Green Options

There is help at hand for the environmentally-conscious and skin-aware section of society that still can’t quite break free from the belief that a tan is a fashion accessory and a human right …

This post is by Cal Baier-Anderson, Ph.D., a Health Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund.

Ah, summer!  It’s a great time to be outdoors, enjoying the warm, sunny weather.  Before you go outside, be sure to grab your sunscreen, that essential product that protects against skin cancer and sun damage.  But which kind of sunscreen is best?  There is a mesmerizing array of sunscreen options, but for our purposes let’s limit the question to one:  Nano or not nano?

We all recall the white noses of the beach lifeguards.  The zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in these nose-protecting potions form a thick, white barrier that blocks damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation by reflecting and scattering light.  These days, nanoscale titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are increasingly popular sunscreen ingredients, as they provide a UV barrier but are nearly transparent.