The Toxic Truth About Sunscreens in Swimming Pools

Many are unaware of the hidden dangers lurking in their sunscreen bottles. Most commercial chemical sunscreens contain petrochemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone, Ethylhexyl triazone homosalate and octinoxate. While these ingredients are intended to protect your skin, they may come with significant downsides. These chemicals have been shown to harm marine life and cause coral bleaching when washed off in the ocean. Additionally, when these sunscreens come into contact with chlorine and other cleaning agents used in swimming pools, they form toxic byproducts.

The Alarming Impact of Chemical Sunscreens

Chemical sunscreens are not only harmful to your skin, as the chemical reaction forms carcinogenic compounds such as aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde), but they also react with chlorine in swimming pools to create highly toxic chlorinated organic compounds. These by-products have been linked to various health issues, including hormone disruption and potential skin damage. This reaction creates a hidden health risk in what is supposed to be a safe, fun environment for families. Even for those being more responsible by choosing safer sunscreen and cosmetics, the toxic by-products by others can cause more harm than the sun exposure they are meant to protect against.

Given these risks, it is essential for hotels, public swimming pools, and lakeside beaches to discourage, or even ban, the use of chemical sunscreens to protect both public health and the environment.

A Safe and Effective Alternative

The good news is that you can avoid these dangers by choosing mineral-based sunscreens. Mineral sunscreens that use uncoated non-nano zinc oxide as their active ingredient, are more gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly, creating a physical barrier on the skin’s surface without the risk of forming toxic by-products. Also look for as low number of 100% natural ingredients.

Mineral sunscreens provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, are suitable for sensitive skin, and if you choose zero white-cast they avoid the whitening effect common with many natural sunscreens. By choosing mineral sunscreens, you are making a responsible choice that benefits both your health and the environment. These sunscreens do not pollute rivers, lakes, and seas, thereby safeguarding precious aquatic life. This responsible choice is increasingly important as some countries begin to ban harmful chemical sunscreen ingredients due to their negative environmental impact. There are two types of mineral sunscreen and that is Titanium Dioxide (banned in the EU and Switzerland as a food ingredient) and non-nano zinc oxide which is considered the safest mineral based sunscreen ingredient. 

The Responsible Choice for All Activities

Whether you’re skiing in the mountains, hiking, cycling, or enjoying a day at the lake, beach, or pool, mineral sunscreens provide the protection you need without compromising on safety or environmental responsibility. Trusted by athletes and outdoor enthusiasts for their effectiveness in extreme conditions, PURU mineral sunscreens are a reliable choice for all your sun protection needs.

By making informed choices, we can protect our health, enjoy our summer activities, and contribute to a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.