Using Sunscreen Safely
July 2, 2018
By Chiro One Wellness Centers
Don’t worry—as your natural health and wellness resource, we’ve got you covered. Here are some ways you can protect yourself against skin cancer naturally.
The Problem with Sunscreen
When you’re loading up on commercial sunscreen, your body takes in chemicals that some prefer to avoid. Oxybenzone, found in certain sunscreen formulations, may be linked to hormonals disruptions and other negative health effects. More research is needed before scientists can know definitively if these chemicals are actually harmful to humans, but for some, this is enough reason to steer clear. While protecting your skin adequately is the most important thing, some people may prefer to opt for a more natural route that doesn’t include chemical sunscreens. We’ve outlined some of these options below.
Natural Sun Protection
Even without chemical sunscreens, there are tons of ways you can stay safe in the sun this summer! Try some
of these natural alternatives and keep your skin healthy and sunburn free all summer long.
Dress Appropriately During Long Periods of Exposure. While a small amount of exposure—15 to 20 minutes—is beneficial, too much can be dangerous. Avoid sun damage when exposed for long periods by covering your head with a hat and your body with regular or sun-protective clothing. The sun’s rays can still penetrate through non-UV treated clothing, but at a much lower rate.
Use Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide. Lifeguards use this on their noses for a reason! Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are natural, safe mineral sunscreen options that don’t contain common chemical sunscreen ingredients. While some people may dread the “white cast” that comes with using mineral sunscreens, modern formulations, particularly those for faces, are quite sheer and wearable! They even make “tinted” mineral sunscreens that blend well with all skin tones.
Eat Your Greens. Green leafy vegetables are great additions to our diets for many reasons, including the fact that they’re chock full of carotenoids. This antioxidant helps lessen the damaging effects of a sunburn, if you should get one accidentally.
Go Red! Lycopene, found in watermelon and tomatoes, is a natural sunburn protector. When
tomato paste was mixed with olive oil for absorption, eating this combination helped mitigate pain and swelling from sunburns in a German research study.