Most people are unaware of the harmful chemicals contained in commercial sunscreens and don’t realize there are natural sunscreen alternatives out there. As a healthcare practitioner, I think the topic of sunscreen is a particularly important subject when it comes to natural skincare. The predicament is that we need to expose our skin to sun regularly to stay healthy, but excessive sun exposure can have damaging effects on skin, including advanced signs of aging and skin cancer.

To help you make the best choices for your skin, we’ve done the research and have a simple breakdown of what you need to know to keep your skin healthy the natural way.

Most importantly, remember, the sun is NOT the enemy. Our bodies are designed to require sun exposure to produce Vitamin D, a vitamin produced within our bodies in response to sun exposure which is essential to a number of body processes, and sunlight exposure helps regulates certain time rhythms in our brains (ever woken up just before your alarm is about to go off?). Without adequate sun exposure we can actually become ill in a variety of ways.

Using commercial sunscreen regularly prevents our bodies from getting the sun exposure that is essential for health because it reduces vitamin D production by up to 97%.

Facts and Myths about Sun Exposure

In the media, there has been a focus on promoting the dangers of sun exposure. Dangers do exist, but the media seems to primarily push commercial sunscreen as the solution, and there is some information they are leaving out. All too often in the popular media, they use scare tactics to grab the attention of their audience, and unfortunately it looks as though this is what is happening with the dangers of sun exposure.

But here is a brief summary what the current research is showing...

Excessive sun exposure which results in sunburns is correlated with the occurrence of melanoma (a serious type of skin cancer). There appears to be an increased tendency of melanoma in relation to an increased frequency and/or severity of sunburns.

However, other investigations have also shown that regular sun exposure which does NOT result in sunburn seems to be linked to a decreased occurrence of melanoma. And other studies into “safe” sunlight exposure have even linked it to the prevention of a number of types of cancer besides melanoma.

Why Commercial Sunscreens Are Toxic

The problem with sunscreen isn’t just that it blocks your skins ability to make vitamin D, it’s also that commercial sunscreens commonly contain a variety of chemicals that have been shown to be toxic. Most commercial sunscreens contain octyl methoxycinnamate, or OMC for short, which blocks UVB rays. But, OMC was found to kill mouse cells (even at a low dosage), and it was found to be more toxic when exposed to sunlight. So why would you put it on your skin? And then go out in the sunshine?

There is another common UVA blocker - butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (aka avobenzone) – that, though approved by the FDA for use in sunscreen, has been shown to be toxic as well. The Safety Data catalogue of chemicals from the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Lab at the prestigious Oxford University is vague about the safety data on avobenzone, but when it comes to rating personal protection from the chemical, it very specifically states to “treat [it] as potentially harmful.” And the list of harmful chemicals in commercial sunscreen doesn’t stop here.

What to Avoid

Here is a complete list of what to avoid in your sunscreen:

Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Homosalate Menthyl anthranilate Octocrylene Octyl salicylate Oxybenzone Padimate O Phenylbenzimidazole Sulisobenzone Trolamime salicylate

The Natural Sunscreen Alternatives

Ultimately, it is best to go without sunscreen whenever possible and use other tactics to prevent a dangerous amount of exposure. Limit the length of time you spend in the sun whenever possible and try to spend time in the shade periodically. Wear protective clothing like a hat with a large brim to protect the sensitive skin of the face.

Sunscreen is best used only when you know that you will be exposed to sun for prolonged periods without protective clothing and opportunities for shade breaks. But obviously you don’t want to use the commercial sunscreens because they are actually causing more problems than they are preventing.

Start protecting your family’s skin the natural way. Begin using natural sunscreen today!

Detoxifying the body is an ancient practice which uses natural and herbal remedies to cleanse the body of impurities and enhance health. There are a number of ways in which the body can be detoxified, but most detox regiments involve eliminating toxins by preventing their consumption and using something natural like purified water, certain fruits or vegetables, or herbal remedies, supplements and teas to flush built up toxins from the body. The result is a cleansed, balanced system which gives you energy and makes you feel great!

What to Expect When You Detox

The process of detoxing can often be difficult the first few days as you deny your body’s cravings for “the bad stuff” and your body begins to release stored up toxins and waste. Be prepared for possible mood swings, irritability and fatigue as your body adjusts to a healthier internal environment. You may also find that your skin breaks out as your skin is your largest excretory organ, and it will be helping to purge your body of waste. Know that if you’re detoxing from a mood- and physiology-altering chemical like caffeine or nicotine, these withdrawal side-effects will likely be more prominent. It is not recommended that you begin detoxing right when you know you have a stressful event or commitment in the near future or when your schedule will be out of the ordinary or especially hectic. The key to a successful detox is planning ahead, being prepared, and having the right herbal and natural remedies to support the type of cleanse you are doing.

But it’s not all bad. Once you get through the first 3-5 days, you get over the worst of it, and the benefits of your hard efforts begin to be felt. Mood improves, energy levels rise, clothes start fitting better, and skin begins to appear healthier. You start feeling and looking better; healthier.

Plus, doing a detoxifying natural cleanse is a great way to drop a few pounds before a special event. Or it can be used regularly for ongoing weight loss and weight management.

Why Do A Detox

You can think of a natural herbal detox cleanse a bit like changing the oil in your car. If you don’t flush out the old mucky gunky stuff, and replace it with fresh new clean oil, your engine will not work as well, and eventually will break down. The same applies to toxic waste build up in our bodies from the food we eat, and the artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and fillers in it, from the petro-chemicals in the hygiene and grooming products and cosmetics we put on our skin every day, and from the pollutants in the air we breathe and the water we drink.

If we don’t detoxify our bodies periodically, the build up of waste stored in our bodies begins to negatively impact our health and can contribute to a variety of illnesses, and chronic diseases. Eventually your body begins to break down, just like the car engine with no oil change.

How to Do a Natural or Herbal Detox

There are many ways in which you can cleanse your body naturally or with the help of herbal blends, on this blog we will be exploring some of those options and bringing you articles about them. You could try a juice, fruit or water fast, or a colon cleanse, or an herbal tea detox. There are lots of choices to select from. If you’re new to detoxing, I recommend finding a product-based detox protocol where all the materials and instructions are laid out before you. Keep it simple.