Several studies have demonstrated that ingredients found in most sunscreens today are affecting our planet. Coral reefs provide food, medication and tourism jobs for people, which have been valued at $30 billion to $172 billion per year.1 It is estimated that between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen are released into coral reefs each year.2 A number of ingredients found in sunscreens and other cosmetic products have been found to bleach coral reefs and impact marine life.3 We have proof that some sunscreen ingredients damage reefs, but what about our lakes, the hearth and marine life overall? It’s time to make a change in the sunscreens we recommend and sell to clients.
Damaging Sunscreen Ingredients
For years, oxybenzone and octinoxate have been used to protect people’s skin from UVB radiation. Some research has shown that these two filters can wash away from the skin while swimming, bleaching and damaging coral reefs in addition to disturbing marine life.
References
- www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/02/06/we-have-one-reef-key-west-bans-popular-sunscreens-help-keep-coral-alive/
- www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-moves-to-ban-sale-of-sunscreens-with-coral-harming-chemicals/
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291018/
Manon Pilon is a medical spa consultant and the international director of education of Nelly De Vuyst and Derme & Co. She has more than 35 years in the spa industry and wrote her own book, Anti-aging The Cure: Based On Your Body Type
