Healthy Skin | Preventing Sun Damage (good sunscreens)

How can you protect your skin?

In the previous article we looked at the importance of getting sun exposure (tanning, not burning) to maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D, which is protective against skin cancer. We also looked at the most harmful sunscreen ingredients to avoid.

Now let’s look at some of the safe options to use as a sunscreen if you know you will be outside so long that you may burn.

Safer Sunscreen Options

For many years zinc oxide and titanium dioxide were your only choices for the type of sunscreen called a Physical Block, which are safer than most popular sunscreens. While they are safe they aren’t very appealing because most of them leave a white film on your skin.

A newer form of these sunscreens are the micronized lotions. Micronized zinc oxide has the safety profile of traditional zinc oxide sunscreen and is as aesthetically appealing as modern day sunscreens, ie no white residue.

When micronized zinc oxide is applied in the form of a lotion it is not absorbed into the body, does not enter the bloodstream and has no dangerous side effects unless it is inhaled. For this reason, I recommend avoiding any “spray” products containing micronized zinc oxide.

The consumer watchdog Environmental Working Group (EWG) has reported that almost half of the most popular sunscreens on the market actually accelerate the development of malignant skin cancer cells.

– Avoid inhalable (sprayable) forms of sunscreen.

– Avoid sunscreens with nano forms of zinc or titanium dioxide.

– Check out resources like EWG

Black and green tea extract was found to prevent redness and sunburn caused by direct sunlight, as well as to repair DNA damage inside the skin. Human skin is capable of absorbing various nutrients directly and clinical studies have indicated that tea polyphenols are readily absorbed when topical applications are applied to the skin.

How do you get the benefit of the sun without the risks?

Moderate sun exposure is the key. Chemical free sunscreens reduce cancer risk caused by toxic ingredients while promoting young looking skin.

Make sure your diet is rich in the nutrients needed for healthy melanin, so you can be in the longer without the risk of burning.

Seafood, grass-fed butter and free-range eggs will provide you with key skin-protective nutrients vitamin A, vitamin K2 and vitamin D.

Have you found a sunscreen that contains only the good stuff?

Share in the comments below.

 

This is the third in a series of three articles on Sun and Your Skin.

Part One: Healthy Skin | Tanning is Better Than Sunscreen

Part Two: Sunscreens | Find Out if Yours Could CAUSE Skin Cancer