Gibber-gabber
Sunscreen and insect Repellent-LA Times 08/24/09
Dan Anderson over 2 years ago

In the Los Angeles Times there was an article by Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon titled "Which goes on first, insect repellent or sunscreen?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “sunscreen should be applied to the skin before insect repellents.” But the CDC also advises not to use combination products containing repellents and sunscreens: “DEET-containing insect repellents may decrease the effectiveness of sunscreens, and sunscreens may increase absorption of DEET through the skin.”
We also discovered research demonstrating that DEET and the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) mutually increased skin absorption. Oxybenzone has estrogenic activity; increased absorption is not desirable. Sunscreens relying on zinc-oxide or titanium dioxide should not be a concern.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist and Teresa Graedon is an expert in medical anthropology and nutrition. www.peoplespharmacy.com