November 26, 2020
Okay, so we all know how important it is to get our daily sun, or as some like to call it, our daily dose of vitamin D. However, after 15 minutes one should really start to apply their sunscreen in order to lower their cancer risks. But which sunscreen should you use? There are so many to choose from! How does one know which ones are good and which ones are bad?
Before enrolling in NutraPhoria I would hear the world of opinions about sunscreen. One person would say “wear your sunscreen to prevent cancer,” where another might mention “don’t you know sunscreen GIVES you cancer!?” As an uneducated individual, I was left feeling confused, which in turn lead me to continue to purchase any sunscreen sold in the nearest pharmacy. It has recently been brought to my attention that it’s not the sunscreen that’s the enemy, but the ingredients being used we need to watch out for. Some of these chemicals together with the sun’s rays can indeed be carcinogenic and very harmful to us all.
Be sure to read your ingredients list when choosing a sunscreen, don’t be fooled by words such as natural, green or organic.
The following are ingredients you may want to avoid:
- Benzophenone-3 or Oxybenzone
- Homosalate
- Avobenzone also knows as Benzophenone
- Cyclopentasiloxane or Cyclomethicone
- Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES)
- Retinyl Palmitate
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Octocrylene
- Octinoxate also known as Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC)
- Methylisothiazolinone
- Formaldehyde also known as Diazolidinyl urea, DMDM, Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Hydroxymethylglycinate
Aside from these ingredients, be sure to check out “The Dirty Dozen” cosmetic chemicals that should also be avoided. I do hope that this clears up any uncertainty you may be having and always remember to wear your sunscreen if you plan to be outdoors for long periods at a time
