Is Wearing Sunscreen Going to Kill Me?
Are you confused yet with everything you read on social media? With so many different points of view and opinions and misinformation online it's no wonder people have given up and just hope for the best when it comes to wearing sunscreen.
I've had so many people ask me, do I really need it every day? Isn't it better to go natural? What about indoors? What about walking the kids to school in the morning? How will I get Vitamin D if I'm wearing sunscreen?
So I'm going to try my best to break it down for you, when you should be wearing sun protection based on my research, consulting with health care and my own experience.
First I'd like to note:
Sun Protection isn't just sunscreen, it's just part of the protection needed to stay safe and avoid burns and skin cancer. First, cover up with UPF 50+ clothing (Sun Safe has you covered literally here ;), then put on a wide brimmed hat and proper sunglasses. THEN whatever skin is still exposed, wear sunscreen on that skin. Make sure you are following the directions on the bottle because . . . if you think sunscreen gave you a sunburn a. you didn't use enough or b. you didn't reapply in time.
- Do you need sun protection everyday? The short answer is yes. If you are driving, walking, on the water, sitting on the porch. The answer is yes. If you are on water or snow you're getting up to double the UV exposure.
- Is it better to go natural and just "build up my tolerance" to the sun? No! Even a tan is a sign of skin damage, the long term damage to your cells can catch up to you in 5 years, 10 years, 30 years. But it's your skin trying to protect itself. WEAR the sun protection.
- What about wearing it indoors? If you're driving, wear sunscreen on your face and hands, anywhere exposed. Windows don't all have UV protection built in. Especially the side windows of vehicles (you can get them tinted to help with exposure). If your sitting inside a building and close to a window, you are probably also exposed, window UV treatments can vary.
- Walking in the early morning/afternoon to and from school? We know the UV Index is strongest between 10am - 4pm. Definitely cover up between those times. Outside of the strongest UV Index times, ask yourself, will I be outside longer than 5-10 minutes? If the answer is yes, then you need sun protection. If not, use your personal judgement - I still wear it, mainly because my 5 minutes turns into 2 hours and now I'm weeding my garden.
- How will I get Vitamin D? Well, if you live in Canada chances are very good you are lacking Vitamin D most of the year. Burning your skin won't help get you more Vitamin D. I have been advised 10 minutes in the early morning and evening during summer is all your body needs. However, I rely on my healthcare professionals to give the right supplements for my body because at least 8-9 months of the year we are still deficient.
Is sunscreen deadly? The chemicals are toxic no??
Sunscreen will not kill you, however, once again make sure you're using it as part of your skin cancer prevention habits. Not just using sunscreen alone. While there is a lot of talk about chemical sunscreens being bad for you, there is one point that continues to come through very clearly, ANY sunscreen is better than NO sunscreen. The best sun protection is the kind your going to WEAR! Some chemicals in the chemical sunscreen are currently being questioned and tested. This doesn't mean we shouldn't protect ourselves.
If you want piece of mind, here is what I personally look for when choosing a sunscreen:
a. Use Mineral sunscreen - works by sitting on your skin vs. chemical which works by being absorbed by your skin. You don't have to look like a ghost now, there are tinted ones. It is also helpful for anyone with Eczema, sensitive skin and babies (but not under 6 months!).
b. Broad Spectrum sunscreen - this is important to protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. It will say Broad Spectrum on the bottle. If not, you're not completely protected from wrinkles, premature aging and skin cancer.
c. Sunscreen in a cream versus spray - I can't stand getting the taste of sunscreen in my mouth from someone spraying sunscreen down the beach on a windy day. To not have this happen, I prefer the creams and use a makeup brush or sponge to rub it in. Remember you do need A LOT of sunscreen and you need to reapply it for it to work properly which is why I start with UPF clothing for coverage.
d. Use SPF 30-50 - anything lower isn't helpful and the SPF 15 in makeup is just a bonus and it shouldn't be your whole sun routine.
My favourite brands:
Sunly sticks by Attitude, Blue Lizard for my kids, and Colorescience tinted for my face.
Want to use less sunscreen? use UPF 50+ rated clothing.
Have any other Burning questions? Let me know! Send me an email! I'm always happy to help and do some more research.
Cheers,
Jen
