It is the time of year when we are bombarded with messages about the importance of wearing sunscreen - but is this good advice?
Suncreens are potentially dangerous and are as likely to cause skin cancer than exposure to sun itself. Contoversial? Absolutely, but watch this short video from Dr. Andreas Moritz to understand why:
If you question this statement then consider this: Why is it that societies in areas of the planet with least sun exposure like Canada, Scandinavia, Scotland etc. have a much higher incidence of skin cancer than people from sunnier climates or in high alpine areas like Switzerland, where exposure to intense UV rays is far higher? You could say that people from warmer climates are naturally darker skinned so less likely to contract skin cancer, but that argument fails when you refer it to people living in alpine areas who don’t necessarily have dark skin, but are exposed to 400% higher UV radiation than those at sea level. And they have low incidence of skin cancer.
It involves Vitamin D: Or a lack of it to be exact. If you are Vitamin D deficient your risk of cancer is significantly elevated, and not just skin cancer, Vitamin D protects us from many common cancers. Research has demonstrated that it is not UVB rays that cause skin cancer, but rather UVA rays. Most sunscreens block out both and prevent the body’s manufacture of Vitamin D.
It Doesn’t Mean You Should Burn: Let’s be absolutely clear about this – there is nothing clever at all about burning your skin in the sun. Avoiding the midday sun is very wise, and tanning gently is the healthy way to do it, ensuring you don’t burn your skin, but at the same time are sufficiently exposed to sunshine to generate good levels of Vitamin D. Creating a base tan in this way creates a natural level of protection to the skin.
Why Are Most Sunscreens Dangerous? Sadly they contain a whole list of toxins, some of which are known carcinogens. These sunscreen ingredients are forbidden in foods, yet permitted in sunscreens. Just because you apply them topically rather than swallow them, doesn’t mean you avoid them entering the bloodstream and stressing the liver. There is a clear link to these nasty toxins and skin cancer, so the very thing you are taking to avoid skin cancer could be the very thing causing it.
Are There Healthy Sunscreens? Yes, there are organic sunscreens that are considerably healthier. Brands I recommend are Yaoh, Jason and there is a good quality organic Aloe Vera brand available at Barannes in St. Helier. Unlike many oily sunscreens, these organic ones are more inclined to get washed off in water, so always re-apply after swimming
Vitamin D: If you are disinclined to expose yourself to the sun then I would definitely recommend taking Foodstate Vitamin D because it plays a number of vital roles in the body:
- Strengthens Bones, especially with added Calcium
- Protects children against Diabetes Type 1
- Protects against High Blood Pressure
- Protects against greater levels of Pain
- Protects against Cancer
- Improves Physical performance
People in Europe and children especially are the most deficient in Vitamin D. Our Foodstate Vitamin D is absorbed used and retained better than any other supplemental form