New FDA regulations on Organic Sunblock

The FDA is putting new regulations on organic sunblock labels by the end of 2009. These new regulations will give consumers information on the amount of UVA screening in their products. UVA radiation (aging rays) penetrate the skin deeper than UVB (burning rays) Many labels that you see now such as SPF 50+, organic sunblock, and waterproof will be prohibited. Although the best organic sunblock for skin is long sleeves, pants, wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses, or staying out of the sun altogether, sometimes these choices aren’t practical in everyday life. A organic sunblock will actually block the sun’s rays from penetrating the skin and sunscreen will help filter out some of the damaging rays. A combination of both is ideal. To understand the difference between all the different organic sunblock and sunscreens available I have listed them here.

Chemical UVA (aging) sunblock: Avobenzone (Parsol 1789), Dioxybenzone, Ecamsule, Menthyl Anthranilate, Meradimate, Oxybenzone, benzophenone, benzophenone-3, Sulisobenzone, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide.

Chemical UVB (burning) sunblock: Amniobenzoic acid, cinnamates, octyl methoxyxinnamate (OMC), Ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate (can casue contact irritation, non-comedogenic, widely used), cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, octocrylene, octinoxate, octisalate, oxybenzone, octyl dimethyl paba, padimate O, para-amniobenzoic acid (PABA), salicylates, octyl salicytate(OCS)-can cause contact irritation, widely used, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide, trolamine salicylate, zinc oxide.

Physical Organic sunblock: These are UVB and UVA protection, non-irritating and non- allergenic: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide.
Be careful to use the right organic sunblock to prevent sun burn.