We all know that the sun can be dangerous for our skin, but there is still a fascination, in Western cultures, with getting a ‘tan’. There is simply something about having a tan that makes us feel more attractive, healthier and lively. If we look good, our self -confidence is stimulated, and we feel better about ourselves. We also feel physically better, because it tensioning in the sun too much vitamin D.
Vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining healthy muscles, bones and teeth, regulating our mood, stimulating our immune system, combating diseases and helping with energy metabolism. Although we can get vitamin D from our diet, most of us do not eat enough of the law food to get as much as we need, so spending a ‘safe’ time in the sun can help our body help produce this essential vitamin.
Enjoy exposure to safe sun
So how do we get enough sunshine to stimulate our vitamin D, without risking the damage to the sun. According to the NHS website, from the end of March/beginning of April to the end of September we can get enough vitamin D from short eruptions of the sun exposure until the end of September. This includes exposing our forearms, hands or lower legs without sunscreen, ideally between the hours from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There are many factors that can influence how vitamin D is made, so it is not known exactly how much time is needed in the sun to meet the requirements of our body. Experts estimate that everywhere between 9 minutes of the afternoon sun for lighter skin, up to 30 minutes (or even longer) should be sufficient for dark skin. Afternoon is considered the best time because UVB rays are on their strongest, which means that we need less time in the sun. Studies also show that our body is the most efficient in making vitamin D at this time of the day.
As advised by the NHS, it is best not to wear sunscreen for these short periods, because it reduces the capacity of the skin to produce vitamin D. Research shows that a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 will reduce the power to synthesize the vitamin by 95-98%. However, extreme care must be taken to ensure that we do not burn while our skin is unprotected.
The dangers of sun exposure
So when time spends in the sun, a balance must be affected because as we know, too much exposure can significantly damage our skin. Not only drying out our skin and puts its natural supply of lubricating oil out, but it can also cause sunburn, sun damage (for example, uneven skin color, freckles, age spots, sun drencher), premature aging and increased our risk of skin cancer.
To protect our skin against damage in the sun, it is best to limit our time outdoors, cover with suitable clothing, look for shadow and apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Are sunscreen safe?
Although it is general advice to wear sunscreen to protect the skin, there are concerns about some of the chemicals that the creams can contain. There are essentially two types of sunscreen.
- Mineral sunscreen that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to physically block/bend UV rays. These two ingredients are recognized as generally safe and effective. These tend to sit on the skin and can leave a visible white residue.
- The second type uses chemical blockers who suck UV rays. These are easier to rub and are absorbed in the skin without leaving a residue.
Although there is no strong evidence that these chemicals are unsafe, FDA tests (published in the Journal of the American Medical Association) has demonstrated that six common sunscreen chemicals in the body are being absorbed and days or even weeks can be left on levels outside the ‘threshold of concern’. Previous studies have also shown that some of these ingredients can disrupt hormones and can lead to problems with fertility, poor birth results for babies and even cancer. In addition, it has been shown that they also contribute to the destruction of coral reefs – a problem that is so serious that sunscreen that these ingredients now contain are prohibited in certain holiday destinations and natural reserves.
Again, it seems that we are stuck between a rock and a hard place – a bit like the mystery to ensure that we get enough sun for our vitamin D, without damaging our skin. The advice is to apply sunscreen, but these may contain potentially harmful chemicals !!!
So what do we do? The most obvious choice if you want to avoid chemicals or if you have sensitive skin, choosing a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (both are natural minerals of the earth). It is also good to look for products that contain natural antioxidants (eg vitamin E, raspberry seed oil, wheat, green tea) that are great SPF supplements. A sunscreen does not block 100% of the harmful UV rays, so antioxidants can help reduce damage caused by free radicals caused by UV radiation that sneaks through your sun cream.
Natural oils with SPF
There is a lot of information online about natural oils that are thought to have SPF, again, further research is really required before we would argue for the use of one of these oils instead of a well -formulated and ‘tested’ sunscreen. Nevertheless, it is interesting to revise the research that has taken place so far.
Oomah et al (2000) found that raspberry seed oil offers similar protection to titanium dioxide against both UVA and UVB with an SPF of 28 to 60 for UVB golf lengths and 6.75 to 7.5 for UVA golf lengths. [1]
A study by Niculae et al (2014) also discovered that the addition of raspberry seed oil and rice seal oil could reduce the number of synthetic chemicals in a commercial sunscreen. It also improved the UV absorption speeds and antioxidant activity of the product. [2]
A later study by Montenegro in 2019 also supported the hypothesis that the inclusion of suitable vegetable oils (pomegranate oil and shea butter) could be a promising strategy in sunscreen to design products with a lower content of organic UV filters. The study [3]
Kaur et al (2010) evaluated the Ultraviolet (UV) absorption capacity of a selection of volatile and non-volatile herb oils. The non-filly (fixed) oils offered the best protection with olive oil and coconut oil with the highest SPF of approximately 8. From the volatile oils, essential oil of peppermint had an SPF of approximately 6.5. [4]
An in vitro study of Suryawanshi published in 2016 showed that wheatgerm had an SPF of 22.4, root seed oil 18.8, olive oil 9.2 and Jojoba 6.02. [5]
A study by Mishra et al (2012) reported that the flower oil of the Calendula had an SPF of 14.8 in a cream formulation. [6]
The above study is certainly promising, and many companies absorb natural oils to improve their sunscreen formulations. However, there is not yet sufficient research to indicate that these oils are safe to use for the protection of the sun. If you want to use one of these oils, we recommend applying them under a mineral sunscreen where they will help to hydrate and offer extra protection for your skin.
Aromatherapy oils for after such skin care
You can also use natural oils to re -hydrate your skin and supplement after exposure to the sun. Whether you have burned a small sun (hopefully not) or just want to prevent the dry effects of the sun, there are so many beautiful oils to choose from. Here are beautiful melanges to try …
Hydrating bath oil
Fill a pop sock with a cup of oats, bind safely and place in the bath while the water runs. Keep squeezing the sock to release all the beautiful moisturizing and anti -inflammatory oat milk. Mix 15 ml of sweet almond oil (make sure that it makes the bath slippy) with 2 drops each of Ylang Ylang, Patchouli and Geranium Etheric oil and swirls in your milky bath water.
Calming aloe vera na sungel
Mix 80 ml skin soothing aloe vera (fantastic for after sun care), 5 ml of vitamin E -oil, 5 ml calendula -oil, 20 drops of lavender oil, 5 jarrow, 4 German chamomile and 2 spear tint. Store in an airtight pot and save in the fridge.
Soothing after sun moisturizer
80 ml of organic moisturizing cream, 10 ml of raspberry seed oil, 5 ml of avocado oil, 20 drops of lavender essential oil, 8 Roman chamomile, 4 spear tint and 4 yarrow.
Supplement after sun body oil
Mix 30 ml of calendula infused oil, 6 drops of rose essential oil, 4 drops of lavender and 2 drops of incense.
Supplement after face oil
20 ml peach core oil, 5 ml jojoba oil, 5 ml raspberry seed oil, 4 drops of geranium essential oil, 4 lavender, 3 incense, 1 neroli and 1 rose.
Natural Tan Booster
15 ml aloe vera & seaweed, 5 ml peach kernel oil, 4 drops of bergamot (not FCF), 4 patchouli, 3 lemongrass. Warning: Do not apply to the skin for direct exposure to sunlight.
Click here for more melanges in the field of Summer Skincare and read more about the dangers of phototoxic oils.
Sharon Lovett
Marketing manager
References
[1] (PDF) Features of Raspberry (Rubus Idaeus L.) Seed oil (ResearchGate.net)
[2] Rice healing and raspberry seed oil based on nanocarriers with self-antioxidative properties such as safe photo protective formulations-photochemic and photobiological sciences (RSC Publishing)
[3] (Pdf) Use of vegetable oils to improve the sun protection factor of sunscreen formulations (ResearchGate.net)
[4] In Vitro Sun Protection Factor Determination of herbal oils used in cosmetics (nih.gov)
[5] Invitro Determination of sun protection factor and evaluation of herb oils
[6] Assessment of the Sun Protection Factor of Calendula Officinalis L. (Asteraceae) Essential oil formulation – Pubmed (Nih.Gov)