Be Carefull with Sunscreens ! The Sun is your Friend !

Do Sunscreens Do More Harm Than Good?  Cause Cancer?  Make You Gain Weight?

A look at some of the harmful chemicals that absorb through your skin from sunscreens... and healthier alternatives
by Catherine Ebeling - RN, BSN
co-author:  The Fat Burning Kitchen & The Top 101 Foods that FIGHT Aging

So we've been told over and over again that we should slather on the sunscreen when you go out in the sun to prevent skin cancer, right? Well, guess what? Think again! Many of the common chemicals in most commercial sunscreen lotions actually can CONTRIBUTE to cancer, stubborn abdominal fat (due to the xenoestrogens in sunscreen chemicals), and many other health problems.
Some of that sunscreen may be as damaging or more dangerous to your health than going without any sunscreen at all!
While there is still some risk in spending time in the summer sun without sunscreen, your sunscreen itself can possibly pose a bigger health risk. The chemicals in sunscreen are very harsh and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.
First of all, if you haven't read Mike Geary's article about the benefits of small doses of daily sunshine, click here.  It's important to understand why small amounts of daily sunshine (WITHOUT burning) is important to your health, vitamin D production, hormone balance, and skin cancer prevention.
Now back to harsh chemical sunscreens... What kinds of chemical concoctions are you putting on your skin that are absorbing into your bloodstream? Numerous studies have raised serious concerns about these chemicals' safety:

• Oxybenzone -- One of the main ingredients in many sunscreens. Oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer--a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin — this means that any chemical on the skin will be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. This common sunscreen ingredient is an endocrine disrupting chemical that damages cells and is potentially dangerous for pregnant women especially. Oxybenzone has been found to decrease sperm count and lengthen the estrous cycle in mice; and it is potentially carcinogenic in humans.
• Retinyl palmitate -- Retinyls are vitamin A derivatives that are often used in lotions and sunscreens. They are associated with the accelerated growth of skin lesions and tumors when combined with sun exposure. These retinyls are often used to reduce the look of wrinkles, but FDA data suggests that retinyls have photo-carcinogenic properties, which means that when it is applied to the skin and exposed to the sun, it may speed up cancer formation!  This ingredient is in about half the sunscreens sold commercially.
• Octyl-methacinnamate has been shown to actually damage skin cells, and many people are highly sensitive or allergic to this ingredient. It can cause a serious rash, redness and irritation to sensitive individuals. 
• Bensopenone-3 (BP3), homosalate (HMS), 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), and octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA) were all found to have estrogenic effects (these are xenoestrogens) in the body, which can lead to weight gain (xenoestrogens can cause "stubborn belly fat") and several types of cancer, including breast cancer — even in men.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a new study showing that nearly all Americans are contaminated with oxybenzone, a widely-used sunscreen ingredient. This chemical so far has shown potential links to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage, as well as low birth weight in babies whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) also has a guide that helps you to determine how chemical-laden your current sunscreen is.
Although sunscreens are meant for external use only, the popular ‘spray on’ sunscreens end up being inhaled as well, and are particularly dangerous. While inhaled particles of any size can pose a health risk, tiny nanoparticles -- ultra-tiny particles used in many of these formulations -- can more easily penetrate linings and tissues in your body and cause inflammation and increase risk of cancer or other respiratory issues.
Ok, so what to do to help prevent sunburn and photo aging from the sun?
Remember from Mike's article near the top of this page, that small daily doses of sunshine (10-30 minutes daily over most of body) can help to increase your Vitamin D levels in your body and actually PROTECT you and reduce your risk of skin cancer... The important key phrase there is "small daily dose" without burning.
If you are going to get more sun than that... The best and most natural sunscreen you can get if you are going to be spending more than a half hour out in the hot summer sun are the sunblocks (mineral based) that contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as their active ingredients. These ingredients are safe, natural ingredients that physically block UVA and UVB rays by sitting on top of the skin instead of absorbing into the skin, and there are no health concerns about using these natural sunblocks on your skin.
The downside of these types of natural physical sunblocks is that they tend to leave a white coating on your skin so they don't look as appealing as the chemical sunscreens which are invisible since they absorb into your skin.  So the other option is simply to make sure to cover up with clothing if you don't want to use a mineral-based sunblock that makes the skin look white.
There may be some zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide based sunscreens available that do a better job of not leaving such a white layer on the skin, but you might have to experiment with different brands to find one.  Also some new brands add a brownish color to the lotion so that it doesn't leave such a pasty white appearance and rubs on more bronze instead.
And most important, to protect your skin and minimize the damage the sun can do to your skin...
EAT your sunscreen to best protect your skin against sun damage and cancer
Ok, I’m not talking about squeezing that stuff out of the bottle and actually eating it!
I am talking about protecting your skin from the inside out with nutrition! One of the best ways to prevent sun damage, and protect your skin, is with your diet. Yes, you can actually eat your own healthy version of natural sunscreen by following these recommendations:
First, be sure to eat plenty of omega-3 rich foods in your daily diet. Research studies show that eicosapentaenoic acid (also called EPA) in omega 3 fats helps prolong the time that it takes skin to get burned during sun exposure, and reduces your chances of skin cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids best sources come from grass-fed beef, free range whole eggs, and cold-water wild caught fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel.
But keep this in mind: An optimal balance of omega-3's to omega-6's (1:1 to 2:1) is critical for many, many health factors, including skin health. If you are eating much more omega 6 fatty acids in comparison to omega 3’s, you actually increase your chances of skin cancer from the sun.
It is a well-known fact that people who regularly eat a diet higher in saturated fats and omega-3 fats tend to have much smoother, softer skin. In contrast, a diet high in trans fats and excessively high omega-6 fats ages skin and when people consume that type of diet they tend to have older-looking skin and wrinkles.
So, here's how to eat the healthiest kind of sunscreen that is best for your body and your skin:

• Eliminate processed vegetable oils and instead eat grass fed butter, extra virgin olive oil and virgin coconut oil. Some of the oils highest in omega 6’s are soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, peanut, and corn oil, so avoid these (this also means avoiding anything deep fried!). Eliminate packaged processed junk food, fast food, and prepare fresh, whole food from scratch.
• Eat Carotenoids. Carotenoids are colorful molecules that reflect UV rays. Each of the pigments functions as Mother Nature’s sunblock. When humans ingest carotenoids, they are actually deposited into the skin to prevent sunburn and oxidative stress.
  
  The best sources of carotenoids are pasture-raised whole eggs, spirulina, dark-green leafy vegetables (kale, collards, spinach, etc), and brightly colored yellow-orange fruits and vegetables (apricots, cantaloupe, sweet red peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, and squash).
  
  The most potent carotenoid is a red pigment found in algae, salmon, trout, shrimp, lobsters, and other shellfish. It is known as astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is 1,000 times more effective at protecting skin from UV damage than other carotenoids.  One way that you can provide a double whammy of skin protection is to take a daily Krill Oil supplement, as krill oil is the best natural source of astaxanthan as well as potent omega-3's in a form most usable by your body.
  
  If you want to read more about this, this article shows how powerful astaxanthin is at protecting your skin.
   
• Lycopene is found in red fruits such as tomatoes, red bell pepper and watermelon. Unlike many other fruits and vegetables, cooking actually increases this nutrient. Tomato paste actually has much more lycopene than fresh tomatoes. In one study, people who consumed tomato paste had 33% more protection against sunburn compared to a control group after 12 weeks.
• Drink plenty of green tea a day for internal sun protection. Green tea is known to contain a category of antioxidants called polyphenols that boost the ability of skin to protect itself from the sun. If the idea of drinking warm green tea on a hot day is unappetizing, go for cool glass of iced green tea.
  
  Also keep in mind that ALL teas are rich sources of various skin-protecting antioxidants, so consider expanding beyond just green teas and try yerba mate, rooibos, tulsi tea, mint, chamomile, and other teas... the more variety you use, the more diversity of antioxidants you obtain.
• Snack on vitamin and flavanol-rich fruit like berries and other fruit such as mangoes, kiwis, peaches, cherries, and plums that are naturally sweet and juicy. Most fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is also a great vitamin for skin health. Known for its role in building collagen, vitamin C prevents wrinkles and photo damage through its anti-inflammatory action. Toss some berries into a bowl for breakfast, make a berry smoothie, or have berries for a healthy dessert.
   

To sum up:
1. Avoid the dangerous chemicals in regular chemical sunscreens. These contain potentially carcinogenic compounds as well as chemicals that are xenoestrogens, which are known to contribute to "stubborn belly fat".
2. Don't forget the skin protection and vitamin D benefits of getting small doses (10-30 minutes daily) of daily mid-day sun over a good portion of your body (without burning) before slathering on the sunblock or covering up with more clothing.
3. If you must spend a long amount of time out in the summer sun, eat a skin-healthy diet with lots of antioxidants such as various teas, berries, carotenoids, etc.  It's a good idea to take a daily Krill Oil supplement in the summer to protect your skin due to the natural form of astaxanthin which has been proven to be one of the most powerful compounds to protect your skin internally.
Also, protect your skin from excess sun and burning by either covering up with clothing or with a safe and natural zinc oxide or titanium oxide based sunscreen too... but ONLY after you've received your small dose (10-30 minutes) of full sun over large portions of your body to increase your vitamin D levels which protect your skin from cancer.
And enjoy the summer sun and fun!
Please feel free to share the link to this article with your friends and family, on your blogs or forums, or on Facebook or Twitter, and help protect the health of your friends!
If you liked this article, please feel free to share it with your friends and family to help protect their health:

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The #1 Worst Sunscreen: Avoid This at All Costs

With warmer weather coming for most parts of the country, people all over are gearing up for poolside gatherings, beach vacations and some good ol’ fashioned sun soaking. The sun just seems to make us feel good, and rightly so.
Fact: The sun is necessary for all human life. Without the warming rays of this massive star, life on this planet would cease to exist. Every type of living creature, including mankind, needs sunlight in order to live. Humans have been exposed to the sun since the beginning of time.
Warning against the sun 

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However, for more than 30 years, doctors, beauty experts, health officials and skin care product manufacturers have sent out strong warnings regarding the dangers of the sun. We have been told to avoid any sun exposure without sunscreen, because the rays will damage our skin and cause skin cancer. Much of this hype has been due to the fact that skin cancer is on the rise. In 2002, over 50 percent of the 1.2 million cases of cancer in the United States were skin cancers, and 10,000 of these cases were fatal. These statistics have injected a rampant fear of the sun into many unassuming people, who have decided to stay clear of the burning ball of light at all costs. This however, has caused problems of its own.
To say that the sun causes cancer is not entirely correct, and is actually a great oversimplification of the truth. Well-researched and documented studies show that vitamin D optimization may actually prevent up to 16 different types of cancer.
Because of our fear of the sun, we have become a nation deficient in vitamin D. This deficiency in itself has led to a surge in a number of debilitating conditions such as depression, obesity, hypertension and cancer. In addition, 60 percent of people with diabetes are vitamin D deficient, and studies show very low levels of vitamin D in children, women and the elderly.
It appears, to at least some extent, that the dangers of the sun have been overemphasized while the benefits have been minimized. William Grant, PhD conducted a study that revealed that 30 percent of cancer deaths could be prevented each year if vitamin D levels were higher. That’s right: the very thing that so many hide from may not cause cancer, but rather protect from it.
Furthermore, vitamin D is also essential for a number of healthy bodily functions, such as muscle strength, cardiovascular health, strong teeth, optimal blood pressure and a healthy immune system – to name just a few.
Fact:  The deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, has been on the rise by about 3.5 percent per year since 1992, according to the American Melanoma Foundation. Interestingly enough, this rise in melanoma has been paralleled by an 4.2 percent increase in sunscreen use.
Melanoma is a highly complex disease. While it appears that exposure to the sun may play some role, most melanomas are located on body parts that get little, if any, daily sun exposure.
Research has demonstrated that there appears to be some connection between the risk of melanoma and the number of childhood burns one has received. In addition, the use of tanning beds also increases the risk.
Good rays, bad rays
In order to completely understand the risk that the sun poses to our health, we must better comprehend the sun itself. The sun gives us two main types of wavelengths – UVA and UVB. While both can cause tanning and burning, UVB rays are necessary for the skin to make vitamin D, while UVA rays penetrate the skin deeply and can cause severe free radical damage including wrinkles. They also destroy vitamin D.
UVA rays shine constantly throughout the day and through the whole year, while UVB rays are lowest in the morning and evening and highest at midday and vary in strength throughout the year.
It only takes a little sun to make vitamin D
To encourage your body to produce vitamin D you don’t need to spend countless hours in the hot sun and you most definately don’t want to burn. Here are a few general guidelines to follow to help you get the most from the sun’s helpful rays while staying safe from those that can cause damage.

• If you are just getting out in the sun for the first time in the season and have white skin, limit yourself to about 15 minutes between the hours of 10am – 4pm.
• If you burn frequently, limit your time to a few minutes each day until your skin begins to slightly darken.
• Once you have a nice tan, you can increase the time you spend in the sun.
• Use a moisturizing non-SPF lotion to help keep your skin soft. If you use an SPF lotion it will block out the beneficial UVB rays. Organic coconut oil is a great option.
• After your initial exposure, spend the rest of the day in the shade or covered up.
• If you have to be in the sun for an extended period of time, use an SPF 15 non-toxic sunscreen.

The toxic truth about sunscreen
When you slather on sunscreen that does not offer natural UVA protection, you are doing nothing short of wasting your money. Sunscreen that blocks UVB rays and does not protect from UVA rays and will work against you by limiting vitamin D production and damaging skin.
There are two main types of sunscreens – chemical and physical. Chemical sunscreens prevent sunburn when they absorb UVA rays, but can increase the risk of cancer. Physical sunscreens contain inert minerals that reflect ultraviolet rays away from the skin, and are considered safe and effective.
Most of what you find in the store are chemical sunscreens, which may contain from three to six of the following active ingredients: oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octinoxate and octocrylene.
Almost all products contain avobenzone – the agent for filtering out skin-damaging UVA rays. There is some concern, however, that this substance may break down when exposed to the sun. Other chemicals, such as octocrylene, are often added as stabilizers.
Studies done on a number of the chemicals found in commercial sunscreen indicate that they may disrupt hormones. Animal research also suggests that oxybenzone (found in 80 percent of chemical sunscreen) and octinoxate are toxic to reproductive systems and can interfere with development.
While more testing is yet to be done, many are concerned that the high level of toxicity found in these active ingredients may undermine any benefit that this type of sunscreen offers. Like personal care products, sunscreens penetrate the skin and deserve special attention.
Studies done at the University of Zurich (2010) found sunscreen chemicals in 85 percent of milk samples. Four of the chemicals that were found are commonly used in American sunscreens.
Avoid sunscreens with retinol
Sunscreens that contains vitamin A or retinol may actually speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when sunlight is present, according to a 2009 study done by the National Toxicology Program.
The Food and Drug Administration published a study in 2011 that concluded the same thing. Since this time, consumer advocates have been urging the FDA to restrict the use of vitamin A in topical products.
Avoid spray-on sunscreens
Vitamin A and toxic chemicals are not the only thing you have to worry about in sunscreen. In July of 2012, a very scary incident occurred for one man who applied aerosol sunscreen and immediately walked over to his barbecue.
Upon lighting the grill, he sustained 2nd degree burns, because the sunscreen had not had time to set into his skin, neither did the propellant chemicals have adequate time to evaporate. According to news reports, the spray also left a vapor trail that added insult to injury. He caught on fire immediately after lighting the grill.
Banana Boat, the makers of the aerosol sunscreen in question, voluntarily recalled their product after hearing of the incident. The company cited a problem with the spray valve as being the reason for the accident.
“The spray valve opening on the affected products dispenses more than is typical in the industry for continuous sun care sprays. As a result, the product is taking longer to dry on the skin than is typical with other continuous sprays. If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite.”
Mothers of young kids, and many other people of all ages, love the ease of application that aerosol offers, as well as the fact that spray sunscreen makes it easy to cover all of the hard-to-reach spots.
But are you willing to trade convenience for health?
Besides the fact that aerosols are highly flammable, there are more concerns with this type of sun protection.
First, the Food and Drug Administration has mounting concerns that aerosol sunscreens can be inhaled during application. Both the propellant chemicals and the nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (found safe in other forms) worry scientists, who say that these particles are easily ingested.
Although the particles can’t be absorbed through the skin, they can accumulate in different organs in the body once they are ingested. Because they are so small, they can move freely throughout the body, causing problems at the sub-cellular level. What is worse is that the body can’t get rid of them.
Each time the sunscreen nozzle is pressed, these particles are transported some 20 feet in all directions, landing on everything in sight. Everyone in the danger zone gets to breathe in the dangerous particles, even if they don’t want to.
The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens classified titanium dioxide as a “possible carcinogen” when inhaled in high doses as from an aerosol can. As noted, it is very hard for the lungs to clear the tiny particles, which are easily passed into the bloodstream. When these particles penetrate lung or skin tissue, they can cause severe organ damage.
Use caution with loose powder sunscreens as well for the same reason; they contain particles that could end up in the lungs and cause damage.
There are presently no recommendations or guidelines set by the US government regarding the size and characteristics of nanoparticles, to protect from the sun and be safe to users at the same time. As with other personal care products, this is a “caveat emptor” circumstance where consumers must do their own research with regards to safety.
Staying safe
Playing it safe requires forethought. Obviously, the sun is a very important part of health, one that should not be ignored. However, there are rules.

• Playing or laying all day in the hot sun without any protection and getting burned to a crisp must be avoided at all costs.
• Be especially careful with young children; avoid sunburn as much as possible.
• Try to stay in the shade between the hours of 12 and 3pm; this is when the sun’s rays are the hottest and can cause the most damage.
• Wear lightweight, white clothing if possible, and a hat if you have to be in the sun for long periods of time.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• Never tan through a window – you will get all UVA rays and none of the beneficial UVB rays.

The Environmental Working Group urges us not to use sunscreen as a tool to prolong time spent in the sun, and to check our skin often for irregular moles or other suspicious spots.
Being choosy about the type of sunscreen that you use for yourself and your family is critical. The best is one made from natural ingredients that protect you from damaging rays, don’t break down on the skin,  and allow at least some penetration of UVB rays for the production of vitamin D.
Visit The Environmental Working Group  for a list of safe sunscreens which contain non- toxic ingredients and offer protection from damaging UVA rays without compromising UVB exposure.
Remember: Enjoy the sun, respect the sun and know what is in your sunscreen. For natural sun protection try coconut oil. Coconut oil has been shown to have between 7-10 spf and is a great moisturizer for the skin. For 9 more reasons to use Coconut Oil every day, click here (3 of them are shocking).
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/10/19/banana-boat-aerosol-sunscreen-recalled-over-fire-danger
http://www.easterbrook.ca/steve/2012/04/aerosols-are-they-good-or-bad
http://thepeopleschemist.com/proof-sunshine-does-not-cause-skin-cancer
http://www.particleandfibretoxicology.com/content/10/1/15
http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/nanoparticles-in-sunscreen
http://suntanscience.com/toxicsunscreens.php