Is Sunscreen Dangerous? Yes, If you Use the Wrong Brand

It has been pounded into our heads to always use sunscreen before going outdoors, (no one wants aging skin and cancer), yet it is the sun that helps us produce Vitamin D, which is essential to a healthy being. In fact, Vitamin D helps reduce the risk of aging and cancer. Complicate that with the fact that many sunscreens may not be blocking out the radiation they claim to, and actually increasing your risk of disease. So, what's a person to do?

The most prevalent rays coming from the sun are UVA rays. These are the tanning rays. Though they are less intense than UVB, they penetrate the skin more deeply and cause skin aging and wrinkling. They also damage skin cells called kerantinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis where most skin cancers occur.1

Until recently, most sunscreens did not block UVA rays and some still don’t. They only block UVB rays, the ones responsible for reddening of the skin and sunburn, but also for Vitamin D production. This means these sunscreens block beneficial Vitamin D production and allow dangerous skin damaging radiation.

UVB rays help us produce Vitamin D are most prevalent between 10 am and 4 pm. In excess, they also damage your skin year round, especially at high altitudes. By damaging the skin’s cellular DNA, excessive UV radiation produces genetic mutations that can lead to skin cancer.

With this information, people mistakenly have decided to limit all sun exposure, or to slather on sunscreen every time they go outside. This causes Vitamin D levels to plummet and yes, diseases relating to low Vitamin D levels to skyrocket.

So what is a person to do?

Got Sun?
First of all – it makes sense to get some sun. You and I don’t need to see a research study to know that we feel better when we have been outside and we have gotten some sun. There is a reason people are healthier in the summertime. We aren’t cooped up inside sharing germs and we increase our Vitamin D levels that are crucial to a healthy immune system. The sun has provided us with light, and heat, and UVB rays for a long time.  It isn’t the sun that is the problem; it is us. People over expose themselves and they do it too often.  One of the leading risk factors for skin cancer is sunburn, any sunburn from childhood to the present greatly increases the risk of skin cancer.

Moderation
When you get sun, do it in moderation. Expose your skin, legs, back, arms, etc. for 10 to 20 minutes depending on your skin type and the sun’s intensity. When your skin feels warm, or you have a very, very light pink hue, put your clothes back on. Vitamin D production stops when you begin to turn pink. Now you have optimum Vitamin D you don't need any more sun.

UVA/UVB Protection
But what if you want to stay out longer? Now use a hat, clothes, and a high quality block. Make sure it blocks UVA and UVB rays. Many sunscreens say multi spectrum, broad spectrum, or UVA/UVB protection, but since there is no agreement on how much protection any of these terms have, they may or may not be effective.

Unfortunately, the SPF label on the label only pertains to UVB rays. There is no protection factor for UVA radiation on labels, though the Food and Drug Administration has proposed a system of one to four stars, so you really don't know what you are getting for UVA protection. Do try finding sun block for UVA and UVB rays instead of sunscreen because some protection is better than no protection.

Toxic Chemicals
There is also quite a controversy on the ingredients in many sunscreens. Organic filters form a thin, protective film, and absorb the UV radiation before it penetrates the skin. Inorganic filters are insoluble particles that reflect the UV away from the skin. Most sunscreens are a mixture of both. Many of these sunscreens contain ingredients approved by the FDA, but they are what others term as toxic chemicals. For a list of these  click here   and scroll down about 1/3 of the page.

Eat Well
More and more we are finding research that eating fresh fruits and vegetables decrease the risk of sun damage. Foods that are natural sources of Vitamin A, can help your skin to become twice as resistant to ultraviolet radiation. Studies have not found the same results when you take a synthetic version of Vitamin A found in many vitamin pills.

Isn’t it funny that tomatoes, watermelon, and other foods rich in natural Vitamin A (through their concentrations of beta-carotene) grow in the summer when we are out in the sun? Our ancestors benefited from eating from the garden during the summertime. They were out in the sun all day, yet they didn’t get skin cancer as much as we do. (Of course, they didn’t wear bikinis either.) They covered up.

Moderation is the key. Let you body do what it needs to do by feeding it well, and living a well-balanced, active life.

References and More Information

If You Use Sunscreen, This is Urgent Information You Must Have click here
1. http://www.skincancer.org/understanding-uva-and-uvb.html

Consumer Reports Sunscreen Labels

Why You Need Vitamin D
Get a free copy of Vitamin D: Are You Getting Enough from Berkley University of California click here
Low Vitamin D tied to Cognitive Decline from Web MD

Healthy Sunscreens and Mosquito Repellents


If you can't get out in the sun Vitamin D Spray