Retinyl Palmitate (vitamin A)
A more recent ingredient being added to select sunscreens is retinyl palmitate. Retinyl palmitate is a form of vitamin A commonly used in cosmetic products to reduce wrinkles and fine lines by acting as an antioxidant that slows skin aging.
The problem with retinyl palmitate, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), is that there is scientific evidence that illustrates that this form of vitamin A, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and, thus, skin cancer.
The evidence EWG refers to is a study conducted by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2009. This study is, however, under review and will not be completed until next year.
So should we avoid retinyl palmitate?
As the FDA is still reviewing the research concerning its safety, it might be vigilant to avoid retinyl palmitate in sunscreen until we know more about its possible consequences. This should not be hard to do. According to EWG’s analysis of sunscreens, only 44% of sunscreens sold on American shelves, and by extension Canadian shelves, contain this ingredient.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Sunscreen
Although, according to the latest survey by Statistics Canada, 90% of Canadians have more than adequate amount of vitamin D to provide optimal bone health, two-thirds of Canadians (67%) are below the recommended levels of vitamin D that is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer and adenomas.
One of the best sources of vitamin D is sun exposure. Given our lengthy Canadian winters and our culture of working/playing indoors, Canadians simply do not get enough sun exposure to benefit from its vitamin D source.
Sunscreen, as good as it may be at blocking harmful UV rays, also acts as a vitamin D barrier. So on one hand sunscreen may protect us from skin cancer, but on the other hand it may contribute to other cancer risks.
So what should we do?
Vitamin D deficiency is a comprehensive topic that requires some time to discuss. If you are concerned about vitamin D deficiency, please consult your general practitioner.
It terms of sun safety, even if sunscreen may impact our levels of vitamin D, sunscreen remains a strongly recommended secondary measure of sun protection. But remember, primary prevention remains staying in the shade, avoiding the sun during peak hours or remaining covered while outdoors.
Now lets go out and have some fun in the sun!
Environmental Working Group Sunscreen Guide
If you would like more information regarding sunscreen safety, please refer to the Environmental Working Groups Sunscreen Guide. The guide provides some useful quick tips as well as a comprehensive rating system of many available sunscreens. It also provides a search feature, which allows you to search for your sunscreen rating.
The Guide can be found here:
Sources of Information
Canadian Cancer Society. (March, 2010). Sunscreen and cancer. Accessed on June 18th,
2010 at http://bit.ly/dqgNog
Environmental Working Group. (2010). EWG’s 2010 sunscreen guide. Accessed on June
15th, 2010 at http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/
Gavura, Scott. (June, 2010). The great sunscreen cover up. Science-Based Medicine.
Accessed on June 18th, 2010 at http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=5541
Statistics Canada. (2009). Vitamin D status of Canadians as measured in the 2007 to
2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Accessed on June 30th, 2010 at http://bit.ly/aAkj2e
