If you've seen posts online advertising natural, homemade sunscreen be cautious. A study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hopsital found these don't live up to their promises.
The study analzyed popular pins on Pinterest about natural sunscreen. It found 95% of the pins positively portrayed DIY sunscreen and 68% recommend recipes. But those recipes offer insufficient UV radiation protection, according to the study authors.
People are sharing these recipes because they're concerned about the chemical ingredients used in commercial sunscreen. But they shouldn't be, said Dr. Lara McKenzie, the lead researcher on the study.
"Don't [use the recipes for] homemade sunscreen," she said. "We know that's not going to be effective."
Common ingredients found in these recipes include coconut oil, shea butter, essential oils, and zinc oxide. These ingredients do have minimal sun protection properties, Dr. McKenzie said, but they protection is not consistent, and the amounts recommended are not enough to shield your skin from the sun.
Some pins claim to provide an SPF 2 to 50, but recipes made at home can't be tested for safety or effectiveness. At best, she said, you'll end up with a sunburn. At worst, you're putting yourself at risk of developing skin cancer in the future.
Dr. McKenzie advised people to stick to FDA approved sunscreens, which are laboratory tested and have stringent criteria for effectiveness.
