I've been trying to wean myself off of chemicals or cleansers, soaps, etc with harsh chemicals or lots of chemicals in them. So I decided to look to see what sunscreens have in them and I was rather surprised and dismayed at the same time. Apparently there's a chemical in sunscreen that was used to kill rats in a Norwegian clinical study
which doesn't exactly sit too well with me.
I've also been reading that despite all the sunscreens out there and the health warnings, the rates for skin cancer and skin damage caused by the sun are still startlingly high. Here are some of the thoughts made as to why sunscreen may not be so good for you:
1. Sunscreens prohibit sunlight from synthesizing Vitamin D, so many people have very low vit D levels which can lead to other forms of cancer.
2. Sunscreen gives people a false sense of security, causing them to stay in the sun even longer than they normally would if they weren't wearing sunscreen.
3. Sunscreens are mainly chemical, meaning they are absorbed into the bloodstream and adversely affect the body.
But my thoughts to those are:
1. I have read medical information stating a way to get enough sunlight to assist with Vitamin D absorption-- basically have your hands and feet/legs in the sun for 10-15 per day, and you should be fine.
2. Sunscreens always say to reapply after every 3 or so hours, even more often if you are doing physical activity such as sports. False sense of security? I see many people out there who are in the sun for hours without ANY on at all!
3. It does worry me that most sunscreens are chemical, so we should look for ones that are physical (having inert ingredients that reflect and scatter UVA/UVB rays)-- but why can't I ever find any physical sunscreens?
People always tell me that I have nothing to worry about because I'm Indian and darker-- boy are they wrong! I actually have burned and it isn't pleasant-- and my skin reacts by producing these weird little white bumps that sometimes hurt or itch. So for me, I have to wear sunscreen or else I look like a brick.
So what exactly are the facts-- should we keep using sunscreen? if we do, how do we find physical sunscreens that are from the US (or wherever you live, the point is being local)? How do we make sure to get enough Vitamin D?
Why do I keep getting dark and burn even though I slather on sunscreen all the time?! I can tell that my skin on my feet are starting to get this weird leathery appearance
which doesn't exactly sit too well with me.I've also been reading that despite all the sunscreens out there and the health warnings, the rates for skin cancer and skin damage caused by the sun are still startlingly high. Here are some of the thoughts made as to why sunscreen may not be so good for you:
1. Sunscreens prohibit sunlight from synthesizing Vitamin D, so many people have very low vit D levels which can lead to other forms of cancer.
2. Sunscreen gives people a false sense of security, causing them to stay in the sun even longer than they normally would if they weren't wearing sunscreen.
3. Sunscreens are mainly chemical, meaning they are absorbed into the bloodstream and adversely affect the body.
But my thoughts to those are:
1. I have read medical information stating a way to get enough sunlight to assist with Vitamin D absorption-- basically have your hands and feet/legs in the sun for 10-15 per day, and you should be fine.
2. Sunscreens always say to reapply after every 3 or so hours, even more often if you are doing physical activity such as sports. False sense of security? I see many people out there who are in the sun for hours without ANY on at all!
3. It does worry me that most sunscreens are chemical, so we should look for ones that are physical (having inert ingredients that reflect and scatter UVA/UVB rays)-- but why can't I ever find any physical sunscreens?
People always tell me that I have nothing to worry about because I'm Indian and darker-- boy are they wrong! I actually have burned and it isn't pleasant-- and my skin reacts by producing these weird little white bumps that sometimes hurt or itch. So for me, I have to wear sunscreen or else I look like a brick.
So what exactly are the facts-- should we keep using sunscreen? if we do, how do we find physical sunscreens that are from the US (or wherever you live, the point is being local)? How do we make sure to get enough Vitamin D?
Why do I keep getting dark and burn even though I slather on sunscreen all the time?! I can tell that my skin on my feet are starting to get this weird leathery appearance
