Can Sunscreen Ingredients Increase Your Risk of Cancer?

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on your sunscreen label before lathering your body with its contents? Sunscreen lotions have numerous combinations of chemicals that have been shown to block both UVA and UVB radiation exposure thus preventing sunburn. But these mixtures have also been shown to accelerate your risk of cancer and are linked to harmful health effects. Instead, consider natural strategies to optimize your time in the sun to boost your health without the use of chemical cocktails.

UV radiation from sunlight naturally provides the body with essential stress. When the skin receives this stimulus from UV rays, a molecule on the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol is stimulated to convert it to the active form of vitamin D3 in the body. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) production is dependent on UVB radiation which is only able to penetrate the outer layers of the skin called the epidermis.

Cancer Risk and Vitamin D

Today, vitamin D deficiency is an alarming epidemic affecting 90% of the world’s population. Vitamin D expert Michael Holick states that “we estimate that vitamin D is the most common medical condition in the world.” Clearly it is evident that the majority of individuals are not receiving healthy amounts of sun exposure. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with an elevated risk of nearly all types of cancers such as skin cancer as well as autoimmune and cardiovascular disease.

Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer that has been linked to excessive sun exposure. On the other hand, scientific research has shown that people who lather on sunscreen have an increased risk of developing melanoma. Furthermore, individuals with melanoma who received greater amounts of sun exposure than did others who received less actually had a lower mortality rate. Those individuals with increased sun exposure were less prone to develop an aggressive type of tumor.

Sunscreen Ingredients are a Toxic Soup

Concerns regarding excessive sun exposure and its health hazards have many people slathering on these toxic lotions without any other thought or questions. The FDA admitted in 2007 that they “are not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” The International Agency for Research on Cancer recommends that finding shade and using proper clothing articles such as hats should be the first barriers for UV radiation exposure. This agency also added that “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun.”

Retinyl palmitate is used in formulas to promote skin health and is intended for use as an antioxidant. Vitamin A has been shown to stimulate hyperplasia (excessive skin growth) and in sunlight retinyl palmitate forms free radicals that damage DNA.

Other Harmful Ingredients Found in Sunscreen

Many other ingredients found in sunscreen are absorbed into the skin and passed into blood circulation. Sunscreens typically contain a mixture of these harmful substances:

• Octinoxate
• PABA esters
• Octisalate
• Homosalate
• Menthyl anthranilate
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
• Avobenzone
• Salicylates
• Digalloyl trioleate
• Cinnamates
• Benzophenoones (dioxybenzone, oxybenzone)

These ingredients have been associated with allergies, promote abnormalities in reproductive development, cause behavioral changes, and disrupt hormonal pathways.

Estrogenic Industrial Toxins

All of these compounds are extremely toxic to our skin and the rest of the body. These toxins create large quantities of free radicals which promote oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a powerful carcinogen that causes genetic mutations. These compounds mimic the effects of estrogen in the body which leads to hormonal changes and the increase of cancer cell development.

Tropical oils such as eucalyptus, coconut, jojoba, and shea butter are natural sunscreen protectants. When applied appropriately, zinc oxide is another natural and powerful substance to prevent against the damaging consequences of over sun exposure.

Chemicals in Sunscreen Harm Skin

A study performed at the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy, found that the skin contains a variety of microbes. These skin microbes are naturally intended to enhance skin health. However, research shows that our exposure to environmental hazards such as chemicals in our personal care products interact and adversely affect these helpful microbes.

An estimated one billion bacteria colonize every square centimeter of the skin. Twenty-five percent of this microbial population thrives beneath the surface of the skin in hair follicles and sweat glands. This complex environment of microorganisms is essential for homeostasis. Altering this microbiome can directly contribute to disease and change our body’s natural sensors to infection, pain, and stress.

Many of the ingredients in these sunscreens are UV filters which are designed to filter UV radiation from penetrating the skin. Instead these compounds penetrate the epidermal layers of the skin over a short period of time leaving zero sun protectant. Lathering your skin with these toxic lotions changes your skin pH adversely affecting the bacterial colonies which promote skin health.

Preventing Over Sun Exposure

If you plan on spending significant time in the sun it is always recommended to wear hats and protective clothing articles to prevent overexposure. Applying aloe vera or coconut oil before and after sun exposure nourishes the skin and helps to ease pain from the sun’s rays. Both aloe vera and coconut oil are excellent healing agents which enhance skin microflora.

Plan accordingly when you plan on spending time outside. If you are spending time at the beach or pool bring your own umbrella if the facility does not provide one. Pop up beach tents are also easily assembled and light to carry to provide an escape from both direct heat and the sun’s rays.

Another natural way to protect your body from the dangers of too much sun exposure is to protect your skin from the inside out. Consuming a healthy diet rich in foods with powerful antioxidants boosts the healing capacity of your skin. Consider supplementing your summer meals with steamed carrots, fresh pressed juices, and foods such as spirulina and a variety of algae which contain natural sun protection. Pack healthy snacks to go that nourish your body and boost vitamin C levels in the skin such as oranges, peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries.

Recipe for Homemade Sunscreen

Even non-chemical sunscreens which contain minerals may have been mixed with chemicals, and products labeled as “hypoallergenic” contain hazardous ingredients. Instead, prepare your own natural sunscreen lotion made with extracts that contain a natural SPF.

Ingredients:
• ½ cup almond oil
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup vitamin E
• ¼ cup beeswax or shea butter
• 5-10 drops of your favorite (non-citrus) essential oil fragrance if desired

Directions:
1. Combine ingredients into a pot and place over low heat.
2. Stir ingredients until well combined and distribute into small mason jars for storage.
3. Store in a cool and dry place until ready for use.

Recommendations for Healthy Sun Exposure

Sun exposure should ideally produce 10,000 – 20,000 IU of vitamin D3. The range of production is dependent on the surface area of exposed body parts, the individual’s skin color, as well as the strength or angle of the sun.

The following is the recommended exposure period for different skin types to receive the suggested 10,000 – 20,000 IU. This recommendation assumes that no less than 60% of the body is exposed to sunlight. Intentionally sunbathe a minimum of 3 times each week to optimize your amount of vitamin D3 levels.

Light Skin = 15-20 minutes per day
Medium Skin = 25-30 minutes per day
Dark Skin = 40-45 minutes per day

Using aloe vera, coconut oil, green tea extract, or a combination of these plant extracts provides your body with natural antioxidants to prevent harmful sun exposure. If you are unable to receive the ideal amount of sun exposure it is next best to take a daily supplement containing 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 for every 25 pounds of body weight.

Please help bring more awareness about sunscreen ingredients and cancer by sharing this article with your friends and family below.