This time of year, it’s surprising if you haven’t seen any magazine ads, commercials, or social media ads promoting a sunscreen you should buy to “protect yourself from the sun.” Unfortunately, the sunscreens that influence you are not products that are right for you. The emphasis in selling these products is that you have to lather them up or you could get skin cancer. However, recent studies have found that sunscreen may be doing more harm than good.
Vitamin D is essential for the body to function properly.
The information and studies have shown that vitamin D is extremely important not only for building and maintaining a strong immune system and strong bones, but also for Cancer prevention. The best way to get enough vitamin D into your body is through natural sunlight without sun protection. Most sunscreens block the UVB rays necessary for vitamin D production.
Most sunscreens block the absorption of vitamin D through toxic chemicals that penetrate through the skin into the bloodstream and throughout the body. Using these toxic sunscreens could actually cause cancer. Ingesting toxic chemicals into your bloodstream and blocking vitamin D is not a good combination for your health.
Are sunscreens safe to use?
According to the CDC, while skin cancer rates have doubled, the amount of sunscreen used has also doubled. The toxic chemicals in sunscreen, which are then burned into the skin by the hot sun, could cause irregularities in the cells and thus skin cancer. Most sunscreens you see in mainstream markets contain ingredients that block UVB rays. UVB rays are needed for the production of vitamin D. So, by using UVB-blocking sunscreens, the body doesn’t get the vitamin D it needs to function properly, which can ultimately lead to cancer. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to various types of cancer.
Some toxic ingredients present in such sunscreens:
benzene – Recently, benzene, a known carcinogen, was found in 78 of the 300 sprays and lotions tested. Benzene is also found in cigarette smoke, gasoline, glues, adhesives, cleaning products and paint strippers.
Oxybenzone – Oxybenzone is toxic to the organs in your body when exposed to the sun and has been shown to disrupt hormones. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends consumers avoid oxybenzone, and yet it is found in many major brands of sunscreen. It is also very toxic to marine reefs.
Octinoxate – Octinoxate enters the bloodstream and breast milk and alters hormonal imbalances. It is also very toxic to coral reefs.
Titanium dioxide – another common ingredient in sunscreen, has been classified as a “potential occupational carcinogen” by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Homo salad – another ingredient that kills both coral reefs and marine life. It can cause skin allergies. It disrupts the hormonal balance.
OMC – Octylmethoxycinnamate or OMC is found in most sunscreens. It has been shown to be toxic when exposed to sunlight. It is the main chemical used in sunscreens to filter UVB rays. When mice were given this drug in low doses, it killed the mouse cells.
Diisopropyl adipate – In 2006, the National Toxicology Program reported that diesopropyl adipate, another ingredient in many sunscreens, increased the incidence of tumors in laboratory animals.
Sunscreens contain even more toxic chemicals that are not safe or effective for use on humans. They are available from some of the most popular brands in stores everywhere. Neutrogena, Sun Bum, CVS Health, Fruit of the Earth, Banana Boat.
Stay safe in the sun
To maintain adequate vitamin D levels, it is recommended to spend 15 to 30 minutes in the sun every day without sunscreen. Start with a few minutes and work your way up to 30 minutes. If you stay in the sun for longer with a hat and light clothing would be a good idea to protect the skin from burns. If you plan to be in the hot sun for more than 30 minutes, it makes sense to have sunscreen. If you use a sunscreen, make sure it is non-toxic. I recommend reading the ingredient list to see the bottle lists above.
EWG’s top choice for sun protection is zinc oxide. It offers comprehensive protection against UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens like Earthie Mama’s Sunscreen (which contains zinc oxide, which protects the skin from harmful rays but also doesn’t enter the bloodstream) are the best choice among sunscreens. There are other reasons why you might want to switch to a mineral sunscreen. You can read more about this HERE.
Food a healthy eating It is also important to protect your skin from the sun. A diet high in antioxidant-rich foods protects the skin from sunburn as they act as a protective layer and protect the skin from sunburn. Antioxidants include berries, dark leafy greens, artichokes, green tea, dark chocolate and more.
A dietary supplement that protects the skin from sunburn is called Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant found in salmon, shrimp and lobsters, giving them an orange color when consumed by the powerful orange algae. Astaxanthin can be taken as a supplement. It acts as an internal sunscreen and protects the skin from UV damage. To learn more about the incredible benefits of astaxanthin, CLICK HERE.
Does sunscreen cause skin cancer?
The answer is not so clear and seems to depend on the type of sunscreen you use. We’ve found that many sunscreens contain harmful ingredients that can burn into the skin and enter the bloodstream. While others, such as those based on minerals, provide additional protection from the sun without toxic chemicals entering the body. Both block the absorption of vitamin D, which is why We added Vitamin D3 to Earthie Mama sunscreen. The other really positive aspect of using a mineral-based sunscreen is that it does not harm sea life, which is a major problem at the moment. Marine life including coral reefs are dying from all the harmful chemicals.
Ingredients of Earthie Mama’s Sunscreen SPF 35 – Non-nano zinc oxide, spring water, certified organic extra virgin olive oil, certified organic beeswax, vegetable vitamin E from non-GMO sunflower seeds and added vitamin D3. For more information CLICK HERE. There are only 6 ingredients, all safe for all ages and safe for the earth .
Make your own sunscreen
If you want to make your own products, I developed a recipe years ago that contains a natural sunscreen to protect you from sunburn. There is no added vitamin D3 in this recipe, but it will protect you from sunburn without harming sea life or your body. Click here for a recipe to MAKE YOUR OWN SUN PROTECTION.
As summer begins, please pay attention to the ingredients of the sunscreen you want to buy. You don’t want to contribute negatively to your health when you have another, healthier option. What you put on your skin can impact your internal health. So choose wisely. Some of the brands you may want to avoid because their sunscreens contain some, if not all, of the chemicals listed above: Neutrogena, Sun Bum, CVS Health, Fruit of the Earth, Banana Boat, and more.
Stay healthy and have fun in the sun!
~Alex
Check out the article here.