The dark side of sunscreen?

A new study by an eco-consumer group finds that some sunblocks may increase the growth rate of skin cancer cells. Is yours among them?

Turns out, we might be better off without sunscreen.
(Image credit: Corbis)

Think SPF 50 sunscreen will keep you completely safe from the sun's rays? Don't bet on it. According to a new study by the Environmental Working Group — a nonprofit that seeks to "expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions" — three out of five sunscreens offer "inadequate protection from the sun or actually contain toxic ingredients." Only 5 percent of the roughly 1,400 lotions tested by EWG met the group's stringent safety standards, while 42 percent may actually contribute to the growth of skin cancer. How is that possible? Here, a guide:

Wait ... using sunscreen can promote skin cancer?

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