Suntan lotion is frequently different from sunscreen and sunblock. All are applied as a topical lotion, oil, cream or gel, but only sunscreen and sunblock actually inhibit the sun's rays from reaching the skin. Suntan lotions may have added ingredients to protect against burning, but some lotions actually attract additional ultraviolet rays in order to develop a tan.
Secret Formulas
The exact commercial mixtures used to manufacture suntan lotions are protected by copyright and patent laws, but the ingredients, under the Pure Food and Drug Acts, must be displayed on the product label. Claims of ingredients have been tested by consumer and environmental groups, and some lotion manufacturers have been found guilty of making exaggerated claims. The Environmental Working Group, a consumer watchdog agency, tested suntan lotions and found that certain brands claiming a high sun protection level (SPF) actually failed to "protect sunbathers against all harmful rays." Only 128 of the 785 lotions examined in the study were determined "fully effective and safe to use."
Moisturizers
The sun's rays dry out the skin. Suntan lotion incorporates moisturizers, frequently hemp seed and mineral oils, to reduce this drying effect. Jojoba and aloe are common additives that are also natural, or "green" ingredients. Propylene Glycol (PG), Ethylene Glycol (EG) and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) are utilized in many products to soften the skin. These products are petroleum-based and are also incorporated in the formulas for many other products, including stick deodorants.
Scents and Fragrances
Most suntan lotions include scents or fragrances. Products include tropical scents such as coconut or lemon, that might be found on island vacations, to enhance sales. Some lotions add orange blossom, musk and pine scents. People with allergies, chronic diseases such as Lyme disease, and thyroid problems may experience headaches or shortness of breath from scented products. These people require suntan lotions that are manufactured without any fragrance or scent additives. Berkeley, California-based neuropsychologist Dr. Sheila Bastien warns that "natural" labels on lotions do not mean that the products are free of scents or fragrances.
Sun Blocking Chemicals
Chemicals are used in suntan lotions to block the sun, including zinc, titanium, cinnamates, benzophenones and anthranilates. Some lotions block and absorb ultraviolet rays with zinc or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Various formulations of avobenzone, sold under the trade names of Parsol 1789, Escalol 517 and Eusolex 9020, are also used, according to the Solrx products website. Avobenzone absorbs UVA rays, and products that include it are marketed as "broad-spectrum" suntan lotions.
Other Chemicals
Suntan lotions may also contain chemical ingredients that are known carcinogens. A 1990 study by the School of Public Health at Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine in Israel found traces of a carcinogenic called non-volatile nitrosamine in all of the 20 products studied, three of which contained amounts significant enough to warrant prohibition of their use on young children and babies. While current products do not use this substance, high levels of other ingredients, such as potentially toxic nanoparticles (hundreds of times smaller than a human hair) of zinc and titanium, are included in suntan lotions and remain unregulated by the U.S. FDA, according to Friends of the Earth and the Environmental Working Group.
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