The sun has many benefits, but one should not overuse sunscreen. One of the benefits, which most people have heard of, is that when the sun’s rays hit the skin, the important substance vitamin D is produced in the body. So if you want to increase the amount of vitamin D in your body, you should spend at least 15 minutes a day outdoors during spring, summer, and autumn without sun protection.
If you use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 8 or higher, vitamin D is not produced in the skin. On the other hand, too much sunlight can be harmful to the skin. Here, common sense applies.
What is the best sunscreen?
- Hat/cap and thin clothing on the most exposed areas.
- Spend a moderate amount of time in the sun.
- Supply plenty of antioxidants through food, supplements, superfoods, and herbs.
- Natural sunscreens (so-called physical filters) when spending a long time in the sun.
Can you get natural sun protection from within?
Absolutely. We can strengthen our skin so it is not harmed by the sun or free radicals. How do you do that? Well, the most important thing is what we eat and drink; to eat and supply vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients (the compounds that make fruits, berries, and vegetables colorful).
The skin’s protection and quality improve significantly through nutritious food. So indulge in vegetables, sprouts, algae, fruit, and berries. Take supplements, herbs, and superfoods rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients.
Antioxidants
All antioxidants or substances with antioxidant functions such as vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, zinc, beta-carotenes, and astaxanthin have a positive effect on the skin.
Beta-carotenes provide extra protection against the sun’s harmful rays, can inhibit the occurrence of sun rash, and contribute to a faster and more even tan. Beta-carotenes are found in, for example, parsley, sprouts, carrots, spinach, kale, dill, papaya, and spirulina and other algae, but especially in the algae Dunaliella salina, which you can find in our product Biosuperfood, which also contains the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin. You can find astaxanthin here.
Essential fatty acids like Omega-3 also have a beneficial effect on the skin and its ability to handle the sun’s rays. Many use Chaga as a supplement to support the skin since the mushroom is extremely rich in antioxidants.
Should I not use sunscreen at all?
Of course, it is not good to get sunburned. If needed, you should choose a sun protection that works. If you need sunscreen to be able to stay in the sun for a longer time, we recommend natural sunscreens with physical filters.
However, keep in mind that it is not always the sunscreen with the highest SPF that gives the best effect. Several studies show that the quality of the cream is just as important.
What is the difference between chemical and physical sun filters?
There are sunscreens with physical filters or chemical filters.
Physical filters act as a total barrier against UV radiation. Physical filters are applied to the skin and reflect the sun’s rays. In cream form, these mineral-based filters (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) provide an invisible protection that prevents UV radiation from reaching the deepest living cells in the skin.
As soon as the cream is applied, the filters work immediately until they are washed or sweated off. The only downside of physical filters might be that they can make the skin look whiter, but they have improved a lot over the years and the whiteness disappears quickly.
Chemical filters transform UV light into a less harmful form of radiation such as infrared (heat). To do this, the chemical filter must change structure, and in this process, they gradually lose their ability to block sunlight. In other words, they get used up.
That is why it is important to apply sunscreen with chemical filters half an hour before going out in the sun and then regularly reapply while you are in the sun. Chemical filters are applied to the skin and absorb the sun’s rays.
The problem with these chemical filters is that they are toxic to both humans and nature. Not least the ocean, as corals are affected by this since millions of sun lovers swim with these chemicals on their skin every year. And no one wants that!
So what should I choose?
Physical filters are an obvious choice, in our opinion. To get a functioning natural sunscreen with as few harmful ingredients as possible, either the mineral titanium dioxide or the mineral zinc oxide is used.
The sunscreens we have chosen to sell contain so-called nano-free zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. We believe this is the best choice for people seeking good UVA and UVB protection without harmful chemicals (which have been shown to be hormone-disrupting) or synthetic preservatives.
Besides the basic protection, these natural sunscreens often contain beneficial oils such as olive oil, shea butter, macadamia oil, sunflower oil, cocoa butter, and no harmful preservatives, synthetic fragrances, or other health hazards. But they should still be used in moderation when sun protection is needed.
Zinc oxide is considered a relatively harmless metal compound from a health perspective because it is not stored in the body. There has been much discussion about zinc oxide possibly containing so-called nanoparticles and thus being harmful. The size of these particles plays a crucial role!
Therefore, it is important to mention the difference between micro- and nanoparticles. Nanoparticles are smaller than 100 nm, while microparticles are larger than 100 nm. There is non-nano zinc oxide made from microparticles used in most organic, natural sunscreens. This also significantly reduces the ingredient list.
If you do not want zinc or titanium oxide, you have to choose a sunscreen with chemical filters and accept that they always contain at least one chemical ingredient classified as hormone-disrupting and many synthetic preservatives as well as toxic substances for aquatic organisms.
Summary
- Eat nutritious, colorful food and take antioxidant supplements. Plants rich in phytonutrients are powerful allies for your skin.
- Apply nourishing, organic oils to your skin.
- Spend moderate time in the sun without sun protection to produce vitamin D.
- At other times, use physical filters or cover your body with thin clothing and avoid the sun when it is strongest.
- Avoid chemical filters for both your own sake and for nature/the ocean.
List of substances in chemical sunscreens to avoid
- Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane is persistent, accumulates in living organisms, and is likely very toxic to aquatic organisms. It is allergenic when broken down by UV light.
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate & 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor (4-MBC) accumulate in living organisms, are very toxic to algae and aquatic invertebrates. These substances are hormone-disrupting.
- Octocrylene accumulates in living organisms and is toxic to aquatic organisms.
- Cyclopentasiloxane is persistent, accumulates in living organisms, and is toxic to aquatic organisms. It is suspected to have carcinogenic properties. It has been found in fish, indicating that the substance can spread widely.
- Cyclohexasiloxane is very persistent and very toxic to aquatic organisms. It is also believed to accumulate in living organisms.
- Oxybenzone and Octyl methoxycinnamate: There are reports suggesting that this chemical filter mimics hormones in the body with various health risks as a result, especially children and sick people are vulnerable groups.
- Vitamin A, i.e., retinol and retinyl palmitate, is suspected to increase the spread and production of malignant cancer cells according to a report from the Environmental Working Group in the USA (a non-profit group in Washington).
- Two types of so-called siloxanes, substances that can be used as softeners and to increase the sun protection factor, are persistent, toxic, and can accumulate in very high levels in living organisms.
- Other very harmful substances in chemical sunscreens:
3-benzylidene camphor, benzophenone-3, Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octylsalicylate, Padimate O, Phenylbenzimidazole, Sulisobenzone, and Homosalate (Eusolex / HMS).
Now you know a bit more and can choose for yourself. Sunny greetings from all of us at Glimja.se
