A research team reports that unless sunscreen is reapplied often, the sunscreen itself can become harmful to the skin.
Sunscreen works by blocking ultraviolet light. When skin is exposed to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, it can generate harmful compounds called reactive oxygen species or ROS. ROS can react with cell walls, lipid membranes, mitochondria and DNA, leading to skin damage. One effect is an increase in the visible signs of age.
However, the molecules in sunscreen that block ultraviolet light can themselves penetrate into the skin, leaving the epidermis exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
In addition, some of these molecules, including octylmethoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and octocrylene, generate ROS molecules in skin themselves when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. This occurs when the molecules have both penetrated into the skin, and additional sunscreen has not been applied to block the ultraviolet light.
About 95 percent of the visible signs of aging are associated with the ROS molecules created by exposure to ultraviolet light.
Science Blog August 29, 2006
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
Here's yet more evidence of what I've been saying for some time: Sunscreens are dangerous and can cause more harm than good.
The solution the researchers recommended is to reapply sunscreen often (so UV light cannot reach the sunscreen that's penetrated more deeply into your skin, and produce dangerous compounds), but my advice is to avoid using sunscreens at all, unless there is absolutely no alternative (and then choose a natural version).
Sensible sunlight exposure is beneficial, and necessary, for you, and you can avoid the sun's potentially negative effects by not getting burned.
This means, go out in the sun gradually until you're able to stay out longer without getting burned, and when you want to cover up, grab a wide-brimmed hat or a light jacket to cover your skin.
Despite what you may have heard, sensible sun exposure actually reduces your risk of skin cancer, by causing your body to naturally create the essential Vitamin D. In fact, sun exposure is protective against a total of 16 types of cancer, including skin cancer and cancers of the digestive and reproductive systems.
It is estimated that 45,000 Americans die from cancer annually related to inadequate sun exposure causing subtherapeutic levels of vitamin D.
Skin cancers are more typically caused by the large distortion most people have in their omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratio. The high excess of omega-6 fats in most people's diet puts them at a much higher risk of developing skin cancer when they get sunburned.
So stop your sun exposure short of getting burned, and consider supplementing your diet with omega-3 fats. Krill is one of my new favorite recommendations and you can get this in a health food store, or for your convenience, I have located a brand that is very high quality and low priced. This krill oil is in our store.
This article was reprinted from: http://www.mercola.com
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