Question:
Does anybody have any ideas? I've read a few articles describing how
normal sunscreen can cause cancer, and have no desire at all to cover my
body with such a horrible collection of petrochemicals. Any ideas, web
sites, references, etc would be most welcome!
Answer:
In the US, there are a number of brands of "natural", sunscreens. They
use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as UV blocks, in a bland base of
lotion. Very effective, not very easy to apply and some are
cosmetically less-than-desirable. (They leave a whitish film on the
skin. After all, they are essentially white paint in a tube! Some add
pink pigments to enhance the cosmetics.)
They work by reflecting UV energy away from the body. Like a shield.
But there is a caveat:
Some recent studies indicate that the microcrytalline structure of the
oxides might actually refect the UV INTO the skin, possible contributing
to skin damage.
