Fun in the Sun! Fertility (and Eco) Safe Sunscreens

It’s officially summer! And you’re probably thinking about purchasing a fresh tube of sunscreen to protect your beautiful skin under the sun.

But, if you are thinking about getting pregnant or are currently pregnant, it’s really important to know that certain chemical ingredients in mainstream sunscreen products can be harmful to fertility for both men and women and have been shown to be harmful to the development of the baby.

This doesn’t mean you can’t use them. Just be sure to use the right ones.

Do we even need sun?

We’ve long heard about the risks for skin cancer and wrinkles, too. On the other hand: the sun has vitamin D and you need Vitamin D. What to do?

It’s a tough one that involves balance. The 1980’s baking in the sun with baby oil wasn’t healthy, but neither is staying inside or wearing full body sun shirts, hats, and chemical-laden sunscreen.

The sun is actually the best way to get your Vitamin D. You need about 15-30 minutes of midday sun several days a week. How many of us actually get that? If you are in an office, a quick lunch run in business wear kinda doesn’t count.

If you are home, laying outside or just going outside is sufficient. Doing a walk in shorts and t-shirt with a baseball cap for 30 minutes would be great if it’s not sweltering hot.

This goes back to my favorite goldilocks rule: not too much and not too little, but just right.

What’s just right when it comes to sunscreen?

It’s different for different people, depending on how easily you burn, but we all do need some sun and some sun protection. Vitamin D is important for fertility and low Vitamin D is a risk factor for reduced fertility as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes.

How do we make Vitamin D from the sun?

When your skin is exposed to the sun, it makes vitamin D from cholesterol. The sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays permeate the cholesterol in the skin cells and this provides the energy for vitamin D production in your body. Pretty cool! And even more efficient than eating Vitamin D-rich foods such as fatty fish and Vitamin D-fortified dairy products.

You don’t need to burn or even get a deep tan to get enough sun. Note: There is a big difference between being outside for 15-30 minutes during the day without sunscreen and baking at the beach. f you are out at the pool or the beach, it’s a good idea to protect yourself with a sun shirt and hat or a safe sunscreen.

Importance of sunscreen: Skin cancer and the sun

Excess sunlight can damage the skin and this damage can overtime be a risk factor for skin cancer. This damage is called oxidation. Excessive and chronic exposure to UV light can overwhelm the antioxidant and immune response your body normally provides—and thus sun damage and skin cancer happen.

Skin cancer can be serious. While many skin cancers are benign, some can be deadly such as melanoma. Melanoma can be treated if it is caught early before it spreads. Regular check-ups at the dermatologist are a good idea especially if you have any moles that are new, growing, or uneven around the edges.

Types of Sunscreens

You may have noticed that some sunscreens make you look a little pasty and others don’t. That’s because sunscreens have active ingredients that come in two forms: chemical and mineral.

Chemical sunscreens contain carbon-based compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone, which create a chemical reaction and change UV rays into heat, then release that heat from the skin.

Some of these chemicals contain synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs are chemicals or mixtures of chemicals that hinder the way the body's hormones work.

Mineral sunscreens contain ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which sit on the surface of the skin and deflect damaging UVA rays. Recent studies suggest that although sunscreen protects our skin from damage from the sun, many of the commonly used chemicals and minerals within them can, unfortunately, lead to infertility.

How sunscreen can impact female and male fertility and the baby

Skin is the largest organ in the body. What you put on your skin matters for your health, including everything from cancer to fertility. Unfortunately, many of our mainstream beauty, skin, and even household products contain harmful chemicals, which in sunscreens can have a negative impact on both sperm and egg quality and the health of the baby.

For men, researchers at the University of Copenhagen found that filters commonly used in sunscreens which absorb ultraviolet light could affect male fertility by stopping sperm from functioning properly. The filters mimic the effects of the female hormone progesterone. This mimicry changes the signaling inside of the sperm cells, affecting the quality of the sperm.

For women, we know that chemical ingredients in sunscreen can act as endocrine disruptors, disrupting hormones and potentially leading to adverse outcomes in pregnancy and the baby’s health.

For example, oxygenzone and oxybenzone can be absorbed into the bloodstream, which can impact the fetus and has been shown to potentially cause developmental problems and birth defects as well as low birth weights, coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and other adverse conditions.

Other studies have found traces of oxybenzone in breast milk, which makes one’s child at risk of being exposed to harmful chemicals passed on during nursing.

Other ingredients harmful to fertility that might be present in mainstream sunscreens include Parabens and Phthalates, both of which are endocrine disruptors and are linked to decreased fertility, miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and diminished ovarian reserve.

In short, these toxic ingredients are best avoided entirely.

Did you know that sunscreens can also harm our oceans and coral reefs?

Several sunscreens have been banned in Hawaii and Key West for destroying the environment and coral reefs. This is a problem worldwide. The EU has also found that the three main ingredients in chemical sunscreens are not safe to be used.

My favorite sunscreen is SPF 30 which includes zinc oxide. My husband did ask if I was trying out for the cast of Les Miserables when I first put it on… which can be fixed with blending it in well. :)

One specific brand which is rated No. 1 (the very best, nontoxic) by the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep Database is Raw Elements Face + Body SFP 30 which is also all-natural, water-resistant, moisturizing, good for kids, and coral-reef safe. Plus it comes in a reusable tin, so it’s plastic-free. Win/win.

Another Option Beyond Sunscreen: SPF Shirts

One option is to wear SPF shirts and bodygear if you’re at the beach or pool for a long period of time. Long sleeve shirts can be fashionable and hats can keep the wrinkles away. It is a great way not to worry about lathering your whole body with a chemical sunscreen, and just use a mineral sunscreen on your face, neck, hands, legs and feet not covered with the SPF shirt.

Enjoy the summer sun—carefully!