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The Best Sunscreens for Green Living? Broad-brimmed Hats!What can we do to shield ourselves from the worst of the sun's rays? How can we tell if our sun protection methods are environmentally friendly? This page tries to answer these questions. The best sunscreens have to be hats! And then there's parasols, T-shirts, saris and lungis and any other method of making shade for yourself. All those Texans, Mexicans and Ascot ladies just cannot be wrong! Nevertheless, good as these methods are, there are times when you just want to run about in the sun without the encumberance of too many clothes. Done, judiciously, this can be good for your health. Sunshine and Vitamins
New research at the University of California shows that the vitamin D that we get from the sun is more effective than that which is found in foods. It protects us from cancers and diabetes, so there are good arguments for getting a gradual healthy tan. Moderation in all things, I guess! As part of your Greenfootsteps green living guide, here are some ideas on how to protect yourself from the sun's rays and still be environmentally friendly. But first, a little about commercial sunscreens. "The ideal sunscreen would be highly effective at blocking both UVA and UVB rays, contain active ingredients that do not break down in the sun (so that the product remains effective), and contain active and inactive ingredients that are proven to be safe for both adults and children. Unfortunately, there is no sunscreen that meets all of these criteria,..." - EWG
There are many expensive creams and lotions available in supermarkets and chemists to smooth on your skin in the hope of achieving a good tan without endangering your health. The uncomfortable news is that some of the ingredients of many commercial sunscreens are toxic and can cause damage to your health. Many have been found to cause free radicals which can damage your metabolism. A bit of a devil's bargain, really. Even some sunscreens using mainly organic ingredients have been found to cause free-radical damage. The EWG (Environmental Working Group - a US organisation) has spent 18 months researching sun creams. They found that 84% of 783 sunscreen products tested offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain ingredients that give rise to significant safety concerns. Here's a brief look at some of the ingredients found in many sun creams and lotions.
Best Sunscreens: What is in commercial sunscreen products?Many commercial sunscreens contain typically oxybenzone, which absorbs both UVA an UVB light. UVA sunlight leads to damage and aging of the skin. UVB light leads to sunburn. The problem with oxybenzone is that it is now thought to cause some skin cancers itself.Titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide are often included too, as they are opaque and stop much of the ultraviolet radiation from penetrating the skin. Titanium dioxide is thought to be harmless but zinc oxide is harmful to the environment. Best Sunscreens: What are free-radicals? Free radicals are highly reactive chemicals which cause tissue damage. Free radicals have a role in aging. Your body is better able to cope with free radicals if you eat a vitamin-rich diet. It is better to avoid unnecessary exposure to free radicals.  Aloe Vera is one of the most wonderful treatments for sunburn. Use it as a soothing after-sun lotion.(Clickable link) Best Sunscreens: What are the alternatives to chemical sunsreens and sunblocks?There are now many alternatives which are less damaging. Many of the companies which specialise in non-toxic body care products have started producing sunscreen with bio-friendly and relatively harmless ingredients.
One of the main ingredients of natural sunscreens is often titanium dioxide. This chemical produces a strong whitish glaze when smoothed onto skin and it is capable of reflecting away most of the harmful rays of the sun.(Titanium white is a staple of oil painters.) It is believed to be very safe but when you wear it on your face you do look as if you are studying to become a geisha! But best of all is a good hat and sufficient shading when the sun is at its strongest. Remember the Australian Slip, Slop, Slap campaign? In the eighties skin cancer had reached almost epidemic proportions in Australia. The campaign encouraged people to slip into some clothing, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat - and preferably sun glasses, too. The message worked and the skin cancer rates plummeted. The advice still holds good today, only the best sunscreens to slop on are natural sunscreens with titanium dioxide and other health-friendly and environment-friendly ingredients.
If you do like being in the sun and like to devlop a tan, increase your exposure to the sun gradually and take advantage of natural shade during the hottest part of the day. Sitting beneath a tree in dappled shade you are protected from a lot of (but not all) the ultraviolet radiation that does the damage to your skin. However, you should still limit your exposure to sunlight, even when sitting under a tree. Some radiation does still get through.
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