Protection of young skin took a big step forward during the last ten years. Today sunscreens offer significantly better protection when it comes to providing protection compared to the traditional UV protection systems. This development is the introduction of micro particles of Zinc Oxide. When it comes to protecting new and sensitive skin this is now the standard in sunscreen products.

In the field of cosmetics, the most important development this decade is the development of sunscreen based on nanoparticles. As a result, sunscreens offer significantly better protection when it comes to providing protection from the sun compared to the traditional UV protection systems and is now the standard in all good baby sunscreen products. With nanotechnology-based sunscreens, the sunscreen is able to penetrate deeper into the skin layers to cause the cells to react against getting burned by the sun. This is considered to be far superior to simply superficial sun blockage, which is common in conventional sunscreen cosmetics.

“While widespread use of this technology is currently under evaluation, I think one of the main benefits of nanoparticles used in sunscreens will be that the particles can fit into all the nooks and crannies of the skin, packing more protection and more even coverage on the skin’s surface than microsized particles,” - Adnan Nasir, MD, PhD, FAAD, a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of North Carolina.

Friends of the Earth have taken a stance on nanoparticles in sunscreens for many years. This year they continued the theme with a statement, ‘… don’t forget your sunscreen – but make sure it doesn’t have manufactured nanoparticles in it?’ Andrew Maynard, in July 2010, issued a challenge to Friends of Earth and asked this question, “What is your worst case estimate of human health risk from titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens?”

In fact, there is no evidence to suggest there is any increased risk above the risk of exposure to the sun. In Australia during 2008 there were 10,684 new cases of Melanoma presenting and 430,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancers. The fact is by using nanoparticles in sunscreens a child’s health is protected significantly more than traditional methods.

There are claims nanoparticles may pass through the skin and invade healthy cells creating havoc. According to Scientific American (David Biello, August 20, 2007) of the fifteen scientific studies conducted by government, industry and independent researchers not one of them detected human skin penetration, even with an electron microscope.

Avado use Zinc Oxide in their sunscreen in addition to Avocado Oil. Zinc Oxide is a water soluble natural ingredient. Being water soluble means the particle size used in the sunscreen is not relevant. The simple process of sweating dissolves nanosized and regular sized particles of Zinc Oxide equally. This means the risk of ingesting Zinc Oxide is identical as using traditional sunscreens - yet you get better protection. For parents this is a 'no-brainer' when considering the safety of their children in the sun

The debate on the use of nanotechnology in sunscreens has raged for some time, in much the same way as the debate for fluoride in toothpaste. Today it is unthinkable a parent would purchase toothpaste without fluoride once a child knows to ‘spit’. In the same way today we are seeing the stunning results nanotechnology is bringing to the world of sunscreens with powerful scientific evidence showing the fears of early opponents were not justified. In the near future it is likely sunscreen without nanotechnology will be looked at in the same way as toothpaste without fluoride.