Sunscreen: Helping or Hurting?

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you’ve probably seen me post a thing or two about sunscreen. For some reason, it just really bothers me how ingrained in us it is to lather up every time we go in the sun. I want to debunk some myths and help you make the best possible choice that works for you.

This is us on our honeymoon… so young, so tan, so squinty.

Is Sun Exposure Bad?

We’ve been led to believe that the sun is bad. It causes cancer. Cover yourself in SPF 250 if you want to live. I’d like to alter that thinking today.

I CAN NOT overstate the importance of Vitamin D in your body. So I’ll let someone smarter than me tell you.

Dr. Sarah Ballantyne says, “Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that controls expression of more than 200 genes and the proteins those genes regulate. It is made by specialized skin cells when they are activated by exposure to UVB radiation. After it’s synthesized in the skin, the inactive form of vitamin D must travel to the liver, where it’s further modified, and then is activated by the kidneys. From here, vitamin D can work its magic all over the body.”

She also quotes a study of 25,000 women over 20 years. The results were stunning: “Nonsmokers who avoided sun exposure had a life expectancy similar to smokers in the highest sun exposure group, indicating that avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor for death of a similar magnitude as smoking.” 

Woah. Not to mention, Vitamin D deficiency is linked to almost all chronic health conditions! And most Americans are deficient due to sedentary lifestyles and the propaganda about avoiding the sun and slathering on the sunblock.

This is the one I have! It also comes in travel size.

How Much Sun Do We Need?

Okay, so now that we know the sun isn’t bad, we should all go burn to a crisp right? The more Vitamin D, the better!

NOPE NOPE NOPE.

I am not suggesting that you have no concern about sun exposure. We must moderate our exposure so that we get enough, but not too much. I’ve heard it said that about 20 minutes of full body exposure to sunlight is a good place to start. But this is very bioindividual, meaning everyone is different, so you have to decide what works best for you. It definitely wouldn’t hurt anyone to get their Vitamin D levels checked at the doctor so that you have an idea of where you are currently.

Generally speaking, get some sun every day without any SPF; wear SPF if you’re in the sun for extended periods of time or burn easily.

Spray also comes in travel size.

One thing to consider if you sunburn easily. While it may very well may be genetics, there is evidence that a fatty acid deficiency can lead to sunburning more easily. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, meaning fat is needed in order for your body to properly use it. Just something to think about!

Hold up though, what about winter?! One issue with getting sunshine every day is that most people don’t have access to Vitamin D all year long (unless you’re a Florida gal, like I once was). It has been shown that your body can store up Vitamin D, but it may still be a good idea to supplement (with a reputable brand) in the winter. Again, getting your levels checked by your doctor will tell you if that’s a good option for you.

Sunscreen

Alright, now that we have an idea of how important the sun is, let’s move on to sunscreen options. This topic really gets me fired up. It makes me so sad to see sweet mamas unknowingly putting toxic sunscreen on their precious babies, wanting nothing more than to protect them. And I say this with no judgement or shame whatsoever. Everyone is doing what they think is right, much like the whole non-fat thing the government pushed on us for so long. So please hear me when I say this: IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!

The stick is great for traveling!

The propaganda has got to stop. And thankfully, there has been some research coming out lately saying that more research needs to be done on conventional sunscreen to see if it’s safe. Nothing earth shattering yet, but it’s a step in the right direction.

So what’s so bad about your everyday sunscreen?

I’m certain you don’t want me to go on for ages about this, so I’ll just leave this link here for anyone wanting some deeper reading on the issue. Long story short, the Environmental Working Group lists all the active ingredients, their hazards, and cites them with research.

The most concerning ingredient? Oxybenzone. It’s detected in nearly every American, more so in people who use sunscreen regularly. It’s an endocrine disruptor and can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation (which applies to many other ingredients in sunscreen, too). The list of possible side effects are long, but I’d say the biggest problem is that it interferes with hormones and reproductive health. It’s even found in mothers’ breast milk, yikes!

The new tinted sunscreen WON’T make you orange, just gives a nice glow!

The list goes from most concerning ingredients to least. So if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the list, you’ll find zinc oxide, “excellent UVA protection… safe and effective… no evidence of hormone disruption”. This is the type that I usually recommend. There are many options for this type of mineral sunscreen, but be careful of other harmful ingredients that may be contained even in “natural brands”.

After sun cooling gel for when you go a little too hard on the Vitamin D.

To save myself a lot of time and energy trying to research different brands, I just personally went with Beautycounter sunscreen (there are several different options, that’s just the one I use). I already know they test everything twice to make sure it’s safe, so I don’t have to worry about it. You can most certainly choose another brand, just be sure to check out it’s hazard score on EWG’s Skin Deep Database.

And I don’t just lather up all day. I get plenty of sun when it’s warm, but I try not to just sit out in it all day long. I love working outside, so I’ll often just sit somewhere in the shade. If I’m going to be unable to avoid the sun for an extended period of time, that’s when I will use sunblock and reapply often.

Other Options

This may sound like a “DUH” comment, but you can always cover up with clothes, hats, umbrellas, etc if you don’t feel like reapplying sunscreen every hour. And if you DO happen to overdue the sun and get a little burn, there’s always aloe to help soothe it. But again, be careful about other harmful ingredients that may he hiding in there. The After Sun Cooling Gel from Beautycounter is an amazing option, too!

With summer right around the corner, you’re probably stocking up on beach essentials. I hope this information was helpful to you and that you’ll be able to make the best possible choice for you and your loved ones!

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can email me at lexie@wellfromwithin.co anytime. Happy summertime, friends!