Is Wearing Sunscreen Making You Sick?

Before we unpack this further, let’s talk about something most people don’t even realize; Sunscreen blocks sunburns by blocking UVB light, also blocking out vital nutrients we get naturally and for free from absorbing the sun’s rays. UVB light is the light responsible for Vitamin D production in your body. UVB rays are the ones responsible for creating Vitamin D and that is severely diminished when the rays are filtered out. Even though sunscreen is effective at filtering out some of the UVB light, it does not filter it all. There are still two other UV rays that normal sunscreens do not filter out, UVA being one of the other most cancer-causing rays. The only sunscreens designed to reflect these rays, or, “filter” them out, are mineral sunscreens, due to their use of zinc oxide. These mineral sunscreens are highly stigmatized and rarely used. Odds are, you’re missing out on this ingredient and therefore exposing yourself to just-as-dangerous UVA rays. Even though these UVA rays still get through, they’re not helping you make Vitamin D.

Not only is sunlight imperative for the production of Vitamin D, but it also aids in the absorption of vitamins like calcium and phosphorus. Phosphorus is vital to bone and teeth strength, and is needed in the human body to repair and maintenance the cells and tissue (which means it cures and prevents cancer at the molecular level). Not only does sunlight help you absorb different vitamins both from other sources as well as directly from the sunlight, but it also helps the body produce and regulate hormones. You know that great feeling you get when you step out into the sun and you just feel happy? That’s the production of serotonin happening right before you, because sunlight is good for us and our bodies crave it. Serotonin is the chemical responsible for your happiness and sunlight causes a serotonin spike within our bodies. When you’re happy and getting more sunlight, all sorts of good things start to happen that directly and effectively improve your health and help your body heal. Serotonin helps your immune system get stronger and it improves the bacteria in your gut, improving your health, while those improved gut conditions can help you lose weight much easier. Allowing the eyes exposure to natural sunlight even helps our eyes see better and also helps our brains work better. There is a direct correlation between the amount of UVB exposure humans get when young, and the development of myopia later on in life. Myopia is, “the condition in which close objects appear clearly, but far ones don’t.” This sunlight exposure must be indirect, as staring into the sun can cause bad vision in and of itself.

We’ve talked a lot about the vitamins you may be missing out on if you’re depriving yourself of sunlight, and you may be thinking, “I’ll just take vitamins, still wear my sunscreen and limit my sun exposure, and I’ll be fine,” but vitamin supplements may not fix the problem completely. There have been many studies showcasing the difference in vitamin absorption when taking supplements vs when our bodies are able to access those same vitamins via natural sources such as being outside, as well as eating whole foods. When taking supplements, the body does not have the ability to access and digest all of the vitamins provided to it, and therefore, could not be treating the vitamin deficit. Some vitamins can also counteract each other, cause a dangerously large amount of one to be absorbed, etc. Vitamins need to be taken very cautiously and always with the enlisted help of a professional. Even when getting regular sunlight, if you don’t give yourself some un-sunscreened time in the sun, you’re not letting the sun work for you as it should be. I am not claiming that anybody should throw away their sunscreen and never wear it again, but if you are noticing that you have any symptoms of Vitamin D deficiencies, or any other deficiencies mentioned earlier, you may want to think about giving yourself some time each day, (maybe just five minutes when you’re drinking your coffee in the morning before work,) to stand outside and work on building up that Vitamin D in your system. Your body may really thank you!

“How Does Zinc Oxide Work in Terms of UV Protection?: Kabana Organic Skin Care.” RSS, kabanaskincare.com/faqs/how-does-zinc-oxide-work-in-terms-of-uv-protection/.

“What Is the Difference between UVA and UVB Rays?” University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, 9 Oct. 2018, uihc.org/health-topics/what-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays.

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