SUNSCREEN

Agency is looking at the safety of chemical sunscreen filters, ingredients that protect wearers from UV rays.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire)– We are smack dab in the middle of summer. Mask-free and carefree. But there is one thing you should not forget while enjoying the summer sun…your sunscreen!

Johnson & Johnson is recalling certain Neutrogena and Aveeno spray sunscreens after tests revealed low levels of a carcinogen. Among other recalls are canned cat food, Disney baby rattles and kids' bicycles.

Before you head to beach or pool or spend time outdoors, don't forget the sunscreen. Consumer Reports put 48 sprays and lotions to the test to see which protect skin the best.

SAN ANTONIO Whether you head to the coast or soak up some stay-at-home sun, its important to protect your skin from the harmful rays. Trader Joes Spray SPF 50+ got top ratings, followed by Coppertone Ultra Guard Lotion SPF 70. Its important to note that all of CRs top-rated sunscreens contain an ingredient called oxybenzone, which is a very effective UV filter. Painting pointers to get you started on your next DIY home improvement projectHawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance Lotion SPF 50 and Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Lotion SPF 30 were the highest-scoring oxybenzone-free sunscreens in CR's tests. Consumer Reports also recommends that parents choose lotion sunscreens for kids and use sprays only as a last resort, because kids may inhale the spray, which could cause lung irritation.

Experts and the FDA stress the sun's link to cancer and aging is real, so don't abandon sun protection. The new study reevaluated three of the original four (avobenzone, oxybenzone and octocrylene) and added three additional sunscreen chemicals -- homosalate, octisalate, and octinoxate. After initial absorption, the concentration of the six chemicals in the blood increased each day of application, and remained above FDA safety levels at day seven, well after application had ended. Sun dangersOne in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, the Skin Cancer Foundation says. In the 2019 study, "oxybenzone was absorbed into the body at about 50 to 100 times higher concentration" than the others tested, Andrews said.