Sunscreen Benefits Beat Risks In Pregnancy: MDs

Summary of Article:

Pregnant women should not be scared of using sunscreen to protect themselves from skin cancer despite safety concerns raised in animal studies, Canadian doctors say.  The July issue of Consumer Reports includes sunscreen ratings based on protection from UVA and UVB rays that cause damage such as sunburn, and tests of water resistance claims.  The article also raises questions about potential harmful health effects on a fetus from a compound found in some sunscreens called retinyl palmitate.  "Retinyl palmitate, a type of topical Vitamin A, is an antioxidant that animal studies have linked to an increased risk of skin cancers.  In skin, it converts readily to retinoids, associated with a risk of birth defects in people using acne medications containing them.  As a precaution, pregnant women may want to avoid sunscreens with retinyl palmitate," the magazine said.  "More research is needed, but as of now, the proven benefits of sunscreen outweigh any potential risks".  But warning pregnant women against using sunscreen with retinyl palmitate based on the findings of animal studies with retinyl palmitate based on the findings of animal studies that use much higher doses that can be absorbed through the skin is unwarranted, said Dr. Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk program at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.  "Scaring pregnant women is a national sport both here and in the United States," Koren said in an interview Wednesday.  "The rat studies have never shown sunscreen to cause malformations".  "There have been no studies in humans to show that there have been any problems," said Dr. Cheryl Rosen, a dermatologist at Toronto Western Hospital and director of the Canadian Dermatology Association's sun awareness program.  "I really do think we need to look at sunscreens in a positive note because the benefits outweigh the risks that are mostly theoretical.  We don't have actual risk".  The cancer society recommends that people: Choose a sunscreen that is water resistant with an SPF of at least 30, reapply your sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating, and make sure the product offer both UVA and UVB protection, usually labelled "broad-spectrum".

My Opinion of Article:

I totally agree with article and believe that the type of sunscreen you buy should always offer protection from both UVA and UVB.  It is essential that it be water resistant because usually when you use sunscreen, you go swimming gas well.  If you don't apply the right sunscreen, as said in the article, you could end up burned, or even with skin cancer.  This would be a terrible situation and is not worth the risk, especially for a cause that can be stopped by simply just buying sunscreen with the right amount of protection.  People all across the world need to take this subject a lot more seriously and should definitely consider making the best decision when buying sunscreen