By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

It’s been a scorcher all over North America this year. Record highs have been broken in cities throughout the Midwest and the East Coast. And when you add in the humidity, ugh!

But it’s almost the end of summer, and I don’t know about you but I certainly don’t want to be cooped up in an air conditioned house or office day in and day out. I want to get out and enjoy the rest of the summer sunshine.

Living and practicing medicine in Florida means that I see plenty of folks who’ve spent long hours in the sun. And now, years later, they not only sport prematurely aged alligator skin, many also suffer from one form of skin cancer or another. To help lessen your chances of joining their ranks, I’ve come up with a comprehensive plan of action to help you stay safe in the sun – during the summer, fall, winter or spring.

1. Cover up. Here’s a real shocker: sunscreen isn’t the best way to prevent skin cancer! Instead, wear a big brimmed hat, a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt and thin cotton pants. And lounge under a beach umbrella or shady tree. Skip outside activities when the sun is directly overhead and UV radiation is at its strongest.
2. Slip on shades. Sunglasses can protect your eyes from UV damage that can eventually cause cataracts. Look for sunglasses blocking at least 99 percent of UVB rays and at least 95 percent of UVA rays, and choose shades with side panels. Polarized and mirror-coated lenses don’t offer any UV protection. And lenses that block blue light may not offer protection either.
3. Drink green tea. It’s rich in polyphenols that prevent melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.¹ Plus, green tea reduces, the damage to your skin caused by sun exposure. Other sun-protective antioxidants have similar effects. Most protective: vitamins C, E, and A, zinc, beta-carotene, curcumin, resveratrol and quercetin. I actually take these nutrients via my multivitamin plus I take a separate antioxidant blend prior to heading out for a day at the beach.
4. Slather on sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading outside. Pay special attention to vulnerable areas like your face, ears, hands and arms. Choose a waterproof brand, use it liberally and reapply after swimming. And keep reapplying every couple of hours, even if you don’t hit the water. Studies suggest that if you don’t apply enough sunscreen or reapply infrequently, the sunscreen itself can become harmful to the skin, causing the body to create more damaging molecules.²
5. Don’t rely on SPF alone. SPF (sun protection factor) measures a sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB radiation and sunburns. It doesn’t measure protection from UVA radiation which accelerates skin aging and causes skin cancer. So even a high-SPF product may leave you vulnerable. In fact, because they suppress burns—a sign of skin damage—high-SPF products may tempt you to stay in the sun longer.
6. Be a daily user. A recent study found using sunscreen daily reduced the risk of melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer. Wear it if you’re gardening, hiking or sightseeing. And look for lip balm and makeup with added sun protection.
7. Use safe sunscreens. Some sunscreen ingredients can do more harm than good. For example, FDA research suggests retinyl palmitate may increase the rate of skin tumors. And nanoparticles of titanium dioxide may be more harmful since these minute chemicals can migrate to different (and deeper) parts of the body and cause DNA damage.³ For a full report on the shocking compounds that may be lurking in your sunscreen, check back next Monday for my special report.

In the meantime, just remember that even though it’s important to protect yourself from the dangers of the sun, you also need some exposure to make sure you’re getting your fair share of vitamin D. Try spending 10 to 15 minutes outside several times per week without sunscreen to make sure you’re getting enough. If you simply don’t have time or have a history of skin cancer, you can boost your vitamin D levels by taking at least 2,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D daily.

References:

Hanson KM. Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2006;41: 1205-1212.

Nichols JA. Skin photoprotection by natural polyphenols: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and DNA repair mechanisms. Archives of Dermatological Research. 2010;302:71-83.

Schlumpf M. In vitro and in vivo estrogenicity of UV screens. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2001;109:239-244