”God made two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. And God saw that it was GOOD.” Gen 1:16-18
The sun out in full swing this summer and it’s time we all start enjoying the outside! Before you cover your body in sunscreen, consider this… 4 unique scientific studies show that you are MORE likely to get skin cancer (malignant melanoma) when using sunscreen than nothing at all!!
I know…. The above statement goes against everything your mom, commercials and even your doctor has recommended. Let’s take a deep dive into the toxic dangers of sunscreen and provide you with some safe (and more effective) alter-natives that will nourish your skin while keeping you protected from the burning effects of the sun.
I want to start off by dispelling the myth that sun exposure is bad. I find it hard to believe that in less than 16 verses of the Bible God is creating the sun only to say “It Is Good” – and then turn the page to find out – oops, but don’t stay in it too long!(Do you think Adam & Eve or anyone in the biblical day were coating their skin all day long with sunscreen??) The sun provides exceptional health benefits, energy and life sustaining power to every living thing on this earth – yes you too.
Right now more than 2 million Americans receive a diagnosis of skin cancer annually – despite the fact that sales of sunscreen are exploding more than ever before (it sunscreen really worked, we should see a decrease in skin cancer as the sales go up).
So why is this happening… well it’s because Sunscreen is Toxic and Toxins, when applied over time and not eliminated, cause cancer.
Now I’m not telling you never to wear sunscreen, just stop using the common over the counter ones you find at Target, Walmart, CVS etc.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has an entire database dedicated to sunscreens. They reviewed over 2000 sunscreens and over 257 brands. They found more that than 75% of the sunscreens contained toxic chemicals that can increase your risk of cancer and other health issues.
The Dangers of Conventional Sunscreens
According to research from the EWG: “Our review…shows that some sunscreen ingredients absorb into the blood, and some have toxic effects. Some release skin-damaging free radicals in sunlight, some act like estrogen and disrupt hormones, and several can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. The FDA has not established rigorous safety standards for sunscreen ingredients.
A recent study published in Environmental Science Technology has also shown the common sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone, methoxycinnamate, and PABA are estrogenic chemicals linked to cancer. That’s right, you should read labels on not only food products, but on anything you are putting on your body. If your sunscreen contains any of these chemicals I’d throw it away right now!
List of Unsafe, Toxic Chemicals in Sunscreen
Para amino benzoic acid, Octyl salicylate, Oxybenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Phenyl benzimidazole, Homosalate, Menthyl anthranilate, Octocrylene, Methoxycinnamate, Parabens.
The Sun is your best source of Vitamin D3.
With 20 minutes of direct sunlight, your body naturally generates Vitamin D3 (Calciferol), and you body also knows the right amount to generate without overdose. Vita-min D3 has been one of the most researched nutrients over the past 5 years and it has been shown to naturally help boost the immune system, help fight cancers (including skin) and improve mood.
What Natural Sunscreens to Buy
The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt/sun-shirt. No chemicals for the skin to absorb, no questions about whether the product works and no bogus claims like “sunblock.”
When buying sunscreen I’d first check the EWG database. Here are my top 3 recommended brands of the safe, alternative natural sunscreens:
- Kiss My Face Purely Mineral Sunscreen (Both adult and child versions)
- Sun Bum Mineral Sunscreen
- The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream
Don’t forget you can always make your own sunscreen – simply visit https://askdr-ernst.com/recipes-archive/summer-now-make-sunscreen for a recipe that works!