What sunscreen are you using?

What sunscreen are you using? There are numerous sunscreens available on the market today so deciding which one is best for you can be difficult. It is of special concern when you are pregnant. In fact, studies show that some dangerous chemicals can get into your bloodstream and travel to the baby and cause a host of problems and complications including developmental and reproductive toxicity.

It is also extremely important that your sunscreen offers a broad spectrum UVB and UVA protection. The original SPF (sun protection factor) was based only on UVB protection, not taking into account the damaging UVA rays that travel deep into the skin and cause premature aging. In fact, up to 90% of the visual changes attributed to aging are caused by sun exposure! That is according to the Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/sunscreen.pdf . That percentage is staggering.

Sunscreen is necessary and essential for everyone including pregnant women and that is why we were incredibly contentious in developing Pretty Mommies Protect & Reflect SPF 30. Our sunscreen contains a pure non-nano particle zinc oxide. Why is that important? Our sunscreen does not get absorbed by the skin and therefore does not go into the bloodstream. It does just what the name says protects your skin and reflects the harmful ultra violet rays both UVA and UVA, providing you with broad spectrum sun protection.

Another spectacular advantage is it goes on clear! It doesn’t leave behind that horrible white residue that is so commonly associated with the old zinc sticks. Our sunscreen also acts as an incredible makeup primer to give your makeup that airbrushed flawless finish. It does so safely and naturally.

On another note about chemical sunscreens there is more and more information coming out that it may do more harm than good. By theory chemical sunscreen absorbs the ultra-violet rays and transfers them into heat energy but what does that mean exactly, what happens to them? This question has lead to a lot of speculation which draws even more concern. One thing that seems to be accepted is that there have been several studies to support that chemical sunscreens can make hyperpigmentation worse. So for many pregnant women suffering from Melsama regardless of the dangerous to the baby this is just another reinforcing factor to use physical sun protection.

There is also a common misconception about SPF factors related to the number. Many people assume that an SPF 30 provides your skin 30 times the protection than if no sunscreen is used. That is not true. In fact,the information from some sunscreen manufacturers is so misleading that the FDA has passed new regulations that no company can claim more than an SPF of 50+, because there is absolutely no evidence of sun protection higher than that. This regulation will be effective in December of this year (it was just extended). So you can better understand how the SPF is measured consider this an SPF 15 blocks out 93% of UVB radiation while an SPF 30 blocks out 97%.

Please know with Pretty Mommies you are getting the safest sun protection for you and your baby!