The best sunscreens for pregnant women are pure mineral sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens sit on top of the skin and deflect harmful UV rays away from the skin whereas chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and bloodstream. To find a pregnancy-safe sunscreen, check the ingredients, and stay away from any active ingredients other than Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.
Phrases like, “mineral sunscreen,” “chemical-free,” “non-nano,” and “reef-safe” can be helpful but the they are not regulated, meaning anyone can make the claims regardless of whether it is true. The term, "Mineral-based sunscreen generally refers to mixtures of Zinc-Oxide and Chemical UV filters, many of which exhibit human and environmental toxicity.
The only way to know whether a sunscreen is made with ingredients that are safe for you, your baby, and the environment is to check its ingredients. Minerals Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are the only two active sunscreen ingredients recognized as safe and effective by the FDA. On the other hand, chemicals, Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene, Octisalate, and Homosalate are examples of common active ingredients not recognized as safe and effective. At TropicSport, we only sell pure mineral sunscreens and chemical-free skincare products. As a result, all of our products are pregnancy safe.
You want to make sure you are using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. A sunscreen with rated SPF 30 will protect you from 97% whereas a SPF 15 sunscreen would only be protected from 93% of UV rays, increasing the risk of skin damage. The skin is already sensitive during pregnancy, so you want to make sure to protect it the best you can.
Looking into SPF ratings above 30, SPF 50 will protect against 98% of ultraviolet rays, just one percent more than SPF 30. SPF claims above 50 are generally recognized as giving a false sense of security. For added UV protection cover your skin with clothing on top of the sunscreen you have applied. Wear a hat and try to avoid being directly in the sun as much as possible. Learn more about UV rays and sunscreen terminology here!
It’s no secret that pregnant women have to avoid many popular activities, foods, and products to make sure their babies are born healthy. The list may seem daunting at first, and you may have a lot of questions about what is safe and what isn’t. Chemical sunscreens should hold a prominent place on this list.
Certain chemicals used to make many types of sunscreens have been proven to cause birth defects when used by the mother during pregnancy. Learn more below about how to choose the right types of sunscreens with the safest ingredients, so you never have to worry about whether you are harming your baby.
The top four ingredients in sunscreen to avoid when pregnant are Oxybenzone, Octocrylene, Avobenzone, and Octinoxate. All of these chemical ingredients have the potential to harm you, your baby, and the environment. Fortunately, checking the label on a bottle of sunscreen before purchasing it is a fairly quick and simple process as long as you know what to look for. You should also check your moisturizers, lotions, and cosmetics to find out if these ingredients are in products you are already using.
Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin, allowing the chemical ingredients to enter the bloodstream. When tested, these chemicals have been found in blood, urine, and even breastmilk. To make sure you don't purchase chemical sunscreens read: Mineral Vs Chemical Sunscreen: What is Mineral Sunscreen?. In that article, we guide you through the main differences between the two sunscreens and ways to identify one from the other!
Once the chemicals enter the body, they can cause skin cancer and other dangerous problems, including birth defects in unborn babies. One of the most popular ingredients in chemical sunscreens, oxybenzone, has been linked to endocrine problems and Hirschsprung’s Disease, which requires surgical correction in the colon. Oxybenzone and Octocrylene have also been known to cause hormone disruptions and allergic reactions. A recent study showed that octocrylene degrades into a compound called benzophenone, a known carcinogen and endocrine distuptor. These ingredient are especially dangerous when applied to children.
Yes, you can and should wear sunscreen when you're pregnant, as long as it does not contain chemical active ingredients. Pregnancy-safe sunscreens contain only non-nano active ingredients, Titanium Dioxide and or Zinc Oxide and have a SPF of 30 or higher. Incorporate it into your daily skin care routine, year round. Yes, you still need to wear sunscreen in the fall and winter!
One of the best sunscreens for pregnancy is TropicSport. It is a great choice for anyone who wants to avoid chemical ingredients, not only in sunscreen but in all their skin care products. We work hard to ensure that everything we make is safe for the environment and also for your skin, even during pregnancy. All of our products are reef-safe, chemical-free, cruelty-free, and even come in recyclable packaging. Check out TropicSport today and find a sunscreen that works for you.
Read our Safest Sunscreen for Babies blog, so you know what sunscreens are safe to use on your newborn!
Add our UV Index Meaning Blog to your reading list to learn all about the UV index.
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