Evidence-Based, Simplified Nutrition and Lifestyle Strategies

Top

Ditch the Sunscreen

Ditch the Sunscreen

**August 2022 Update: Looks like television media is catching up to the poisons that are in sunscreens. 

 

 

Before you slather yourself and your kids with sunscreen this summer, let’s talk about sunscreen.

 

Sunscreen is a multi-billion-dollar industry, yet there are no studies that prove that the use of sunscreen protects us from melanoma and basal carcinoma. In fact, the fatal types of melanoma never see the sun (the bottom of your foot and the anus). You can read more about melanoma and sunscreen here.

 

However, ever since 1978, when the first UVA sunblock was marketed, sunscreen sales have soared, but so too has melanoma.

 

Sunscreen has also been found in studies to cause leaky gut, hormonal dysfunction and neurological dysfunction.

 

Research by the Environmental Working Group has found that chemicals in sunscreen are very big endocrine disruptors. Sunscreen is estrogenic, a potent anti-testosterone, and causes other adverse hormonal effects by possibly interfering with the thyroid. Of the 1400+ sunscreens tested, only 5% met their safety standards and over 40% considered skin cancer contributors. You can read more here.

 

When you first get in the sun, antioxidants are protecting you. When these antioxidants can no longer protect you, that is when your skin starts to burn. When you use sunscreen, you are only blocking the 4% that is UV but the 47% that is infrared goes much deeper into the skin and into the mitochondria (the energy powerhouses of cells).  When you wear sunscreen, you block the burn of the sun and so you stay out longer than your skin can handle and then that 47% of infrared gets into your skin causing all sorts of damage in our bodies.

 

Infrared can be beneficial in smaller doses. IR-A might even precondition the skin – a process called photoprevention – from an evolutionary standpoint since exposure to early morning IR-A wavelengths in sunlight may ready the skin for the coming mid-day deleterious UVR. It is essentially a question of intensity and how we can learn from the sun.

 

Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. Too much exposure can damage your eyes and skin. On a global scale, trapped infrared radiation contributes to global warming. The potential hazards of infrared heat bulbs, lamps, and radiators are mainly to your skin and eyes. Because of the intense radiant heat emitted, prolonged exposure can result in severe burns to the skin. Long-term exposure to infrared radiation can permanently damage the eyes.

 

Red light therapy can be beneficial. The question really becomes how much is too much.

 

I always say to listen to our bodies as they have innate wisdom. Our body’s innate wisdom is the natural ability to burn—it’s the skin’s warning that we had enough sun and time to find some shade.

 

The reason we tan is our body’s natural reaction from melanin. Melanin protects our skin and cells from getting oxidized. This radiation causes our body to make vitamin D, which is the anti-cancer for all of the body. Most sunscreens completely block to the body’s ability to make vitamin D. It shows with Americans being 75% deficient in vitamin D and vitamin D deficiency has been linked to higher risks of heart disease and cancer.

 

Here Are Some Common Ingredients in Sunblock and Their Very Adverse Effects:

  • Zinc Titanium Oxide: The little metal particles of zinc titanium oxide get into our bodies, brain and liver, causing damage to our brain and our fetus. Multiple studies show how genes are altered with amounts of titanium oxide. You can read one here.  In one study, newborn mice were found with 1,881 genes that were altered from titanium oxide.

  • Synthetic Estrogens: Many sunscreens contain synthetic estrogens such as benzophenone-3 (Bp-3), homosalate (HMS), 4-MBC, OD-PABA and others. They absorb through the skin and can induce breast cancer, ovarian and uterine cancer, infertility in men and women, as well as abnormal and premature puberty in children.  You can read more here.

  • Oxybenzone: Oxybenzone is a chemical that helps other chemicals better penetrate the skin. It has been found in 97% of the population by a study for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Oxybenzone is considered an endocrine disruptor, linked to skin allergies, damages cells, can reduce sperm count in men and may affect endometriosis in women. This chemical is found in the blood of almost all the population because of our water, even people that have never used sunscreen. This chemical in our water source, cannot be removed at water plants or by our water filters. In Hawaii, they have banned all sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. These chemicals are killing coral in just 96 hours to the point that they are bleached white.

 

If It Can Do that to Corral, Imagine What It Does to Our Skin.

 

Oxybenzone is very high in all Neutrogena sunscreens. The EWG advises against oxybenzone from children and women pregnant and breastfeeding.

 

How to Protect Yourself from the Sun?

The best option is to cover up and not go out in the sun during peak times of UV and infrared rays. If skin cancer doesn’t run in your family, there is even less reason to be using sunscreen

 

Per, Dr. Elizabeth Plourde, determine your current capacity to stay in the sun by considering the following:

  1. What is your skin type and what is its current capacity to stay in the sun?
  2. Check the UV Index to determine the strength of the sun for the day. (e.g., swimming after 4 or 5PM) or going out earlier in the day for 15 minute sun sessions.
  3. Avoid the sun during peak periods when the sun is most directly overhead, as this will be the shortest amount of time you can be in the sun.
  4. Monitor your skin to make sure it is not uncomfortable or turning red while in the sun.
  5. If you have to stay in the sun for extended periods of time, bring tight weave clothing (hats, long-sleeve shirts, pants, etc.) to cover up with when your skin has had enough sun.
  6. Eat foods with more antioxidants you can give your body the protection from the sun and also help with more vitamin D.

 

Closing Thoughts

If you do choose to use sunscreens, try mineral sunscreens that don’t have the aforementioned toxins and are free of parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances. There are some mineral sunscreens that are plant-based, non-nano particle zinc and coral reef safe.

 

I am slowly swapping out all products with sunscreen, as it is in many moisturizers, creams and makeups. 

 

If you want to check your specific sunblock ratings, you can always use the Think Dirty App and EWG’s Healthy Living App

 

When our family is outside for the day, we don’t use sunscreen. But if we take a trip to Mexico and expect to be in the sun for days, we will find the cleanest mineral suncreens. 

 

Always do what makes sense for you and your loved ones. 

 

 

w️ith ♥ and hope for healing,

 

 

Disclaimer: While I am a nutritional therapy practitioner and provide nutritional support, I am not providing medical advice. Any information provided in regards to nutritional therapy should not be considered medical advice or treatment. While I do partner with physicians and dermatologists to provide holistic nutrition and lifestyle support, whenever you start a new diet or have health questions, always consult your primary care physician and/or holistic team.

 

If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also enjoy these Nutrition with Judy blog posts:

Nutrition with Judy

Comments:

  • Cassandra Brecht
    July 14, 2019 at 7:33 am

    My problem is that I have a sun allergy…after just a few minutes in the sun, I get an itchy rash that lasts for two weeks or so. It’s not a heat rash, either, because heat by itself doesn’t give me the rash. I’m fair-skinned, 49 years old, and started wearing sunscreen every day at age 29 when I noticed that my arms and chest were covered in ugly spots (I’ve never tanned, only burned). It was sometime after this that I developed the sun allergy.

    • Judy
      July 19, 2019 at 11:32 pm

      I wonder if you need digestive support. I’d maybe try mineral sunscreen and try to get sun in short bursts to get some vitamin D benefits.

  • Sue
    July 18, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Hi. Just wondering in regard to the infared. So much info around about the benefits with red light plus infared for your health. The infared getting deep into the cells . Can you explain why the infared in your article is considered bad?

    • Judy
      July 19, 2019 at 11:28 pm

      So here’s some more info:
      Infrared can be beneficial in smaller doses. IR-A might even precondition the skin – a process called photoprevention – from an evolutionary standpoint since exposure to early morning IR-A wavelengths in sunlight may ready the skin for the coming mid-day deleterious UVR. It is essentially a question of intensity and how we can learn from the sun.

      Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. Too much exposure can damage your eyes and skin. On a global scale, trapped infrared radiation contributes to global warming. The potential hazards of infrared heat bulbs, lamps, and radiators are mainly to your skin and eyes. Because of the intense radiant heat emitted, prolonged exposure can result in severe burns to the skin. Long-term exposure to infrared radiation can permanently damage the eyes.

      I will add this to the blog, thanks for asking!

      One thing I will say is that everything is so new with infrared, I’d just use some caution when using joov and other red light therapies. There is some good but when is it too much? All things in moderation.

  • Sarah
    July 18, 2019 at 8:18 pm

    Love this. Couldn’t agree more that toxic ingredients are worse than the actual sun. I’m surprised by zinc oxide. I thought that one was safer. A natural mineral. What do you use as a mineral sunscreen. Isn’t the active ingredient in that zinc oxide?

    • Judy
      July 19, 2019 at 11:31 pm

      Yes mineral sunscreens mainly use zinc oxide. It’s a balance of picking and choosing your battles. I personally don’t use any sunscreens on my kids but we can better handle the sun with our olive-colored skin. If I had to use ANY sunscreen, I’d go for the mineral sunscreens (e.g., if we go to a theme park, beach, etc. where sun is almost impossible to avoid for long periods). But even mineral sunscreens are not completely safe. Do what works for you and your family. It’s always a balance and you have to find the one that works for you.

  • Tonya
    December 30, 2019 at 10:27 pm

    Thanks Judy. Great article. I agree. I never use sunscreen. My issue: low vitamin D3 (20) was the blood result. I tried many supplements for Vit D3, and many doses, it gives me hot flashes! I’ve never had them. Once I stop the Vit D3 the hot flashes stop. I started using a sunbed to help with my Vit D, I feel better and my skin is pretty. Tanning isn’t my goal , it’s my Vit D. I just can’t continue to lay in a sunbed bc I feel like I’m hurting my skin and causing health issues and aging in the future. I just began a carnivore diet and hopefully this will help and I can just go out in the sun each day for a few minutes to help raise my Vit D. Thanks again!

  • Bionaze
    July 30, 2020 at 7:59 am

    You know you need sunscreen. But with so many lotions, sprays, and gels to choose from, how do you know which sunblock will actually prevent sunburns — and skin cancer? When it comes to shielding your skin from the sun, the type of sunscreen you choose is as important as how you use it. You also can protect your skin by seeking shade from the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That’s when the sun’s harmful UV rays are strongest.

    • Nutrition with Judy
      September 4, 2020 at 1:20 am

      We don’t need sunscreen. I talked about melanoma and where it happens. You risk toxins on the skin that directly get absorbed into the blood when using sunblock. Sometimes the benefits do not outweigh the toxins.

  • Suzanne S.
    July 30, 2022 at 12:24 pm

    Why not take astaxanthin? Research it. I have been taking it for 15 years and I now can go without vision correction in my right eye. It also allows the vitamin D to get in you but protects you from the UV rays.

    • Nutrition with Judy
      July 30, 2022 at 12:25 pm

      Hmm! Astaxanthin, it’s the antioxidant that’s in salmon that makes it pink/orange. So it makes sense why you take it. I didn’t realize you can take it is a supplement, I will look more into it! Thank you.

      • Suzanne S.
        July 30, 2022 at 6:03 pm

        NaturalNews.com has an old article from 2012 on it that’s really good. My favorite brand is Sports Research because it’s the only one filled with organic coconut oil.

Post a Comment