Could Sunscreen Be Blocking You From Good or Bad?
Ever since I was little, I’ve been told of the importance of wearing sunscreen every single day and limiting my sun exposure to decrease the risk of skin cancer. I’ve always taken this advice to heart, reaching for SPF 50 for my face each morning as part of my skincare routine. Recently, however, my world was shattered when I read that sunscreen might actually be harmful, blocking our ability to get sufficient amounts of vitamin D. The article mentioned that taking vitamin D supplements isn’t the same as getting it directly from the sun. I can’t find the exact article that I initially read, but here’s one making similar claims. Over the past few years, I’ve been struggling with a vitamin D deficiency and have been taking daily supplements, so you can imagine the shock when I heard this! I decided to do some more research to get to the bottom of sunscreen and what is really healthiest for our bodies.
First, I wanted to address using sunscreen in general. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “dermatologists recommend and scientific studies support practicing sun protection, including using sunscreen, to prevent sunburn and reduce your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, as well as premature aging.” They advocate for staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing, and using broad-spectrum sunscreens anytime you’re in the sun.
However, Australia’s Cancer Council has some competing thoughts. While they still recommend protection from the sun’s harmful rays and state that “around 99% of non-melanoma skin cancers and 95% of melanomas in Australia,” the Cancer Council mentions that “small amounts of sunlight are also essential to good health. A balance is required between avoiding an increase in the risk of skin cancer by excessive sun exposure and achieving enough exposure to maintain adequate vitamin D levels.” They recommend using sun protection during the summer, but not in the autumn, winter, or spring, when the UV index drops below 3.
Next, I wanted to check out the differences between obtaining vitamin D from the sun versus food or supplements. Apparently, the article I read was incorrect. According to Yale Medicine, “the sunlight-generated kind isn’t better than the nutritional variety,” and “the majority of people can get their vitamin D from nutritional supplements and from vitamin D-fortified foods.” The idea that we need to get a certain amount of sun exposure every day to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D is not true. Case closed! We should definitely use sunscreen when there is strong sunlight outside and will typically get enough vitamin D from being outside for short amounts of time as well as from our diet.
Lastly, let’s talk about chemical versus physical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens absorb the sun’s rays, while physical ones sit on the skin’s surface, deflecting the sun’s rays. Recently, the FDA called for more safety surrounding many of the ingredients used in chemical sunscreens, causing fear that it means chemical sunscreens are harmful. The American Academy of Dermatology wants us all to know that “while the FDA is asking for more data, it is not concluding that the ingredients are unsafe or that you should stop using them.” They don’t favor one type of sunscreen over another, so long as the one you’re using blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
However, according to Scientific American, chemical sunscreens that use ingredients like benzophenone, homosalate, and octyl methoxycinnamate “are known to mimic naturally occurring bodily hormones and can thus throw the body’s systems out of whack.” Meanwhile, there’s some fears surrounding physical sunscreens because ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide “can enter the body and carry risks as well.” It seems like the jury’s still out, especially since the FDA is still in the midst of further studying these potentially harmful ingredients.
In conducting my research, I’m relieved to find that I’ve been doing the right thing by using sunscreen and limiting my time in harsh sunlight and don’t have to worry so much about my vitamin D production. I’m still undecided when it comes to physical versus chemical products and will let you make that decision for yourself. The bottom line is, continue to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays because skin melanomas will always be more serious than a vitamin D deficiency!
What are your favorite sunscreens? Comment below!
#EARealBabe
Cover image via Supplement Police