Sunscreen: Avoid products with chemical UV filters

Created: 07/18/2022, 11:58 am

By: Judith Brown

Sunscreens that leave a white haze on the skin are a sign of good ingredients.

Others, however, should be avoided.

Munich – With the threat of hot summer temperatures, it is best to look for a nice spot in the shade or to cool off in the water.

The skin should always be protected from UV radiation.

Sunscreens offer this protection.

However, you should pay close attention to which product you choose when buying.

Sunscreens with chemical UV filters can trigger allergies and even mess up the hormonal balance.

Sunscreen: Avoid products with chemical UV filters

Be careful when buying sunscreen: Chemical UV filters can cause damage to the body.

(Iconic image) © mabe123/IMAGO

A white haze or film often remains on the skin when sunscreen is applied.

While it may be annoying to many people, it is a sign that the product is a good one.

Because this veil has something to do with the UV filter used in the sunscreen.

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bfs) distinguishes between two different types of filters.

Insoluble (physical, mineral) UV filters scatter and reflect the sun's rays.

They form a kind of barrier on the skin.

This reflective effect also creates the well-known white veil.

The whiter the veil on the skin, the more mineral particles the sunscreen contains and the higher the UV protection usually is.

Sun creams or lotions with soluble (chemical, organic) UV filters absorb UV radiation and emit it as lower-energy, longer-wave thermal radiation.

They penetrate the skin.

They can be recognized by ingredients such as octocrylene, homosalate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, and benzophenone-3.

These chemical UV protection substances have long been criticized because they can possibly act like hormones in the body.

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Sunscreen: Ingredients can affect hormones and cause allergies

Some people are allergic to the ingredients in sunscreen.

The skin is usually itchy, irritated and reddened.

Sometimes the skin can become inflamed in the areas where the cream has been applied, or acne, pimples and pustules can develop.

As soon as you notice that you are developing one or more of the symptoms after application, you should consult a doctor.

However, sun creams with chemical UV filters can not only trigger allergies, but are also suspected of interfering with the hormonal balance.

Certain substances in chemical sunscreens are said to have a similar effect to the menstrual cycle and pregnancy hormone progesterone.

It is a naturally occurring sex hormone that is responsible for the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryonic development in women's bodies

According to a study, old, unused sunscreen can also be dangerous because it can be carcinogenic.

The best sunscreens for summer 2022 were recently chosen by Stiftung Warentest.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.