CLINICAL INFO

Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer | Board Certified Dermatologic Surgeon

Answered by Keith Leblanc, M.D

PRODUCT INFORMATION

In the US market, purely chemical sunscreens make up about 40% of the market, purely physical sunscreens make up about 32% of the market, and combination products (combined chemical and physical) make up the remainder. Of the top 10 most highly rated sunscreens on Amazon, 6 are purely chemical, 3 are purely physical, and one is a combination. “Cosmetic elegance” was the most commonly cited positive feature (rubs in / absorbs well, not greasy, moisturizing, and nice smell), while “greasiness” and “tendency to leave a film” are cited as reasons users do not regularly use sunscreen. See Xu S, Kwa M, et al. Sunscreen Product Performance and Other Determinants of Consumer Preferences. JAMA Dermatol. 2016; 152(8): 920-927.doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.2344. Users seemingly prefer organic (chemical) products similar to the ones we currently use in comparison to non-organic (physical) products from an appearance and wearability standpoint.

The only current GRASE (generally recognized as safe and effective) sunscreen ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (purely physical/non-organic ingredients), while the active ingredients in the product we use (avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, and octisalate) are listed in the “Insufficient data to support positive GRASE determination.” Nevertheless, these chemical ingredients are commonly used ingredients in the US chemical sunscreen market and are widely available at any pharmacy, etc. Most available chemical sunscreens either have our exact ingredient list or exchange octinoxate for octocrylene, a similar UVB filter. That being said, wearability (“cosmetic elegance,” “rubs in well,” etc.) is key, and while chemical sunscreen products can be roadblocks to a small minority of users due to safety concerns (allergy or plasma concentration of organic/chemical UV filters), the clinical effects of systemic absorption of organic UV filters is presently unknown. Furthermore, there is no available data to suggest that ANY organic filters need to be avoided for safety reasons. The overall risk-benefit analysis favors sunscreens as safe and a necessary component of preventative health strategy.

WHAT DOES SKIN CANCER LOOK LIKE?

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. Exposure to 5 sunburns doubles your chances of development. Learn the types and protect your skin.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

This is the most common type of skin cancer. It looks like a flesh-colored, pearl-like bump, or pinkish patch of skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin

This is the second most common type of skin cancer. Often looks like a red firm bump, scaly patch, or a sore that heals and re-opens.

SCC can develop from a precancerous skin growth

Some people develop dry, scaly patches or spots on their skin called actinic keratoses (AKs). Also caused by too much sun, an AK isn’t skin cancer. An AK is a precancerous skin growth that can turn into a common type of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma

Melanoma is often called “the most serious skin cancer” because it has a tendency to spread. It can develop within a mole that you already have on your skin or appear suddenly as a dark spot on the skin that looks different from the rest.

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Knowing the ABCDE warning signs of melanoma can help you find an early melanoma.