Sun protection is essential to prevent skin damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer. However, the way we protect ourselves also matters. Some cosmetic products, including certain sunscreens, may contain chemicals with the potential to interfere with the hormonal system, known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
To help citizens make more informed choices, the European platform NEMESIS for You, developed by the NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) as part of the European NEMESIS project, has just launched new content dedicated to sun protection and reducing exposure to EDCs.
The guide explains, in a simple and accessible way, the difference between chemical and mineral UV filters, identifies ingredients that consumers can learn to recognise on product labels, and brings together practical recommendations for safer sun protection, particularly for children, pregnant women and families.
Among the main recommendations are choosing mineral sunscreens whenever appropriate, selecting products without added fragrance, paying close attention to product labels and expiry dates, and opting for creams or lotions instead of sprays to reduce the risk of inhalation. The guide also reminds readers that, within the European Union, cosmetics are subject to specific safety regulations, including restrictions and concentration limits for certain substances.
The platform also highlights that sunscreen is only one part of an effective sun protection strategy. Avoiding sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day, wearing a hat, sunglasses and suitable clothing, and seeking shade remain essential measures, particularly for babies, young children and pregnant women.
This new content forms part of the mission of the NEMESIS for You platform, launched by NOVA NSPH and its European partners, to make information on endocrine disruptors clearer, more useful and easier to apply in everyday decision-making. Although it is not possible to eliminate exposure to environmental chemicals entirely, small everyday choices can help reduce contact with certain EDCs.
NEMESIS is a project funded by the European Commission that brings together 13 partners from eight countries, combining expertise in toxicology, medicine, biology, environmental health and public health to improve understanding of how endocrine disruptors may influence metabolism and human health.
Read the guide on sun protection and endocrine disruptors on the NEMESIS for You platform: https://nemesisforyou.eu/en
