Can sunscreen actually be bad for you? Not if you get this right

Now that summer in on its way we read a lot about what sunscreen fits our skin type and what we should do about the UV exposure on each given day.  Everyone says "Don't forget to wear protection against the sun". It prevents our skin from sunburns, early aging, and skin cancer. Could it be, thus, that our friend, the sunscreen, is harming us? Not if we get these facts straight:

1. Chemicals and allergies

Active ingredients in sunscreen are mineral and chemical filters. Concerns regarding the toxicity of the chemicals are constantly raised. The ingredients “Oxybenzone” and “Octinoxate” present highest toxicity concerns, being linked with higher rates of skin allergy and a certain level of hormone disruption in some users. Find a more complete list of ingredients here and look them up next time you choose your cream.

2. Clogged Pores

Well, this one is pretty clear, we need to test more types of sunscreen on our skin before we can decide which one fits our complexion. Most sunscreens are quite thick so it takes quite a long time for our skin to absorb it, in the meantime causing potential skin breakouts or unpleasantly greasy skin.

5 Essential Steps to Healthy Skin

3. Vitamin D

A lot of the sunscreen creams protect us only from UVB rays, while not blocking out the UVA rays which are causing skin cancer, so it is recommended to look for a sunscreen with a vast spectrum. That being said, UVB rays are an important source of Vitamin D for the body, helping to strengthen bones.

Thirty minutes of sun exposure per week without sunscreen is enough for you to get your recommended vitamin D dose. You can also get your weekly D “diet” through fish oil, cheese, mushrooms or food supplements.

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