Over the last few decades, we have been programmed to believe that unprotected exposure to sunlight is harmful and causes skin cancer, so you should either avoid the sun entirely or slather yourself in toxic sunscreen if you do dare to go out in the sun.

And sunscreen manufacturers thank you very much for your continued patronage, by the way.

But the whole “sunlight exposure = skin cancer” theory that we’ve been spoon-fed has several holes and things don’t quite add up.

Plus exposure to the sun has several impressive health benefits including vitamin D production and others!

Here’s what I mean. Let’s start with...

The history of sunscreen

Sunscreen was first marketed in 1936, being developed by French chemist Eugène Schueller—the founder of L'Oreal cosmetics.

So you would suspect that prior to 1936, people must have been keeling over in massive numbers from skin cancer, right?

Nope.

In fact, in 1935 (one year before the introduction of sunscreens) only about 1 in 1,500 people contracted melanoma. 

In 2002, 66 years after sunscreens arrived on the scene, that rate was 1 in 50!

In addition, between 2006 and 2015, melanoma rates increased 3 percent per year.

So clearly melanoma prevalence is going up—even though we are using MORE sunscreen than ever before in our existence.

Something is not adding up.

So what’s the deal with skin cancer?

The whole skin cancer issue is not cut and dry, and many people have been misled about a number of things.

First of all, there are two basic types of skin cancer: 1-melanoma (the most deadly type) and 2-nonmelanoma (which includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), which is less fatal than melanoma.

Nonmelanoma deaths in the US are about 4,500 per year, and those largely occur in people with compromised immune systems. Melanoma, on the other hand, kills about 7,300 people per year.

But get this: 75 percent of all deadly melanoma occurs on areas of the body that NEVER see the sun.

How can that be?

Plus indoor workers have DOUBLE the rate of lethal melanoma skin cancer than outdoor workers!

Clearly there are some gaping holes in the skin cancer/sun exposure theory.

As far as sunscreen goes, studies have shown that sunscreen reduces the number of new squamous cell skin cancers, but has little to no effect on basal cell carcinomas, and may actually contribute to the development of the more deadly and aggressive melanoma!

The down side of shunning the sun

Shunning the sun does have a serious down side because your body needs UV light exposure from the sun to make vitamin D.

Vitamin D protects you against cancer, so by avoiding the sun because you’re scared of skin cancer, you’re actually in effect raising your overall risk of cancer!

Plus vitamin D is crucial for bone health, mental health, a robust immune system and a healthy cardiovascular system, among other things.

Here is an interesting tidbit for you: It has been estimated that for every one death caused by diseases related to excessive sun exposure — such as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer — there are 328 deaths caused by diseases of sunlight deprivation and lack of vitamin D!

In addition, people who avoid sunlight have a shorter life expectancy, and research has shown that sun avoidance is as harmful to longevity as smoking!

But wait! There’s more!

Over and above vitamin D, your skin produces two other important compounds when exposed to sunlight:

Nitric oxide

Sunlight boosts nitric oxide production, which is released into the bloodstream and helps to lower blood pressure and improve circulation. 

This is why you may feel more relaxed after spending time in the sun! Nitric oxide functions as a natural vasodilator, widening your blood vessels and enhancing smooth blood flow.

So it makes sense that sun exposure has been linked to a lower risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. 

Beta-endorphins

Exposure to sunlight also triggers the release of beta-endorphins, which are your body's natural painkillers and mood enhancers. 

This natural mood-boosting effect is one reason why sun exposure has been linked to reduced rates of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

And the natural painkilling aspect is a significant factor behind the improvement in arthritis symptoms experienced by older adults when they relocate to a warmer climate. 

Sunscreens are downright harmful!

Now that you’ve gotten an idea of the health benefits of sun exposure, let’s look at the DANGERS of sunscreens.

First of all, to completely block the sun’s rays, a sunscreen product needs to shield you from both UVA and UVB radiation.

But some sunscreens only block UVB rays, which are the rays that your body uses to make vitamin D! And at the same time, they don’t shield you from UVA rays—which are the rays that can cause skin cancer!

Are you seeing the absurdity here?

In addition, the following sunscreen ingredients have either been shown to be downright toxic, or at a minimum data supporting their safety are lacking:

• Para amino benzoic acid (PABA)
• Octyl salicyclate
• Oxybenzone 
• Cinoxate
• Dioxybenzone
• Phenylbenzimidazole
• Homosalate
• Menthyl anthranilate
• Octocrylene
• Methoxycinnamate
• Parabens

So, can I enjoy the sun and have healthy skin?

Yes, you can!

Here are some tips for supporting healthy skin and enjoying reasonable sun exposure:

Healthy skin starts on the inside

Skin health starts on the inside, and that means eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy fats like real butter, olive oil and omega-3 fats (found in wild-caught fish), and drinking plenty of filtered water. 

Also crucial for skin health are antioxidants, biotin, vitamin B6 and vitamins C and E.

Our Super Core multi-vitamin and mineral formula contains healthful doses of all these nutrients, plus natural antioxidants which help counteract premature aging from free radicals, and anti-inflammatories which support skin health!

Get 20-30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure each day

This will help allow your skin to naturally produce vitamin D as it was designed to.

Plus, the sun’s rays have been shown to have a positive effect on skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne and eczema, and sunlight helps to kill harmful bacteria on your skin.

In addition, sunlight also builds your immune system. Your immune system’s white blood cells (lymphocytes) increase with sun exposure, and these cells play a key role in defending your body against infections.

Protect yourself for longer exposure

If you stay in the sun for longer than 30 minutes, it’s wise to protect yourself. Options include wearing light clothing, sitting under an umbrella, or wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

If you want to use sunscreen, be sure to choose “broad protection” (UVA and UVB) mineral-based varieties that do not contain the harmful ingredients listed above. I use Badger, but there are many excellent brands out there.

Never get a sunburn

If you see your skin going from light pink or tan to red, get out of the sun and put some aloe vera and/or vitamin E gel on your skin.

Enjoy the wonderful benefits of the sun the way you’re supposed to—safely and healthfully!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

PS: An important announcement for you all...

Danielle will be out of the office from June 20th to the 30th therefore shipping operations, emails, and phone calls will be suspended for that time.

What this means...

• Any orders placed after June 18th's shipping cutoff will be held until her return on June 30th. Upon her return she will begin shipping orders out in the order in which they were received. She would love to be able to ship on June 19th but will not be able to as it is a federal holiday; therefore, the post office will not be open. Barring any flight delays, she is due back June 30th in the afternoon.

• Any emails or phone messages sent in her time away will be addressed upon her return in the order in which they were received.

• Common questions and inquiries are easy to address right on our website by using the “search” function at the top of the home page. There you may type in the subject you’re looking for information on, and it will provide you with easy to navigate answers.

• Please familiarize yourself with our updated SHIPPING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES if there are any questions regarding your shipments prior to her leaving, or after. PLEASE NOTE: Super Shield no longer ships with ice packs as of November 2024. This practice change is fully addressed on the shipping page, the Super Shield page, and in a message from me– all three readily available to read through by clicking.