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 "Ninety-five percent of the pins really positively portrayed the
effectiveness of homemade sunscreens, yet about 65% were
recommending recipes that offered insufficient ultraviolet radiation
protection," Dr. Julie Merten of the University of North Florida in
Jacksonville, the lead author of the new study, told Reuters Health
by phone.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure from the sun and from indoor
tanning is by far the leading cause of skin cancer, which will
affect 20% of Americans at some point in their lives, Dr. Merten and
her team note in a report released by the journal Health
Communication. Sunscreen helps prevent sunburn, and regular use
reduces skin cancer risk.
The US Food and Drug Administration has tested and approved 17
active sunscreen ingredients, but concerns ranging from coral reef
damage to hormone disruption have led many people to search for
alternatives.
Dr. Merten and her colleagues analyzed a sample of 189 pins
mentioning homemade or natural sunscreen. Coconut oil was the most
common ingredient. Many recipes also featured lavender oil,
raspberry oil, shea butter or beeswax. Sixty-three of the pins
claimed a specific sun protection factor (SPF) number, ranging from
2 to 50.
"This is concerning because the ingredients recommended in homemade
sunscreen pins offer minimal scientifically proven broad-spectrum
protection from UV radiation yet are widely shared and promoted as
safe alternatives to commercial sunscreens on Pinterest," Dr. Merten
said.
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"Homemade sunscreen products are risky because they are not
regulated or tested for efficacy like commercial sunscreens. When
you make it yourself, you don't know if it's safe or effective," she
added. "With rising skin cancer rates, the use of effective
broadband sunscreen is critical to protect the skin from UV
radiation and reduce incidence of skin cancer."
"As public health professionals, (we advise people to use) a
commercial sunscreen, and if you're concerned about the chemical
piece go for a mineral sunscreen such as zinc oxide," she said.
Dr. David Leffell, a professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale
School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, reviewed the study for
Reuters Health.
"I would not encourage anyone to make their own sunscreen," he said
by phone. "Sunscreen formulation is actually quite complex. Despite
concerns about various ingredients that come up, they are proven to
be effective."
"I think it's part of an overall trend in health care of
self-diagnosis and self-treatment," Dr. Leffell added. "It's not
going to change, but I would think that after someone has a bad
sunburn after using their homemade beeswax formulation they will get
smarter."
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a
water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that is broad
spectrum, meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2Hrrf3j Health Communication, released May 20,
2019.
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