Getting a little sunshine is important for helping our bodies generate Vitamin D, an important supplement for strong bones, and for regulating our levels of serotonin and tryptamine, neurotransmitters that keep our moods and sleep/wake cycles in order. Like anything, though, too much sun can cause health issues, from sunburns to skin cancer. For those of us spend more time in the sun than doctors recommend—they say to stay indoors between 11 AM and 3 PM on sunny days to be safe—sunscreens can be lifesavers.
Getting too much sun is bad because of ultraviolet radiation, 90 percent of which comes in the form of Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays that are not absorbed by the ozone layer and penetrate deep into our skin. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays make up the rest. These rays are partially absorbed by the ozone layer (which makes preserving the ozone layer crucial for our health), and because they don’t penetrate our skin as deeply, can cause those lobster-red sunburns. Both types of UV rays are thought to cause skin cancer.
Yet while most sunscreens block out at least some UVB radiation, many don’t screen UVA rays at all, making their use risky. According to the non-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG), by far most of the commercially available sunscreens do not provide adequate protection against the sun’s harmful UV radiation and may also contain chemicals with questionable safety records.
In all, 84 percent of the 831 sunscreens EWG tested did not pass health and environmental muster. Many contained potentially harmful chemicals like Benzophenone, homosalate and octyl methoxycinnamate (also called octinoxate), which are known to mimic naturally occurring bodily hormones and can thus throw the body’s systems out of whack. Some also contained Padimate-0 and parsol 1789 (also known as avobenzone), which are suspected of causing DNA damage when exposed to sunlight. Furthermore, EWG found that more than half the sunscreens on the market make questionable product claims about longevity, water resistance and UV protection.
As a result, EWG has called on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to establish standards for labeling so consumers have a better idea of what they may be buying. In the meantime, consumers looking to find out how their preferred brand stacks up can check out EWG’s online Skin Deep database, which compares thousands of health and beauty products against environmental and human health standards.

For more info on ingr in sunscreen see link:
Natural Health Information Articles and Health Newsletter by Dr. Joseph Mercola (search: sunscreen)

You would be surprized at he levels of toxic chemicals your smearing on your face/body



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Slathering on Sunscreen Does Not Prevent Cancer - Articles
… are unsure whether sunscreen prevents against melanoma, the deadliest type of s … They suggest that sunscreen may prevent sunburn, but may fail to protect against … sunscreen use, though researchers suggest this may only show …
http://articles.mercola.com/2003/aug/2/sunscreen_cancer.htm
Trash Your Sunscreen and Other Summer Sun Tips - Articles
… to you to apply sunscreen before going out in the sun, as the media has been bombarding Amer … Sunscreen is a toxic chemical that can cause problems in your system and increase your risk o … best when you use sunscreen your body is absorbing synthetic chemicals, and with experts’ re …
http://articles.mercola.com/2004/may/26/summer_sun.htm
Sunscreen Toxic - Articles
… per cent of sunscreen brands, was found to kill mouse cells even at low doses in a st … be damaged if a sunscreen containing OMC penetrates the outer layer of dead skin and comes i … represents sunscreen manufacturers in Britain, said that OMC "has been thoroughly tes …
http://articles.mercola.com/2000/oct/15/sunscreen.htm
Sunblock Can Actually Increase Your Cancer Risk - Articles
Remember also never to use sunscreen, another key.
http://articles.mercola.com/2003/jul/2/sunblock_cancer.htm
Slathering on Sunscreen Does Not Prevent Cancer - Articles
… are unsure whether sunscreen prevents against melanoma, the deadliest type of s … They suggest that sunscreen may prevent sunburn, but may fail to protect against … sunscreen use, though researchers suggest this may only show …
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/08/02/sunscreen-cancer.aspx
Sunscreen Toxic - Articles

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"Great ideas often recieve violent opposition from mediocre minds"...................Einstein

Depending on the Ph level of the sunscreen I'd say they're an important necessity these days.

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Never, never, never give up. ~Winston Churchill | Comfortwear