Many alternative doctors believe it is not the sun that causes melanoma but rather the toxic chemicals we lather on our skin to keep from burning. The skin is a half-inch thick, and poisons are readily absorbed into the skin and make their way to the liver.
One such chemical, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, is found in 90 percent of sunscreen brands. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, if the brands you use have any of the following chemicals, get rid of them.
• Para amino benzoic acid
• Avobenzone
• Octyl salicyclate
• Oxybenzone
• Dioxybenzone
• Phenylbenzimidazole
• Cinoxate
• Homosalate
• Padimate O
• Sulisobenzone
• Trolamine salicylate
• Menthyl anthranilate
• Octocrylene
Putting the above chemicals on your skin also blocks out the Vitamin D from the sun.
What I do, because I live in two climates, is early in the season when I am lily white, I go out in the sun with no protection for about a half an hour to start building up a tan. Tan also protects from the harsh rays so that you can spend more time in the sun without burning. There are those of you who, because of medications or because you have had skin cancers in the past, will need more protection. For me, I just use a natural oil such as coconut to keep from drying out.
There is a product you can buy from Dr. Mercola called Natural Sunscreen. It has from 15 to 50 SPF, and you can put it on after your 15 to 20 minutes in the sun getting your D first. It protects and nourishes the skin but blocks out all rays while still promoting a tan.
Some ingredients are sunflower oil, green tea, coconut oil and butter, almond oil, and vitamin E. You can also buy his tanning oil with the same oils but no SPF.
I trust these two articles have been helpful in allowing you to have a safe summer in the sun.
Please consult your doctor or regular health physician before following suggestions found in any Sun Day health columns/stories.
