Free COVID Tests are available

Get free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests on COVIDTests.gov

Beginning November 20, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. (If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests.)

Before You Throw Out “Expired” Tests: Check FDA’s website to see if your COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates have been extended.

IHP Health Warning:

Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, IHP strongly recommends caution in group settings, and wearing masks where appropriate. Outside activities are highly encouraged – weather permitting.

This is in no way a State mandate. Rather, it is a recommendation for the Fishers Island community especially as we look forward to all the special events and friends and family gatherings.

If one is positive for COVID-19, the CDC continues to recommend 5 days of isolation and 5 days of mask-wearing to curb the spread of this outbreak.

Dr. Chris Ingram is available for emergency or urgent questions at (917) 903-3516.

Leave your worries behind — know what’s in your sunscreen

by Carol Blondel

The common wisdom today is that sunscreen is essential to protect ourselves and our family’s safety. Well, the recent findings about certain chemicals found in sunscreen may leave one with the same worries about cancer that sunscreen is meant to alleviate.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates sunscreen to be sure they are safe and effective. They approve sunscreens containing physical or chemical blockers or a mix of two.

Physical or mineral sunscreen ingredients

There are only two active ingredients generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) by the FDA:

  • zinc oxide
  • titanium dioxide

In the administration’s most recent proposal on sunscreen regulations, issued in September 2021, the FDA deemed aminobenzoic acid and trolamine salicylate not GRASE due to bleeding, allergy, and toxicity risks. Fortunately, these two ingredients are “no longer commonly used in U.S. sunscreens” according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They are not outright banned either.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients

The FDA judged that there is not currently enough data to support the safety or harmfulness of twelve other common chemical sunscreen ingredients. Since these ingredients have not been proven hazardous, they are not banned from shelves. The FDA has not asked people to stop using sunscreen with these ingredients but they and many other organizations express potentially major concerns about them—especially Oxybenzone. The European Commission limited the amount of oxybenzone allowed in products sold in the EU to lower concentrations than the FDA allows. The EWG suggests that the public stop using sunscreens containing oxybenzone due to data that indicates it causes disruption to hormones.

CAUTION!!! The FDA requested more testing on these ingredients based on the fact that a large amount of existing data has suggested that the transdermal absorption of some sunscreen active ingredients is risky and unevaluated safety concerns, including the potential for reproductive, developmental, or carcinogenic effects. Until there is more conclusive data on these ingredients, opting for a mineral sunscreen that is deemed safe by the FDA and other authorities is the prudent choice or is the choice that errs on the side of caution.

  • Oxybenzone
  • Avobenzone
  • Sulisobenzone
  • Cinoxate
  • Dioxybenzone
  • Ensulizole
  • Homosalate
  • Meradimate
  • Octinoxate
  • Octisalate
  • Octocrylene
  • Padimate O

Aerosols

Many prefer spray sunscreen for its convenience. In 2021, Harvard and Yale trained scientists at Valisure found the known carcinogen benzene “in several brands and batches of sunscreen” they tested. Benzene is not purposefully added to any cosmetics or drugs. It’s thought that benzene found in sunscreen is the result of the other ingredients used in sprays inadvertently mixing to form the chemical. Since benzene was found in higher concentrations in spray sunscreens than the lotion-based varieties, it is safer to use lotions until the contamination is sorted out. Although there have been many voluntary recalls of products found to contain benzene, it is unclear whether the production practices that caused the contamination have been remedied or that sufficient testing procedures have been adopted. The judgment ultimately falls to consumers on whether they want to take the risk of possible exposure to benzene due to aerosols. Overall, a lotion mineral sunscreen is the safest option.

Risks vs Benefits

Almost every report on the subject of sunscreen includes a clear urging that despite emerging concerns about some chemicals in sunscreens, people should still use sunscreen. The skin cancer foundation advises choosing a broad spectrum which protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. The EWG has an incredibly detailed guide to what they consider the safest sunscreens on the market here.

Expiration

Lastly, FDA regulations require all sunscreens and other nonprescription drugs to have an expiration date unless stability testing conducted by the manufacturer has shown that the product will remain stable for at least three years. That means, a sunscreen product that doesn’t have an expiration date should be considered expired three years after purchase.

References

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2022, April 18). Is sunscreen safe?
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/is-sunscreen-safe

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, September 26). Benzene found in sunscreen: Here’s what you need to know. Health Essentials.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benzene-in-sunscreen/

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 26). How to pick the best sunscreen, according to a dermatologist. Health Essentials.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-choose-the-best-sunscreen-for-your-skin/

The Environmental Working Group. (2023). EWG’s 17th annual guide to sunscreen.
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/executive-summary/

The Environmental Working Group. (2023). The trouble with sunscreen chemicals.
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021, September 24). Amending over-the-counter (OTC) monograph M020: Sunscreen drug products for OTC human use.
https://dps-admin.fda.gov/omuf/omuf/sites/omuf/files/primary-documents/2022-09/Proposed%20Administrative%20Order%20OTC000008_Amending%20M020_Sunscreen_Signed24Sept2021.pdf

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023, May 24). Sunscreen: How to help protect your skin from the sun.
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-helpprotect-your-skin-sun

Valisure. (2021, May 25). Valisure detects benzene in sunscreen.
https://www.valisure.com/valisure-newsroom/valisure-detects-benzene-in-sunscreen

Make healthful eating choices

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides tools to help you make the right choices.

A healthy eating routine is important at every stage of life. It can have positive effects that add up over time. It’s important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients. Make every bite count.

LEARN MORE:

TIP: Cut Back on Added Sugars

When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start with these tips:

Lyme Disease Awareness

Great weather means it’s time for kids to go out and play, but kids aren’t the only ones outdoors.

The CDC reminds you and your children to:

  • wear insect repellent
  • bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors
  • check for ticks daily
  • if you’ve been bitten by a tick and develop fever, rash, or fatigue, seek medical care

To learn more, visit www.cdc.gov/lyme

New York State Bicycle Safety Rules and Reminders

Each year in New York State (NYS), Over 5,100 children ages 10 to 14 years are treated at a hospital because of a bicycle-related injury; 300 of them are injured severely enough to require hospitalization.

The good news is that you, as a parent or caregiver or bike rider, can play a major role in preventing bicycle-related injuries.

New York State Department of Health

The bicycle helmet law in New York is: Children under 14 must wear helmets.
Helmets are required for skateboards and scooters as well.

Some of the other reminders are:

  • Bicyclists ride on the right side of the road with traffic.
  • Bicyclists MUST learn and use hand signals.
  • Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic control devices and rules of the road.
  • If you are operating a bicycle at night –  use a light. Since mostly it’s children on bikes, it’s important that parents explain these rules.
  • All times of the day and night there are many children riding in front of Toppers. They are assuming they have the right of away, but they are very hard to see coming from behind cars and in the dark with no lights.
  • Don’t use cell phones, headphones, earbuds, AirPods, and similar accessories while operating your bike.
  • Be aware of pedestrians on roads and sidewalks.
  • Be aware of all cars and drivers around you.
  • Adults (and anyone over 14) can be role models by being smart and wearing helmets too.

In the end, parents and caregivers need to explain bike safety and the rules to their kids. They need to emphasize that there are distracted drivers on the road.

For more information: