As we are blessed with lots of sunshine these days, I thought it would be a perfect time to blog on the life-saving sunscreen vs. Vitamin D debate.
The Truth About Vitamin D3 and Sunblocks
Sunshine is a vital ingredient for staying healthy and is your best source for essential Vitamin D3. Sunlight also provides you with numerous other health benefits such as fighting depression and protection against several types of cancer.
We all need regular sun exposure. However, excess sun exposure that causes sunburns is something you want to avoid, as it is a well-proven risk factor for skin cancer.
Ultraviolet light comes from the sun in two main wavelengths, UVA and UVB. Consider UVB the “good guy” because UVB helps your skin produce vitamin D3 and stimulates production of MSH – an important hormone in weight loss, energy production, and in giving you that wonderful tanned appearance. Safe sunlight exposure has been shown to protect against as many as 16 different types of cancer including melanoma!
UVA is considered the “bad guy” because it penetrates your skin more deeply and can cause more free-radical damage. Have you ever gotten scorching sunburn on a cloudy day? That’s the UVA rays at work. They can break through a cloud cover and pollution and do some real damage to your skin.
It is important to note that extensive sun exposure will not increase vitamin D3 production, but will increase the danger of skin damage and possible skin cancer. So how do you get enough Vitamin D3 without getting burned?
How do you get enough UVB exposure but not too much?
Wearing a sunscreen on your uncovered skin blocks your body’s production of Vitamin D3 by as much as 97.5-99%. Most people are aware of the fact that interfering with Vitamin D3 production may have dire health consequences. Vitamin D3 is necessary for the proper functioning of organs and glands. The Vitamin D3 that your body makes is far superior to any oral supplementation and the synthetic or prescribed Vitamin D supplements are not only ineffective but largely toxic. We recommend Emulsi D3 (available at our office) for those months when sunshine is limited.
Shockingly, most types of commercial sunscreen may cause you even greater harm and may actually increase your risk of disease. The vast majority of today’s sunscreens are nothing more than poisonous concoctions loaded with suspect carcinogens. Finding a “safe” sunscreen is about as difficult as getting your kids out of the pool on a hot summer day. Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an over-the-counter drug because it contains several “active” ingredients. The debate over toxicity of these active ingredients is still a controversy.
One study found that the main chemical used in sun lotions to filter out ultraviolet light may be TOXIC – and the chemical’s toxicity doubled when exposed to sunlight.
Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), which is present in 90 percent of sunscreen brands, was found to kill mouse cells even at low doses in a study by Norwegian scientists. When researchers shone a lamp for two hours to simulate midday sunshine, even more cells died. Furthermore, several studies show that the chemicals commonly used in sunscreens are absorbed through the skin and end up circulating in your bloodstream. NOT GOOD, so DUMP IT IN THE TRASH NOW!!
5 Key Ways to Avoid Sunburn:
1) Always limit exposure from 10am – 2pm.
2) Gradually increase your summer exposure.
3) Wear natural sunblock at all times.
4) Wear UVA/UVB protection sunglasses.
5) Wear protective clothing inc. shirts and hats that shades the eyes especially between 10am – 2pm.
Our Sunblock Recommendation:
1) Active Full Spectrum Sunblock SPF 25 from Aubrey Organics; provides UVA and UVB ray protection with titanium dioxide, a mineral that actually deflects burning rays off your skin, and PABA ester. These natural sunblock agents are combined with shea butter, white camellia oil and other emollients to keep skin well hydrated.
2) Green Tea Sunblock for Children SPF 25. Best natural sun protection for children. Provides full spectrum protection with PABA ester and a natural, sun-reflecting mineral. Contains antioxidant-rich Matcha green tea to prevent free radical damage. Not for infants under 6 mos. of age. Contact www.mercola.com to order this product.
If you do suffer from a sunburn:
1) If you have been in a chlorine pool, gently rinse off and pat dry.
2) Take a cool, not cold bath.
3) Apply fresh aloe vera gel from an aloe vera plant directly to the burnt area/get aloe vera gel from a health food store.
4) Pat cool, sugarless tea over the area – excellent for sensitive areas around the eyes. The tannin in tea provides an active soothing ingredients.