There are consumers concerned about being exposed to UV rays while in their homes and others that are concerned about the blue light exposure emanating from computers and various electronic devices as well as daylight LED bulbs.
Many consumers feel it necessary to wear a sunscreen to protect against blue light. There is just one problem sunscreens protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
This topic of sunscreen and skin cancer is a BIG topic that will lead a consumer down a rabbit hole of studies and theories that will leave consumers more confused than when they began their research.
Cancer rates have been increasing in the last 100 years exponentially and many in the health industry who study this topic for a living have provided a lot of research on possible reasons. The research points to so many new factors in our environment that to say it is just one cause would be extremely myopic. Skin cancer is no different.
The research cites many issues gone awry in our environment from EMF exposure, chemicals in food, fertilizers in soil, pesticides and herbicides used in agriculture, chemicals in personal toiletries, cosmetics… all of which contribute negatively biologically to living beings… and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Increasing skin cancer rates are due to many factors. That said, given what we know about the chemicals in skin care, perfume and cosmetics there's no question these products add yet another load of chemical exposure to the body which is already forced to deal with a barrage of chemicals in the environment toxic to living beings.
The issue of extreme chemical exposure lead us to choose Suntegrity Sunscreen to round out our sunscreen category. Our consumers want natural products that are void of toxic ingredients. They demand non-toxic ingredients in all their skin care needs and most especially of sunscreen.
Suntegrity sunscreen relies on natural, powerhouse ingredients to protect the skin from free radicals and inflammation that is a natural consequence of too much sun exposure.
It would be preferable to reduce one’s exposure to these chemicals as much as possible, particularly when it comes to skin products containing percutaneous ingredients which affect us directly and immediately. Since we know many of the chemicals in our skin care products end up in our bloodstream, it is advisable to avoid use or at the least over usage of products containing questionable ingredients, and instead use products containing ingredients known to be safe.
Example - Oxybenzone is a sunblock ingredient that is not a human friendly chemical, but there are many others. It has been detected in nearly all people tested. It has been found in human plasma, urine and breast milk. A study out of the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Zurich found that oxybenzone may also mimic the effects of estrogen in the body, and promote the growth of cancer cells.
So yes, I’d say be aware of the chemicals contained in sunscreen and realize that sunscreen alone will not totally spare the skin of UV damage.
The use of sunscreen is appropriate when in the sun or exposed to the sun over long periods of time. Many studies have suggested that regular sun exposure isn’t actually as harmful as we once thought. High-intensity sunlight should be avoided but sun exposure is necessary for optimum health. So, to hide form the sun or never expose oneself wouldn’t be a good idea. In fact, there is an interesting study showing outdoor workers had less melanoma than indoor workers, but there are many studies out there if you spend the time to really delve into this topic.
What we do know is that most Americans are vitamin D deficient and when you consider that vitamin D protects from cancer and is involved in hundreds of processes within the body, a deficiency has very serious implication. The best form of vitamin D is through sun exposure. Dr. Stefanie Seneff of MIT explains the beneficial effect of the chemical process that takes place when the body converts the sun’s rays into D as opposed to oral vitamin D which doesn’t go through this specific and beneficial conversion process.
Toxicity of numerous sunscreens has been called into question by scientists the world over There are just way too many to list here. There are many chemicals that block UVA and UVB rays and each one has its own effect and yet another when they’re mixed together, so the consumer should research all of the active ingredients in the sunscreens they’re using. Many studies have been done on animals and had very negative effects on their systems. Some of those studies used amounts greater than what the consumer would use in an application, some studies used moderate and low levels of the ingredient. These are the things you have to look at in addition to who did the study and most importantly who funded the study. Some studies on animals that results in negative effects are often minimized because there is a lack of studies done on humans. Even when studies using low levels of active ingredients show damage to organs, often they are dismissed because there aren't human studies to substantiate the effect in humans. I'll leave that for you to decide.
The issue here isn’t whether or not to wear sunscreen. I think we can all agree if you are outdoors you should protect your skin from UV, but living beings do need some sun. The science on this is well documented. I think it’s important that one find a healthful amount of sun exposure. Some research tells us 30 minutes of exposure a day is ideal for optimum health. That doesn’t mean one should expose his face to the sun, but rather expose the body during low sun intensity in order to get critical vitamin D in its most beneficial form.
The amount of UV that enters a home through the window is not something I concern myself with, however if others want to cover themselves in sunscreen it is their choice.
As for blue light, that is concerning but clothing blocks those rays coming for computers and since I don’t think there are many people that work naked in front of their computers, most people are probably already protected. However, it is advisable to wear blue light blocking eyeglasses when on the computer. That I do and would suggest everybody protect their eyes from blue light whenever possible. That’s me. It’s up to others to decide for themselves.
In the meantime, I will use my favorite sunscreen products by Suntegrity. Clean ingredients, effective and so skin friendly and what I love most is the beautiful natural glow it gives my skin.
Anybody interested in a handful of studies, message me directly. More than happy to share.