Grow Youthful, Slow Your Aging


Sunscreens

Why I don't use sunscreens

I personally do not use sunscreens, for several reasons. Remember, your body can absorb substances from your skin. Want to test that? Crush a clove of garlic and rub it on the soles of your feet. Put some socks on and leave it there for an hour. Then ask someone to smell your breath or under your arms. Garlic! I do not trust the chemicals sunscreens contain, so choose not to put them on my skin

I also have a saying that you should be willing to eat anything you rub onto your skin. Would you be willing to put your sunscreen in your mouth? Sure, I would not exactly eat soap and so on, but it is a good basis on which to question our unthinking use of most soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, shaving creams and other personal care products

We need regular sunshine

Our skin needs exposure to the sun, preferably daily. Of course, everything in moderation. Half an hour of sunshine at the time of day and season that will pleasantly warm your skin without the slightest burning or red skin. Red, burning, painful or itching skin is your body telling you that it has been overdone and dangerous. There is no question that excess sunshine damages and ages your skin. But too little sunshine also has many harmful effects

Few people get enough sun, especially in the winter and in high latitudes. Most people are deficient in vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D is associated with autoimmune diseases, poor bones and teeth, cancer, heart disease and low energy. People who get insufficient sun also suffer frequent 'flu, autism, strokes, depression and heart disease

Ultraviolet-B radiation is the short wavelength light that that causes sunburn and does not penetrate the skin deeply. It is also the light that helps your skin make vitamin D. Having sufficient vitamin D (around 2000 units per day for an adult) ensures that your immune system is effective. It will also give you strong bones and teeth, and a high level of energy and athletic performance

There are three main kinds of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and malignant melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are common, usually less serious, and not counted in cancer statistics. Most sunscreens block the UVB rays and help prevent sunburn and these minor cancers. They also block out your ability to make vitamin D, of which we are so chronically short

Cover up to avoid strong sunshine

Ultraviolet-A radiation has a longer wavelength, and penetrates through the outer skin down to the melanocytes, the cells that become cancerous in melanoma cases. Most sunscreens do not block UVA. Zinc oxide blocks UVA, and is one of the only sunscreens that I trust (because I am also willing to eat small quantities of zinc oxide)

Melanomas are deadly, and used to be rare. In the developed world, their incidence increased dramatically in the 40 years up to 1990, though they have leveled out since then. People spend more time in the sun without being burned when they use sunscreens. Unfortunately, the ultraviolet-A radiation is still penetrating their skin in a large dose, and their natural early warning system (sunburn) has been blocked by the sunscreen

The most effective way to prevent melanomas is to cover your skin, and stay in the shade during the brightest part of the day. Our ancestors did in the days before sunscreens, and it obviously worked because melanomas was so rare in previous centuries. The leveling out in the rate of skin cancers in the last 15-20 years is because people (particularly those with fair skins) are getting that message

In summary, most sunscreens:

  • contain complex chemicals that have an unknown negative affect on your body
  • block out the UVB radiation, preventing your body from making its own vitamin D
  • stop you getting red and burned, hiding the signal your body gives you to tell you when you've had too much sun
  • let the dangerous UVA radiation penetrate your skin, without blocking it out

Unfortunately, there is virtually no research in this area – who would ever sponsor it? The manufacturers of sunscreens would prefer to suppress this kind of information

Here is a six minute video on the wonderful value of sunshine and vitamin D

Watch the video


Copyright © 2003-2010 David Niven Miller        www.growyouthful.com