There has been recent debate over whether we should use sunscreens at all or if staying in the shade and covering our skin is better, since sunscreens are becoming higher and higher in factor – containing strong chemicals and additives in order to do increase protection – ingredients which could even themselves be considered harmful to human health. buyOrganics looks at the risks of sun exposure AND the products we use in the belief that we are protecting ourselves, and suggests that the ONLY true way to ensure health on the outside and the inside is to use organic sunscreens.
The most damaging aspect of the sun’s rays is its radiation – invisible to the human eye but the cause of cell mutation on and beneath the surface of the skin, which is how cancer develops. UV radiation is the single most important cause of skin cancer, especially when overexposure results in sunburn and blistering. This radiation is broken down into three main types: A, B and C. It used to be thought that UVB radiation was the main culprit when it comes to melanoma as UVB damage is visible in the form of sunburn, but in recent years research has discovered that UVA radiation penetrates deep beneath the skin and these cells are the most vulnerable and the hardest to treat should they mutate. UVA radiation is also the cause of wrinkles, so if you want to retain your youthful complexion the advice is simple – stay out of the sun altogether!
Slapping on factor 30, 45 or even 50 may seem like a good idea but recently it has been proposed that the more sunscreens we use, the more protection we feel we have, meaning we stay out in the sun longer, thus increasing our risk of sun damage and the chance of developing skin cancer. This disease is now rapidly on the increase, with 9,000 cases being diagnosed in the UK every year, and one of the reasons it is thought this is the case, is strangely, that we are using more and more sunscreens!
There are three forms of skin cancer – all of them caused by sun damage. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas are the least life-threatening, but melanoma is highly aggressive and is in fact one of the most aggressive types of human cancer there is and risk is higher in areas where there are high levels of ambient UV – such as Australia and New Zealand, where it is the most common form of cancer.
Sun worshipping is big business – there are literally hundreds of different brands and types of sunscreens on the market, all with several different levels of SPF (sun protection factor) which the bemused consumer is supposed to be able to calculate according to their skin type and how long they intend to keep reapplying the cream. And in fact, there is very little difference between a factor of 15 and 30 – apart from the level of preservative ingredients in the product to keep it fresh. Using a higher factor sunscreen in order to not have to keep replenishing it is, according to Cancer Research UK, one of the surest ways to increase your cancer risk – all these high factor creams lull us into a false sense of security, encouraging us to stay out longer in the sun so long as we keep on applying those creams.
Sunscreen products themselves also contain a host of manufactured chemicals in order to provide UV protection, but there are natural and organic alternatives available – these will contain microfine zinc or titanium dioxide which provide both UVA and UVB protection, and is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Sunscreen products by Miessence, Essential Care and Green People give great sun protection as well as containing safer ingredients.
Most regular sunscreens and self-tan products also contain a host of other known irritant and sensitizing ingredients such as phenoxyethanol – which is also present in most sunscreen products and, which is actually on the list of preservatives approved – although restricted - by The Soil Association.
Preservatives are necessary in cosmetic products in order to inhibit the growth of bacteria once jars and bottles are opened. They are particularly important in products which contain oil and water as these will go rancid after air exposure, unless preservatives are present. Preservatives work by killing bacteria cells – but can also do the same to skin cells, which is what gives them their toxicity. The higher protection factor a sunscreen has, the higher levels of the ingredients in the product which can go “off” – hence the occasional requirement for phenoxyethanol, says the Soil Association, which allows them even in some of their certified organic products.
An excellent compromise comes from Sonia Kalia-Sagoo, founder and director of Buy Organics Ltd, an online organic store which stocks only the safest organic sunscreens as certified by The Soil Association:
“I love the sun and I’m always out in it given the chance. However, when it’s hot I always keep in the shade and keep well-covered. Having just come back from visiting family in India I made sure that my 4 year old daughter was wearing full sleeve bamboo T shirts and leggings all day long. This amazing fabric not only kept her cool, but it also has UV protective qualities. For the skin that is exposed just apply a small amount of Green People or Essential Care organic sunscreen.”
However, there is a flip side to all the public hype surrounding shade and sunscreens. Whilst we’re told sun exposure is bad for us, in fact, we do need regular amounts of natural sunlight in order to produce and maintain vital supplies of Vitamin D. This vitamin is easily produced by 15-20 minutes a day of sunshine on our faces, arms and legs – preferably without sunscreens which can also inhibit absorption. Research has also shown that obtaining a tan, particularly in our childhood and teenage years could actually help protect against some diseases such as prostate cancer and multiple sclerosis.
What a dilemma! If we stay in the shade and slap on the sunscreens we could be covering our bodies in toxic chemical ingredients which can enter the bloodstream, let alone the risk of vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, how do we protect ourselves from the equally unpleasant effects of overexposure such as cancers and premature ageing?
It seems that when it comes to the sun, along with most things in life, moderation is the best option, and nothing on earth feels as good as the gentle rays of the sun warming our faces and bodies.
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