Sunscreen FactsNeed sunscreen facts? Determining which sunscreen is best or even deciding whether to wear sunscreen or not to wear sunscreen can be mind-boggling. Here's sunscreen facts help on sunscreen ratings, best sunscreens, safe sunscreens, and organic sunscreens. 
Though commercial sunscreens have been around since about the early 1940s, it is only in the last couple of decades that their use has become well-advocated and popular, and even more recently that consumers have been concerned with issues such as sunscreen SPFs (Sun Protection Factor) and sunscreen ingredients. Knowing how sunscreens work and ingredients to look for and avoid are important steps in creating naturally healthy skin. Before we move on to sunscreen facts, however, let's start an opinion on sun exposure, and then a few "sun" facts.Safe Sun In my nutritional practice I generally recommend foods and lifestyle principles that have a long history of safe use. With food that means eating real food, as close as possible to its original form. My recommendations regarding lifestyle practice have a similar theme. Do the activities (i.e. get to bed at a decent time, get up when the sun comes up, move your body every day, enjoy some time in the sun) that are natural, normal and that have been practiced for generations. That is not to say that we haven't learned a few things over the years (i.e. doctors washing their hands in between obstetric deliveries was an excellent new concept), but unfortunately, we sometimes throw the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. That appears to be what's happened with sun exposure and what we have been presented with as sunscreen facts. In an attempt to avoid the burning, pre-mature aging and skin cancers that can come along with overexposure to the sun, we have slipped (on a shirt), slopped (on sunscreen) and slapped (on a hat) ourselves into a safe sun exposure deficiency that we are now beginning to see as sorely detrimental to heath. Sun Facts While the sun emits several different types of ultraviolet radiation, the two ultraviolet wavelengths we are most familiar with in terms of sunscreen use are UVA—rays that contribute to aging—and UVB—rays that contribute to burning. UVB, considered the "white hat" of sun wavelengths despite the fact it can cause sunburn, also helps our bodies produce vitamin D. 
UVA, considered the "black hat" of sun wavelengths, penetrates skin more deeply, produces a high amount of free radical damage and is implicated in production of malignant melanomas.UVB rays are produced in higher amounts around midday and in lower amounts during the morning and evening while UVA rays are produced in fairly consistent amounts regardless of time of day or season and are able to break through cloud cover or pollution. How Do Sunscreens Work? One of the more important sunscreen facts is understanding how sunscreens work. Sunscreens usually absorb, or block, reflect and scatter some of the sun's UV rays, thus giving a measure of protection against sunburn. Another of the sunscreen facts to realize, however, is that most sunscreens are best at blocking or absorbing UVB ultraviolet wavelengths. That means that while they help protect from sunburn, they also, however, interfere with our bodies' production of vitamin D. (Studies' reports on the degree of reduction in vitamin D production varies from minimal up to 99.9%, but it seems that some studies showing less interference believe it likely that the mild interference is because people don't apply sunscreen properly.) Sunscreens that contain UVA protection too, block both UVA and UVB radiation. Again, while there may be some benefits to this, sunscreen facts show that totally blocking UVB rays minimizes the protection they and their helpful vitamin D synthesis can give against a number of types of cancers, including the very cancers that UVA rays can produce. What's the Big Deal with Vitamin D? Another of the essential sunscreen facts to grasp is the role of vitamin D. Like all the vitamins our bodies use to maintain optimal health, vitamin D plays an important role in wellness. Vitamin D:
And finally, as reported at www.mercola.com, safe sunlight exposure has been shown to protect against as many as sixteen different types of cancer, including breast, colon, endometrial, esophageal, ovarian, bladder, gallbladder, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, and renal cancers, as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Can We Get Enough Vitamin D From Food? Yes and no. There are good food sources of vitamin D such as fish liver oils, fatty salt-water fish, eggs, dairy products fortified with vitamin D, liver, oatmeal and sweet potatoes. The vitamin D from food or supplements, however, is not fully activated, requiring conversion by the liver and then the kidneys. That means true sunscreen facts show it is even more important to have vitamin D production happening via exposure of skin to sun's ultraviolet rays on a regular basis. Sunscreens - To Wear or Not to Wear? Excessive sun exposure or sun exposure that produces burns causes skin damage, one of those sunscreen facts you just can't ignore. Skin's elastic fibres begin to clump (i.e. producing leathery skin) and there can be a weakening of immune system functioning. Overexposure to the sun can also alter skin cell's DNA leading to inaccurate replication (i.e. premature aging, lines and wrinkles, melanoma or other types of skin cancer). 
Sunscreen facts show that risk of melanoma increases with both frequency of sunburn as well as intensity. There is also evidence that accumulated overexposure, even without burning can be damaging. Getting sufficient proper sun exposure (i.e. well hydrated body, no burning, covering skin with protective clothing or a healthy sunscreen during long sun exposure), however, shows benefits in reducing chances of developing melanoma. Understanding a few facts about the sun, as well as how sunscreens work, however, usually means re-thinking some of the "safe sun" practises often recommended:
The key to healthy skin, therefore, is getting a good understanding of true sunscreen facts, having sufficient, healthy exposure to the sun, minimizing any chance of burning and using the best and healthiest sunscreens. Wear Sunscreen Song And finally, you cannot really leave the topic of sunscreen facts without making mention of the Wear Sunscreen Song. Especially as there has been so much misinformation circulated about this tune. Not, as many have thought, part of a Kurt Vonnegut MIT commencement address, "wear sunscreen" originated as an article for a Chicago Tribune column. The columnist, Mary Schmich, penned her June 1, 1997 piece as the commencement speech she would give, if ever asked to do so. Her article was entitled "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" and gave wondrous advice youth need but that no one ever really considers until they are older. Australian film director Baz Luhrmann used the article as lyrics for a song "Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen)" in his 1998 album. The song was then released the following year as a single, and in true prophetic follow up to Schmich's wishes, has been played at graduation ceremonies ever since. If you haven't already, be sure to check out Begin Within Natural Skincare's other Sunscreen pages: Take a look at Best Sunscreens and Sunscreen Ratings as well as at Organic Sunscreens Soon there will be additional Skin Problem information such as Types of Psoriasis, Rosacea, Anti-Aging Skin Care and Stretch Marks. Interested? Sign up for the RSS feed and be notified when new website content is posted. Return from Sunscreen Facts to Homepage
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