What's the difference between a Sunblock or Sunscreen? Does it matter when it comes to your health?
What’s The difference between Sunblocks and Sunscreens?
Does this matter when it comes to our health?
For purposes of this blog, I have cited and included excerpts from Harvard Health, The Washington Post, Healthline, and You and Your Hormones, along with my over 30 years of experience, having taught and always continuing ongoing education with regards to ingredients and research when it comes to skin care.So here are questions with answers to things to consider when it comes to sun protection.
Q. Are there certain chemicals in sunscreen that people should avoid? I know some groups recommend avoiding certain ingredients.
A. There are two types of sunscreens: Physical blockers reflect ultraviolet rays from the sun and contain one of two active ingredients, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Chemical blockers contain chemicals that absorb the sun's ultraviolet rays. In the United States and Canada these typically include aminobenzoic acid, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.
Oxybenzone has received the worst press because of concerns that it may act as what is known as a hormone disrupter. A hormone disruptor is a chemical that has the ability to cross cell membranes and may interfere with your body's natural hormone production.
So, while we see things like” Even if you avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, you may encounter it in other products, including plastic, hairspray, and nail polish. At this point, we are not recommending our patients avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, and if people choose to do so, they should be aware that the chemical exists in many other common products of daily use.”
“Still, a paper recently published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology suggests that pregnant women who use sunscreen with oxybenzone daily might absorb enough of the chemical to increase the risk of a birth defect called Hirschsprung’s disease. Children with this condition are missing nerves in the lower colon or rectum, which prevents stool from moving through the bowel normally. The report’s findings don’t prove that oxybenzone exposure causes the condition, but
it’s another piece of information that underscores the need for more research on oxybenzone and other sunscreen ingredients.”
Q. Are the nanoparticles that are used in sunscreens with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide harmful?
A. Manufacturers use nanoparticles in the physical sun blockers I mentioned above. Nanoparticles are made using a process called micronizing that breaks up larger particles. This makes the sunscreens easier to apply and allows them to disappear into the skin, in contrast to the greasy, white sun blocks of the past.
I think that these physical blockers are much easier to use now that they are frequently micronized. Nanoparticles have not been shown to penetrate beyond the level of the skin and migrate into the bloodstream, which means that they are unlikely to create health risks.
While I’m all for supplementing with Vitamin D as it is a fat soluble hormone, “Vitamin D is actually a hormone rather than a vitamin; it is required to absorb calcium from the gut into the bloodstream.” “This nutrient is especially important for immune system health, leaving many people wondering whether supplementing with vitamin D may help reduce the risk of contracting the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
While there’s currently no cure for COVID-19, preventive measures like physical distancing and proper hygiene can protect you from contracting the virus.
Also, some research shows that having healthy levels of vitamin D can help keep your immune system healthy and may protect against respiratory illnesses in general.”
It is fair to then ask the following question.
Q. Does wearing sunscreen put you at risk for a vitamin D deficiency? Does this mean that you should skip it?
A. It's true that sunscreen blocks ultraviolet B rays, which are shortwave rays from the sun that are important for generating vitamin D in the skin. However, because most people apply far less than the recommended amount (about one shot glass–sized amount to the body and a teaspoonful to the face) of sunscreen, users typically aren't deficient in vitamin D. If you're concerned that sunscreen will put you at risk for vitamin D deficiency, there's an easy solution. Your doctor can recommend a vitamin D supplement, such as 800 IU of vitamin D3 daily.
Some experts recommend spending 10 to 15 minutes in the sun each day before applying sunscreen, but there's debate about whether this is actually necessary when vitamin D can be obtained from certain foods and as an oral supplement. Concern about vitamin D deficiency should not be a reason to avoid sunscreen.
Some doctors may recommend even higher levels of D3 to be taken then the recommended 800 IU above.
Sun safety tips
Here are some tips to protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays.
• Don't depend just on using sun block or sunscreen. Your best strategy is to avoid sun exposure when possible.
•Sun-protective clothing, which has become increasingly popular, is a nice addition to using sunscreen along with hats, umbrellas and finding a shady spot.
•Remember that sun blocks and sunscreen needs to be reapplied approximately every two hours. The effect of chemical sunscreen wanes after you apply it, and most sunscreens tend to be sweated off.
Q. Do you have any overall advice regarding sunscreen use?
A. There's a danger in assuming that putting on sunscreen is by itself enough to protect you against the sun. Many studies have demonstrated that individuals who use sunscreen tend to stay out in the sun for a longer period of time, and thus may actually increase their risk of skin cancer. Read your labels and follow instructions on when to re- apply.
For those of you already loving TIZO using only Zinc and Titanium Dioxide for sun protection, you’re going to love these new TIZO Photo-ceutical products too with skin firming technology. For those hot days when you want a light comfortable SPF but still address some anti-aging concerns, start the day with TIZO AM Replenish. An SPF 40 with Ceramides to reinforce the skins protective barrier, Antioxidants, C & E to prevent UV damage and address the effects of ROS. This mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide with a broad spectrum to address UVA and UVB rays, is stable on the skin. Zinc also has healing properties to it helping calm for redness such as in osacea. If sunspots are already an issue or as a preventative COMPLEXION BRIGHTENER Enhances, protects and neutralizes free radicals and can be applied before your sun block.
GM Collin has also done great work in formulating both an SPF 25 and SPF 50 non-tinted formulas that work great too. This article was written by Kerry Foreman of Beauty Comes Naturally Corp.
Cited: June 7, 2021