Oh how we love the sun! Sunlight is healing to the body and it gives us much needed vitamin D. However, sometimes too much sun is not a good thing, especially to the virgin skin.
Is there natural skincare for sun exposure and damaged skin, and what can we do if there is a suspect lesion? Don’t sound the alarm yet, because you have options!
First off, you should know what the Ultra Violet (UV) light scale is and before venturing out, consult a weather app to find out your current location’s UV levels:
*A UV Index reading of 0-2: Low means there is minimal risk of sunburn.
*A UV Index reading of 3-5: Moderate means there is moderate risk of sunburn within 30-45 minutes.
*A UV Index reading of 6-7: High means there is high risk of burn from sun exposure within 15-25 minutes.
*A UV Index reading of 8-10: Very High means there is a very high risk of burn from sun exposure within 15 minutes.
*A UV Index reading 11 or higher is very dangerous with damage occurring in less than 10 minutes.
Remember that typically, sun is the hottest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What are Some Natural Sunscreen Options?
A natural sunscreen is best, says HR4M…less impact on the oceans, coral reefs and water dwellers when vacationing. Depending on how long the UV sun exposure is will determine the amount of natural sunscreen needed, frequency of application and duration of the formula that you create or purchase. You should reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially after swimming.
There are “natural” sunscreens on the market, but pay attention to the ingredients because so many have added chemicals. You can also create your own. I like the following ingredients: zinc oxide, shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E, aloe powder, bees wax, eggplant extract and your favorite essential oil for fragrance as long as you stay away from the citrus oils. If you enter the water with this homemade version, you may have to reapply after.
If you are purchasing a natural sunscreen, find one that protects against UV rays with at least 7% zinc oxide or greater. A SPF of 30-60 is recommended by the FDA.
I’m burned…Now what?
If you aren’t typically exposed to a lot of UV sunlight like most of us northerners, your skin is super sensitive. Consider yourself more vulnerable to skin cancer too when you do see those high UV numbers. Remember to protect your largest organ because a repeated high UV sun exposure will take a toll over time. Protect those little ones as well :).
Go for immediate relief with an all natural aloe gel, not one that has green dye, but the real stuff. You can also find large aloe leaves at the grocery store for cheap. Once the burn subsides, look to repair the exposed skin with rose hip and vitamin E oils. Apply them until the skin inflammation is completely gone.
Lesions and Skin Cancer Natural Options
If you determine or suspect some unusual moles or marks, get evaluated immediately. There is a lot to know when it comes to skin cancer, which I won’t go into detail here, but only to say that there are 3 types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell and melanoma (considered the most serious). Non-melanoma skin cancers represent the majority of skin cancer diagnoses, with about 80% basal cell carcinomas and 20% squamous cell carcinomas. If you have any of these abnormal growths, see your physician. Sometimes it’s just a good idea to have the whole body evaluated as well.
There are two natural options that your physician may or may not tell you about when treating non-melanoma lesions. The first option is iodine, and the second is Curaderm which is derived from eggplant, although not readily available in the US.
According to Dr. Simoncini, all skins cancers are caused by Candida fungus. He suggests reversing the fungus with baking soda. He also has a skin cancer protocol using iodine that you can read about here.
Lastly, you can find a clinical study on Curaderm entitled, “Topical treatment of malignant and premalignant skin lesions by very low concentrations of a standard mixture BED of solasodine glycosides” that states that all lesions treated with Curaderm regressed.
There are options, but the best advice for natural skincare for sun exposure is always preventative. Get your much needed sun, but cover up and cream up…naturally of course 😉
[Visit my post Natural Skincare Remedies for more research.]
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