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- Health
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Staying Safe in the Sun
04/05/2008 - By Steven Masaon Staying Safe in the Sun
At one time we believed that we could spend hours lazing in the sun without damaging our skin. Once we learned otherwise it seemed we would be safe as long as we used creams and lotions that promised prolonged healthy tans and safe levels of sun protection. However, with the change in climate and the thinning of the ozone layer, there is even greater need to protect ourselves from the damaging effects of UV.
Creams and lotions containing chemical sunscreens are widely available and actively promoted as being essential for everyday use to prevent sun damage and the effects of premature aging. However, a recent report suggested that Britons were increasingly suffering from vitamin D deficiency, a vital nutrient for healthy bone and cell growth. The bulk of our vitamin D is produced through the absorption of UV from sunlight but sunscreens can cut down the level of absorption by up to 95%. So are we doing the right thing by covering up and using heavy sunscreens?
Sunscreens work as a barrier reflecting part of the UV rays away from the skin. They need to be reapplied regularly, depending on the amount of time spent in the sun and if you are sweating heavily or swimming. The general opinion is that a good level of SPF (sun protection factor) is 15 or above.
The dangers of overexposure to the sun are well documented and widely known; more cases of skin cancer are reported each year, so it makes sense to use products as a way of protecting ourselves. However, this may do more harm than good as some products are formulated with the use of potentially hazardous chemicals that can penetrate the skin and may potentially increase the risk of disease. These chemicals include: PABA (Para-Aminobenzoic Acid) A common sunscreen which is also used due to its mild anaesthetic properties to reduce the pain of sunburn. It can cause allergic eczema and sensitivity to light in susceptible people whose skin may react to sunlight by erupting with a rash, sloughing and/or swelling (Winter, 1999).
Oxybenzone Used as a common ingredient in sunscreens and moisturisers. Studies carried out at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York have shown that photosensitivity to this ingredient is increasing (Winter, 1999).
A Safer Alternative?
A safer alternative is to use mineral-based sunscreens, which include Zinc and, more recently, Titanium Dioxide (which has become something of a favourite ingredient among manufacturers looking for natural alternatives to the more synthetic chemical-based sunscreens). But even Titanium Dioxide has come under fire of late. Despite being inert, its use may have lulled users into a false sense of security about the amount of time they should spend in the sun. So is there a safe and natural way to protect our skins while still enjoying the sun and its benefits?
The obvious approach is to be responsible about the time we spend in the sun and to remember to cover up and avoid overexposure where possible. The sun is strongest at midday, so sunbathing should be avoided around this time. Wearing a hat and spending time in the shade are straightforward ways to protect ourselves from overexposure.
It is also best to avoid using sunbeds and tanning booths. Although UVA rays from ultraviolet lamps don't burn the skin in the same way as UVB rays from sunlight do, it seems increasingly likely that the most malignant melanomas and eye damage may come from the UVA rays of sunlamps. Skin damage also occurs through free radicals. These are molecules that have become unstable through the absorption of additional energy. Some free radicals are necessary but there is a strong link between their presence and the aging process. The free-radical theory of aging is that organisms age because protein, lipid and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) accumulate free radical damage with the passage of time. Free radical attacks on protein, lipid and nucleic acids lead to a reduction in their respective function, thereby decreasing cell function, then organ function, and finally organismal function (www.wikipedia.org).
While sunbathing, free radicals may be formed through the absorption of UV radiation. Therefore, the greater our exposure to the sun, the greater the amount of free radical production. Having a good healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will help to reduce this effect as they contain antioxidants, which combat the negative effects of free radicals. Most of us can benefit from supplementing our diets with good daily antioxidants, including vitamins C and E (www.highernature.com).
Another Way?
It's perhaps not surprising that a revolutionary new natural way of protecting the skin has become a best-selling product in the Energys range. Sun Love is a unique method of sun protection using no synthetic sunscreens and only botanical extracts to safely increase the levels of pigment within the skin. When we tan, our skin darkens as levels of the pigment melanin are increased to protect us from the damaging effects of the sun.
Sun Love maximises this natural protection and is based upon a bio-melanin extract from the fruit of the date palm. Similar to the pigment of our skin, this dark brown pigment occurs naturally in the fruit to protect it from the intense solar radiation found in its natural desert habitat.
Used regularly before and during sun exposure the bio-melanin complex works with the body helping it to build a natural level of SPF to prevent the skin from burning. This is combined with powerful botanical antioxidants including Edelweiss and Carrot Oil which are blended with Aloe Vera, Calendula and Argan Oil to deeply moisturise and protect the skin, thereby avoiding sensitivity and preventing the skin from peeling.
Energys actively encourages consumers to take responsibility and care when spending time in the sun. Cover up, avoid exposure at the hottest time of day and stay well hydrated. This in combination with Sun Love and a healthy well-balanced diet with a good intake of antioxidants can help to protect the skin from aging and the potentially damaging effects of the sun whilst enabling us to enjoy the warm weather and be able to absorb essential levels of vitamin D.
References
Ruth Winter, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Three Rivers Press: 1999.
www.wikipedia.org
Steven Masaon MIFA, MCThA
Energys brand manager
Products can be purchased from www.highernature.com or by telephone: 0800 2218931 or
01435 884504 for training