Let's Talk Getting Healthy: SUNBURN ~ To Screen or not To Screen?

It is that time of year again, where families are out in the sun more and more. There are more incidents of sunburn in kids and adults than ever before.

Of the people I asked the question, " How do we get sunburned?" the majority of them simply say "too much sun".

What most of them don't realize is that it is the radiation from the suns rays(UVA and UVB) that create the burns. I have been told that description sounds pretty harsh. It is suppose to be harsh! It is an important topic for the summer months especially.

When you think about it as radiation burns, it drives home the point of the importance of protection, not to mention prevention. There is a lot of controversy about the types of sunscreens to use. Many of the commercially prepared products are full of chemicals that react in the skin and cause an increase in sensitivity and burns.

In chemical sunscreens, there are some chemicals that pose potential human health risks including benzophenone, octinoxate, octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC), and oxybenzone. These chemicals can seep into your skin, potentially altering how your body processes the sun's rays and could upset your body's normal hormone balance.

This A - Z list is just a partial list of some of the products and drugs that are suspected.(I was amazed at what was on this list, check it out)

With the incidence of skin cancer on the rise, nearly a million people per year, its time to take this more seriously. I have to admit, I enjoy being in the sun and getting a tan. There are some specific things I do to protect myself from sunburn and skin cancer. Using the right type of sunscreen is important, we will talk about that in a moment.

The sun creates a lot of free radical damage, so it is imperative to consume a lot of antioxidant rich fruits and veggies. I also take about 6,000 mg of omega 3 oils per day which are anti inflammatory in nature. You have to do this early enough, so that you build up your store house of these nutrients. If you don't, they burn up too quickly in the sun. I just returned from a weeks vacation at the lake, without too much trouble. As the week went on, my kids and I increased the fruit and veggies intake to combat the accumulation of the suns effects. I also take about 5000 iu of vit D3 daily to help prevent cancers.

So lets get specific on what to do if you get sunburned...

Sunscreen is important, but be sure that it is all natural and contains either zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to protect against UVA and UVB rays. Read the labels thoroughly as some of these products need to be applied 30 mins. prior to the sun.

The chemicals found in most sunscreens are not biodegradable and may have damaging environmental effects in the water. By using natural ingredients instead, we keep both you and the environment safe.

These are some of the herbs that work to heal sunburns:

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is one of the most frequently recommended to reduce inflammation.

Comfrey is also very beneficial for the sun burnt skin, as it contains allantoin, a natural compound that is an excellent anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, allergenic and skin cell regenerative.

Chamomile, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rose hips and Buckthorn essential oils are also beneficial for the inflamed skin. They can be applied directly to the skin or added to the bath water.

This is a link to my favorite after sun lotion that I found while vacationing in Mexico.

Also, try taking a bath in lukewarm water in which you should pour a cup of baking soda or apple cider vinegar as this will cool down the skin. Compresses with cold green, black, calendula or St. John’s Wort will have the same cooling effect on the damaged skin.

So lets THINK before we take our families out into the sun, the cancer you prevent may be your own!

If you have any questions or comments, I encourage you to submit them below. Happy and Healthy Sunning!

"Each moment you are alive is unique. Appreciate and make the most of it!"