It’s the middle of summer and you’re probably trying to savor every single beach day. But even without full-on bathing-suit exposure, any time you’re outside of a building, including in your car, you’re vulnerable to sun damage. Are you safely protecting your skin from all of this UV radiation exposure?
Los Angeles is situated neatly within the U.S.’s sunbelt region. This means we get to enjoy summer longer and have gentler winters, but this extended sunny climate increases our risk for skin cancer. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), California’s population has a 10 percent higher average of skin cancer incidence than 14 other states, including Texas and New York. The American Academy of Dermatology states that 20 percent of Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. These rates have doubled over the last three decades.
Most of us are smart enough to use hats and sunscreen to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays. However, a 2008 study showed that a common ingredient in sunscreen can cause unwelcome side effects.
Forty percent of sunscreens contain oxybenzone, which CDC research detected in 97 percent of the sample population, proving that the chemical can penetrate through your skin.
Numerous studies found oxybenzone to cause allergies and endocrine disruption in humans by mimicking estrogen. And it’s not just our own health at risk. Studies have also shown that male fish developed female characteristics and increased estrogen levels subsequent to oxybenzone exposure, and the chemical has also been linked to coral bleaching and die-off.
Luckily there are some UV protection alternatives to sunscreen. One is eating plentiful carotenoid-rich vegetables (such as tomatoes, spinach and carrots) and fish. Carotenoids and omega fatty acids (which are bountiful in fish) actually absorb UV radiation from the sun before they reach your skin cells. These also give your skin a healthy glow without tanning.
For added protection pre-hike or beach, for example, if you need UV protection fast, you can also take an astaxanthin supplement. The microalgae that produce astaxanthin are constantly exposed to the sun, since they undergo photosynthesis to produce food and rely solely on astaxanthin for protection against the sun’s UV rays. Because of this, unlike other carotenoids, this “keto-carotenoid” specializes in UV radiation protection, protecting both your skin cells and your DNA. In food it’s found in yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp and crayfish.
There are also natural sunscreen lotions you can apply directly to your skin for UV protection. These should be used in tandem with the aforementioned fish and carotenoid-rich diet:
- Sandalwood paste This ancient Indian remedy usually comes as a powder. Simply mix the powder with water or body lotion to create a paste that you apply like sunscreen.
- Sesame oil Applying this like sunscreen blocks 30 percent of sunlight. It provides SPF 4 protection.
- Coconut oil and aloe vera Applying either of these like sunscreen blocks 20 percent of the sunlight. They can provide up to SPF 8 protection.
- Zinc oxide Mix with your body lotion to provide greater than SPF 20 protection, depending on the concentrations you use. (Caveat: stay away from nanoparticle zinc oxide)
- Wheat germ oil Applying this like sunscreen moisturizes your skin and provides SPF 20 protection.
- Carrot seed oil Applying this like sunscreen provides up to SPF 40 protection. Because of the carotenoids present, applying this to your skin also smoothens lines and repairs sun damage, scars and other skin trauma.
- Red raspberry seed oil Applying this like sunscreen provides up to SPF 50 protection and completely blocks UVB rays.
Living in L.A. means you’ll inevitably be constantly exposed to the sun, especially now that it’s summer. Experts say that getting even one bad sunburn increases your likelihood of skin cancer exponentially and accelerates signs of aging. Start protecting your natural youthful glow now and it will last a lifetime.
