Your Guide to Healthy Sun Exposure
Are you ready for sun and #lakelife yet??? It feels like winter has dragged on for far too long, but it has given us the perfect opportunity to talk about sun exposure and clear up some common misconceptions.
Similar to milk propaganda being responsible for “building strong bones” for decades, we have been led to believe that sun exposure alone causes skin cancer and we must apply SPF every day before leaving the house.
Clean SPF’s are particularly helpful for protecting the skin from early aging, but according to Dr. Mercola,
“THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN MISLED AND MISINFORMED ABOUT THE HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS OF SUN AVOIDANCE, AS THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY, INCLUDING A HEIGHTENED RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND SEVERAL CANCERS, ESPECIALLY INTERNAL CANCERS BUT ALSO LETHAL SKIN CANCER.”
While you may want your summer glow ASAP, be patient and gradually introduce your skin back to the sun. There are many elements like water and oxygen that are essential for life, but when out of balance they can turn harmful and the sun is one of them.
HEALTHY SUN EXPOSURE IS…
Planning ahead! Going outdoors for a long period of time? Make sure to:
Find shady spots
Wear a hat
Or cover up with clothes part of the time to avoid burning your skin
15-20 minutes without sunscreen—clothing levels up to you!
Best practice is to have this time during early to mid-morning hours to avoid the intense afternoon sun that can easily burn
Most sunscreen’s blocks various amounts of UVA & UVB rays. By not using sunscreen for this time period you’re allowing UVB light to stimulate Vitamin D production in your skin
Always hydrating!
Water is an essential health habit because it is intricately weaved throughout so many processes that take place in the body. More time in the sun means drinking even more than half your bodyweight in ounces. This will help your skin, and all other tissues, remove and expel waste.
Always rooting for you,
Samantha