Spread the word: Sunscreen safety basics

You know wearing sunscreen is good for your skin, right? Protects you from wrinkles, leathery tans, and of course, skin cancer.

But did you also know that some types of sunscreen hurt coral?

A recent study found that up to 10 percent of the world's coral reefs are being bleached to death by chemicals in sunscreen lotions.

The chemicals in sunscreens are to blame, especially compounds like parabens, cinnamates, and benzophenones. Coincidentally, these are some of the chemicals suspected of causing health problems in people.

The Green Guide points out that common chemicals in sunscreen can interfere with human hormones. And for that matter, these chemical-based sunscreens don't always protect against the UVA rays that cause skin aging and cancer.

So what's the safest bet for your skin and the oceans? Choose mineral sunscreens that use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to create a physical block against both UVB rays (which cause sunburns) and the more damaging UVA rays.

Ideal Bite recommends several brands, and The Green Guide has a detailed comparison of sunscreens.