Sun Care: Sunscreen & After Sun Care
Sunscreen is overused by so many of us. There are instances where sunscreen is necessary, but that really isn’t often. The better approach is being smart with your sun exposure. Out of all the active ingredients in sunscreen products only 2 of them have been studied to be save by the FDA. In fact, all of the harmful chemicals in our sunscreen here in the US are illegal in other countries. In the US they say that they are “unsure” about those chemicals. And if a chemical is “unsure” then it’s safe to say it’s probably best avoided. There is also evidence that these chemical cause harm to our hormone production, the thyroid, liver, and kidneys.
Toxic Chemical in Sunscreens
Oxybenzone- found in 70% of sunscreens (also called benzophenone)
An endocrine disruptor- interrupts our bodies normal hormone production.
Link to reduced sperm count in men
Linked to endometriosis in women
96% of the US population have oxybenzone in their bodies, this just goes to show just how much sunscreen we use as a population.
It is also deadly to certain sea life and coral reefs, because of his in Hawaii they have banned the sale of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate
This chemical also decreases the cell viability of neurons in the brain
Octinoxate-
An endocrine disruptor- interrupts our bodies normal hormone production.
Link to reduced sperm count in men
Neurotoxin
Avobenzone-
An endocrine disruptor- interrupts our bodies normal hormone production.
Link to reduced sperm count in men
Meradimate-
An endocrine disruptor- interrupts our bodies normal hormone production.
Link to reduced sperm count in men
Methylbenzylidene Camphor
This chemical also decreases the cell viability of neurons in the brain
Octocrylene-
Impairs the expression of genes related to brain development and brain metabolism
Benzylidene Camphor-
This chemical also decreases the cell viability of neurons in the brain
It is important to know that these chemicals are also found in makeup products that contain sunscreen, lip balms that contain sunscreen, and moisturizers that contain sunscreen.
A lot of sunscreens contain Vitamin A or some derivative of that like retinol and retinyl palmitate and these have been link to an increased risk of skin cancer, because they increase the speed that malignant cells develop and spread. These harmful chemicals have been found in our blood, urine, and even in breast in a as quick as 2 hours of using a sunscreen product with them. When you use sunscreen and insect repellants simultaneously this multiplies the toxicity of all the chemicals.
Sunscreens with nano particles means they contain microscopic particles measuring less than 100 nanometers. The two safe ingredients in sunscreen, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide can be made toxic if they are nanoscale. Nanoparticles when inhaled can reach all areas of our respiratory tract. Our lungs have a hard time clearing small particles so they stay there and end up passing in to the blood stream. Some studies have some that nanoparticles are able to cross the blood brain barrier (doesn’t surprise me). If these particles do enter the lungs or penetrate our skin they can cause widespread damage to our cells, organs, immune system, nervous system, heart, and our brain. Inhaling these products is must worse for children than adult, but it is still harmful.
Titanium dioxide in nanoparticle form is starting to be recognized as a carcinogen, means it causes cancer. Zinc Oxide in nanoparticle form causes toxicity in our lungs through something called “stress- induced apoptosis.” This is basically when the lung cannot maintain and level of balance it causes stress and cells begin to die off.
Here are the two safe sunscreen ingredients: non-nanosized zinc oxide and non-nanosized titanium dioxide. There are sunscreens out there that only have these safer ingredients. Most spray on sunscreen are nanosized particles, there are a few brands that are not. If it doesn’t say on a company’s website email them and ask. Your safest bet will always be a lotion/rub in kind.
Here are a few great brands I like, and are all non-nano and don’t contain any of the chemicals I’ve listed
Keep in mind that sunscreen products only protect your from UVB rays, the most dangerous in terms of causing skin cancer are UVA rays. It is best to avoid sunscreens with SPF above 50. They’re not necessarily harmful, but the higher the SPF gives you a false sense of security encouraging you to stay in the sun longer. The higher the SPF typically does not give any greater protection anyway. Studies have shown that those using lower-spf get the same amount of sun exposure to UV rays as those using the higher SPF.
Many sun avoidance recommendations make it sounds like any time sun the sun is dangerous. Yes, the sun is the main risk factor of skin cancer, but smart sun exposure is necessary to maintaining balance in our body. Spending time in the sun allows our body to produce vitamin D. Our bodies produce vitamin D in response to the UVB light touching our skin. You want to expose large portions of your skin, without any sunscreen on, to sunlight on a daily basis. You would ideally have 40% of your body exposed to sunlight for short periods of time daily. Be very careful not to get burned. A great rule of thumb is to stay in the sun without sunscreen until your skin turns pink then go in the shade or put on sunscreen. Always protect your face from the sun. A safe sunscreen can be applied to your face. The skin on our face is much thinner and much more susceptible to sun damage. Also it is thinner and much more susceptible to absorbing the harmful chemical in sunscreen so a safe one is very important.
Another great way to protect your body from sun burn is enhancing your internal sunscreen. You can also take the supplement Astaxanthin, which helps to protect your skin from UV radiation damage. A study showed that people who took 4 mg of astaxanthin daily showed significant increase in the amount of time it took the sun to redden their skin. It takes several weeks of taking it regularly to begin to provide protection. It’s even being incorporated to topical sunscreens now because of the protection it offers. You can also get internal protection from eating lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Fresh raw fruits and vegetables deliver the high amounts of nutrients to help avoid sun damage.
Lastly, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from sun damage is after sun care. Putting on an after sun lotion, or aloe vera are best. Be sure you get an aloe vera product that contains 90-100% aloe vera. You can apply this to your body after being in the sun. You can even use it daily if you wanted.
After Sun Care Prodcuts