Traditionally February is our hottest month here in Australia and with the heat comes extreme UV levels from the sun We are constantly bombarded with advertisements and news segments warning about the dangers of the sun and encouraging the use of sunscreen, however most of the popular sunscreens available contain toxic chemicals that do more harm than good.
The widely available traditional sunscreens you buy from the supermarket and chemists are usually sunscreens that contain a chemical barrier. Many contain the common ingredient Oxybenzone. This ingredient passes through the skin, enters the bloodstream and penetrates our muscle tissue, which is frightening as it is an endocrine disruptor, can reduce sperm count in men and may contribute to endometriosis in women. It is highly advised by the American Environmental Working Group (EWG) not t be used on children or pregnant women. Even more scary is that chemical sunscreens have also been shown to actually contribute to skin cancer! In fact, a study in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics reports that:
“Sunscreens protect against sunburn, but there is no evidence that they protect against basal cell carcinoma or melanoma. Problems lie in the behavior of individuals who use sunscreens to stay out longer in the sun than they otherwise would… Safety of sunscreens is a concern, and sunscreen companies have emotionally and inaccurately promoted the use of sunscreens.”
This may sounds crazy but think about it.. As skin cancer rates soar in Australia so has our sun safety awareness and everyday we are slopping crazy amounts of sunscreen all over us and our children, yet the cancer rates continue to climb. It just doesn’t make sense!
So what do we do instead?
Firstly, the sun is not our enemy. We get 90-94% of Vitamin D from the sun, which helps keep our bones strong and actually helps protect against cancer. A synthetic Vitamin D supplement can never replace the sun so we do need to get out there without sun protection on for 20 mins most days. Chemical sunscreens completely block the bodies ability to produce Vitamin D which is probably why so many Australians are Vitamin D deficient.
Secondly, one of the best natural ways to cover up is simply pop on a rash shirt and a hat. If you are off to the beach for the day or know that you or your children will be in the sun for hours, a rash shirt helps keep the UV rays off your skin. Staying our of the sun during the hottest part of the day (between 11am to 3pm) will also help avoid the really strong UV rays.
Thirdly, our diet plays a huge part in keeping our bodies healthy and fighting the free radicals that feed skin cancer. A diet high in antioxidants and nutrients is the most effective way of keeping skin damage to a minimum.
Lastly, there are many excellent mineral based sunscreens on the market that provide a mineral barrier between your skin and the sun and these are vastly safer than the chemical sunscreens. Alternatively, make one yourself! There are many great natural sunscreen recipes out there including this one . And remember, always do your research!
So keep safe this February but get out there and enjoy this beautiful country we live in!
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