Q: I live in the United States where sunscreens containing the substance mexoryl are illegal, but I noticed on a recent camping trip to Canada that they are readily available in any drug store north of the border. Are these products safe to use?
A: The Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. has banned the importation of mexoryl because it believes the chemical could be hazardous to the environment. It is not the individual’s personal health that the FDA is concerned with in this case.
Read Also
Food can play a flavourful role in fun summer activities
Recipes – popsicles are made with lactose-free milk and yogurt so are perfect for those who can’t tolerate milk, while everyoneelse will also enjoy them
Mexoryl in its pure and concentrated form that is used in the manufacturing process is acidic, so the drum containers could become toxic waste. There is also concern over accidental spillage. However the amounts contained in a bottle of sunscreen are tiny and even people with extremely sensitive skin can use it. In fact, L’Oreal that makes the Ombrelle family of sunscreens has recently released a new product designed for people with fair and sensitive skin.
It is called Lotion SPF 45 and contains mexoryl with titanium dioxide.
It is important to use a good sunscreen, particularly for children and fair-skinned people. More than a million people in North America are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, not to mention the premature wrinkling of the skin and loss of elasticity that cause a person to look older than she is.
Mexoryl blocks the harmful ultraviolet light A as well as UVB rays. The earlier sunscreens only filtered UVB so while they may have helped prevent sunburn, they did nothing to reduce the risks of skin cancer.
If you are unable to buy mexoryl-containing products in the U.S., you may prefer to try an organic product. It is best to buy a brand without perfumes that can irritate the skin as well as attract mosquitoes. There is a product distributed by Aubrey Organics that makes Ultra 15 Natural Herbal Sunblock. The formula includes PABA with willow bark extract, myrtle, rose hip seed oil, jojoba and carrot oils.
Q: I have just been bitten by a mosquito. I live on a farm in a rural area. How long is it before I know if I have caught the West Nile virus and what symptoms should I look out for?
A: Lots of people ask me this question. I have been bitten by mosquitoes too. It’s almost inevitable in this part of the world. Luckily the odds of catching the West Nile virus are low, and even then most people will have only a mild flu-like illness with a slight fever. It is extremely rare to develop the encephalitis that results in neurological symptoms such as brain damage and paralysis.
Many of us will not even know if we have had the virus. This is unfortunate because it would be helpful if there were some sort of test to tell whether we had antibodies or not. If we knew that we were immune then there would be no need to worry about long-sleeved shirts and mosquito repellents. The veterinary profession always seems to be ahead of the game since there is a vaccine for horses and other animals but nothing available for humans.
The virus takes 10-15 days to incubate before symptoms of illness show. The type of mosquito that carries the West Nile virus prefers urban or suburban areas.
This type of mosquito also does not usually appear much before July.
Clare Rowson is a medical doctor with a practice near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
