Oxybenzone will absorb into the body at about a 50 to100 times higher concentration than any of the other chemicals they tested. And according to a 2008 government study oxybenzone also showed up in 97% of human urine samples. Research has also found a potential link between oxybenzone and lower testosterone levels in adolescent boys, hormone changes in men, shorter pregnancies and disrupted birth weights in babies, and in rats, disruptions of their endocrine systems. They say that the chemical can mimic the action of natural hormones.

They also say that the sun safest ingredient to use is zinc oxide because it provides great broad-spectrum protection that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

As far as the environment is concerned, according to an article by Harmeet Kaur of CNN Key West, Florida, The Pacific nation of Palau and the state of Hawaii both passed bans on using sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate last year.

Mayor Teri Johnston of Key West said that she believes Key West’s ban will help educate people about the ingredients in the sunscreens they purchase. “After a bold statement from this commission that we ban these two ingredients, there’s not going to be one person who goes into that CVS that doesn’t flip it over and take a look at the ingredients, and then make a personal decision on how they want to handle their sunscreen protection.”

“Although plane windows can block UVB rays, UVA rays can still pass through and given the elevated level, the UV rays don’t have to travel as far to cause damage and can be much more intense at higher altitudes,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, NYC-based dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

While flying, Dr. Garshick says, “It is important to protect from UVA rays in addition to UVB as UVA rays can lead to skin aging as well as skin cancer.”

She recommends “finding a sunscreen that is broad spectrum, which provides coverage for both UVA and UVB, and at least SPF 30. The sunscreen should be applied approximately 30 minutes before flight and you should remember to reapply every two hours, especially if you are traveling on a long flight.”

Women who were dependent were more likely to have begun tanning at an earlier age, to be concerned about their appearance and to have depressive symptoms, compared with women who weren’t dependent.

Nearly 47 percent of the women were college students.

He said women need to understand not only the risks of tanning but to be on the lookout for signs of tanning addiction, such as symptoms of depression.

A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors.

Some clothing certified under international standards comes with information on its ultraviolet protection factor. If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, at least try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Keep in mind that a typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15, so use other types of protection as well.

Hat For the most protection, wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck.

A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.

If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15, or by staying in the shade.

In countries where people drive on the opposite side of the road, the right arm gets more sun exposure.

Don’t forget to close your windows, though even some rays can still get through and cause damage, and don’t forget to apply a good sunscreen.