Dr. Denis Dudley Mission Statement:
Welcome to my personal blog dedicated to our children and their children. Thirty years ago, I found that Soluble Organic UV Filters (SOUVF) or petrochemicals, used in sunscreens applied to the skin of an expectant or nursing mother reached the unborn or newborn. I retired shortly after from clinical OB-Gyn and my sub-specialty practice in Maternal Fetal Medicine/Reproductive Endocrinology. I have spent the last 30 years examining why these SOUVF sunscreens are neither safe nor effective. Many studies now confirm that these small fat soluble chemicals easily permeate human skin and literally bathe every cell – even those in the brain – within the body of any adult, child, and even the fetus (bioavailability). The FDA has affirmed this bioavailability and also agreed with 30 years of published science that SOUVF are neither safe nor effective. They agreed with my position that there was persuasive evidence showing only insoluble UV filters like the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide were safe and effective. These and other insoluble filters do NOT enter intact skin because of their large molecular weight, and this eliminates the risks of hormone disruption and DNA damage associated with SOUVF. Insoluble UV Filters are safe. They also include the best UVA filters now shown by modern science to be the main driver of skin cancer. Benefit without Risk.
For 30 years, I spend my days researching and developing sunscreens as the CEO of a sunscreen manufacturer- CyberDERM “The Sunscreen Company“. I started it with my wife - Dr. Sharyn Laughlin Photobiologist/Dermatologist - a small family owned company dedicated to making safe and effective ultra UVA protecting sunscreens using zinc oxide. No brand name sunscreen companies were interested 20 years ago in my simple concept- safety first then efficacy- and no downstream risk to the environment. I travel around and advocate to regulators for using only mineral sunscreens in the 19 or so island states that have banned or restricted non-mineral sunscreens. Our products had to apply clear- unlike older mineral sunscreens- to motivate the high risk group of young women and older adults to use more effective mineral sunscreens – be safe for the fetus and actually prevent skin cancer. I wanted this space to be separate from our company blog to share my own findings along the way. These are my personal thoughts but very evidenced based. I can provide the medical/scientific references that inform my advice to help you make the best informed decision for your family’s health.