But yes, take vitamin D supplements. You aren't getting any in winter anway (unless you supplememt...). Whether you wear sunscreen or not...

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 27/04/2017 21:07

I don't wear sunscreen everyday, I just avoid the sun after about 20 mins, if it is hot. Govt Drs now advise having 20 mins a day of exposure to the sun, so using sunscreen all day everyday is not good for you.

Also when my DC were young, I didn't like smothering them in cream, again, they played in the shade after a short time in the sunshine.

PickAChew · 27/04/2017 21:09

I'm rather partial to a good shot of 1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6(3H,7H)-dione with my breakfast. Must be fucking lethal.

The ethanol solution I have waiting for me in the kitchen is obviously quite safe though. Anyone can pronounce that, so I can drink as much as I fancy and come to no harm. What makes it even safer is the fact that it's natural so not really a chemical at all HmmGrin

VerbenaGirl · 27/04/2017 21:10

Lush have done sesame based sun protection products before. You have to like the smell of tahini though!!

Elphame · 27/04/2017 21:11

The skin is very efficient at absorbing substances otherwise you wouldn't use nicotine patches or the hormone patches for contraception or HRT. Ever time you use a suncream you will be absorbing a lot of powerful chemicals into your body. Actually the same holds true for the "miracle" anti ageing creams too.

The long term safety of sunscreens has yet to be confirmed so I very rarely use them despite being a very pale skinned redhead. I tend to wear clothing that covers my skin, a sunhat and sunglasses.

Magicpaintbrush · 27/04/2017 21:11

I looked into trying to go chemical free with every day products a while ago and was surprised how difficult it is to find chemical free substitutes for things. I think the big supermarkets are missing a trick - if chemical free products were more easily available and not twice as expensive then I think people might make the switch. But at the end of the day, it just felt like what's the point cutting chemicals from my cleaning products or veggies when I'm breathing shite from car exhausts every day and a tiny bottle of chemical free shower gel costs £7.50 - it's too awkward and expensive to sustain. Sun cream included. If it wasn't unaffordable and such a pain in the bum to find these products in the first place then yes, I would go chemical free.

InvisibleKittenAttack · 27/04/2017 21:12

Sunscreen in my moisturiser and foundation for winter wear, in the summer I'll put on 'proper' sunscreen on as well.

And yes, I think it is toxic, but you aren't supposed to eat it or put it in your eyes...

Oh but I eat red meat, eggs and fish, so not overly worried I'm not getting enough vitD in my desire to avoid face wrinkles. (I know, I know, I should be wearing sunscreen to avoid cancer, but wrinkles are the main reason I avoid tanning)

PickAChew · 27/04/2017 21:12

ifYou, do you not walk anywhere? I can't see how it's possible to avoid sun exposure (even in this country) unless you never go anywhere without you car.

user1492679224 · 27/04/2017 21:13

I can't be bothered to read all the comments but applying stuff to your skin means that your body ingests it. It is 'topically' applied. I don't understand why we are suddenly open to skin cancer because of being exposed to the sun. I am very suspicious of all the recommendations given to us these days. I am a carer and of all the people I care for, the oldest are those that take least medication. Some are fiercely against taking anything, even pain killers! I think that says a LOT! Do we know what we are taking any more? Do we know what vaccinations contain? Pharmaceuticals is a multi billion dollar industry. That is something to think about. We need to wake up to this.

Tobolsk · 27/04/2017 21:14

I only ever use sunscreen on a hot sunny day. Same for DH and kids.

Ollivander84 · 27/04/2017 21:15

I wear factor 30-50 generally. Don't need a vit D supplement due to being a redhead

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 27/04/2017 21:16

PickA yes I walk my dog everyday for about 40 mins. Around half of that is in woods so it's in the shade. I live rurally so do have to take the car for anything else. I certainly wouldn't slap on sunscreen to just walk about though- for example in and out of shops etc.

MollyCule · 27/04/2017 21:20

All chemicals have the potential to be toxic, safe use is defined by the amount used ("the dose makes the poison"). Water can be toxic if you drink enough of it.

There may be some chemicals in sunscreen, that if you were to ingest or inject in sufficient quantities, would be harmful. But skin is an effective barrier and the chemicals used don't enter the bloodstream.

The benefits of using sunscreen (i.e. not getting skin cancer) far outweigh anyway risks.

SparePantsAndLego · 27/04/2017 21:21

If you think sunscreen's bad, just look at this shit. It needs to be banned.

Theimpossiblegirl · 27/04/2017 21:21

I do use suncream, but not every day. It's a tricky one, I don't like to slather my skin in chemicals, but also don't want skin cancer. I try to balance it out, long sleeved, loose clothing, t shirts in the water, etc. Suncream when being exposed to higher levels of UV.

Ktown · 27/04/2017 21:22

It is a question of dose.
You shouldn't ingest large quantities of any chemical!

SparePantsAndLego · 27/04/2017 21:22

Sorry pic missing. think sunscreen's bad, just look at this shit. It needs to be banned.

To think that sunscreen is toxic?
viques · 27/04/2017 21:23

Want to see skin damaged by the sun? Look at the top of your forearm. Now turn your arm over and look at the underside of your arm. See the difference, that's sun damage. My extremely expensive and well respected Harley St ( Devonshire St actually) dermatologist showed me that. If slapping sunscreen on helps to stop that level of damage then pass me the factor 50.

Kipperiscool · 27/04/2017 21:25

You do know that not EVERYTHING you put on your skin is absorbed don't you, OP? Imagine what would happen if you sit in the bath for 2 hours? Or all that makeup? Or rain? Confused

User2468 · 27/04/2017 21:26

I can't be bothered to read all the comments but applying stuff to your skin means that your body ingests it. It is 'topically' applied. I don't understand why we are suddenly open to skin cancer because of being exposed to the sun. I am very suspicious of all the recommendations given to us these days. I am a carer and of all the people I care for, the oldest are those that take least medication. Some are fiercely against taking anything, even pain killers! I think that says a LOT! Do we know what we are taking any more? Do we know what vaccinations contain? Pharmaceuticals is a multi billion dollar industry. That is something to think about. We need to wake up to this.

Yes, my grandparents generation. My grandfather who had several bouts of skin cancer in his later years, caused by skin damage. Or my grandmother who's sister died of influenza. Yes, much better without vaccines and sunscreen.

In 1941 measles killed 1,145 people. Since 2010? 3
Vaccines WORK.