Seaweed – the answer to our skin cancer problems?
Researchers in Sweden have recently discovered that key ingredients in seaweed could actually protect our skin from harmful UV rays. It seems that a particular alga offers its very own form of sun protection and when mixed with crustacean shells, the outcome has huge potential in the world of natural skin products.
It seems (according to the man in charge of the study) that this new seaweed-rich formula is “bio-compatible, photoresist and thermoresistant”. It also proved to be highly efficient at absorbing both UVA and UVB radiation. That’s the nasty stuff that can cause melanoma. The scientists also say that fish seem to have natural protection from the sun and that is what inspired them to look for the solution in the sea. They studied algae and discovered that it is able to survive intense heat from the sun and that it simply absorbs the sun rays.
But it gets better. Seaweed blocks the harmful rays of the sun naturally – not like your sun cream which provides a barrier. This makes them somewhat limited in how they work and how effective they can be. Plus they are environmentally unfriendly and can pose other risks to your skin.
In fact, a study recently revealed that up to 80% of sunscreens don’t offer the sun protection factor (SPF) that they claimed – putting us all at risk. Seaweed will actually provide your skin with the tools to block and absorb the rays.
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Will algae be added to sunscreen?
Because of these new discoveries, it seems that seaweed could be added to sunscreens to make them even more effective. These sunscreens can be entirely natural making them more friendly to the skin and better for all of us. Not only that but these very stable organisms can be added to anything that is harmed by the sun’s rays such as certain materials that degrade in sunlight.
