Retinyl Palmitate is the new Paraben.
Retinyl Palmitate, or simply written as Retinol ( but is different from Retinol – however both are forms of Vitamin A ) on products that claim to have Retinol, has been caught under the fire recently when United States Senator Charles Schumer ousted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may be withholding scientific evidence that a common sunscreen ingredient Vitamin A or retinyl palmitate, could be promoting, rather than protecting against, certain types of skin cancer.
Retinyl palmitate is an ingredient found in many sunscreensand skin products. It’s a form of Vitamin A that over the years has been shown to be very beneficial to the skin. To be exact, Retinyl is the ester of retinol (vitamin A) and it is combined with palmitic acid, which is a saturated fatty acid that is found in humans, animals and plants and is (as the name implies) a major component of palm oil.
Now, studies are showing otherwise. The FDA has just finished up a study (although it has not been released yet) about the effects of retinyl palmitate on the skin, using mice as their test subjects. Their findings suggest that RP stimulates lesion and tumor growth when in direct sunlight. And this is in many sunscreens, which is designed for use in direct sunlight!
The data, which was produced by the National Toxicology Program and stems from studies on hairless mice, was approved earlier this week by the group’s independent advisory panel. It echoes the Environmental Working Group’s attack on the sunscreen industry, which TGL reported this spring.
Some 40 percent of sunscreens contain retinyl palmitate, including popular brands Coppertone, Banana Boat, Panama Jack, Hawaiian Tropic, and Neutrogena.
The Environmental Working Group EWG issued a statement yesterday saying that it “recommends manufacturers of cosmetics, sunscreens and other personal care products remove retinyl palmitate from all products to be used on sun-exposed skin and that consumers avoid buying products that contain this chemical.”
For more information, head over to Truth In Aging.
What to Avoid in Sunscreens:
- Vitamin A or retinyl palmitate. New data from the government shows that slathering vitamin A on your skin can promote the development of tumors and lesions more quickly, compared to skin not coated with vitamin A.
- Oxybenzone. It is a synthetic estrogen, and is potentially a harmful endocrine disruptor that contaminates the body.
- Bug repellent. Avoid sunscreen that contains insect repellent; it’s just more chemicals soaking into your skin.
- Sprays and powders. They can pollute the air with tiny stuff and particles that aren’t healthy for you.
NOTE : Retinyl Palmitate doesn’t just appear in sunscreen, but also in anti-wrinkle creams. Check especially for creams which claim to have Retinol like RoC, SkinDoctor’s Retinol Treatment, etc.
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