Bodyholic Rants: Hilarious Weight Loss & Self Care Myths People Should Avoid
The podcast that helps people weed through the social media noise and myths to lose weight and keep it off, without all the bullshit.
Bodyholic Rants: Hilarious Weight Loss & Self Care Myths People Should Avoid
Is Sunscreen REALLY Protecting Us? The Burning Questions We Need to Ask
Beyond just your face, there are often-missed areas that need attention too! Join us as we discuss the importance of comprehensive sun protection for your ears, lips, and the tops of your feet. We'll also highlight why regular dermatologist checkups are essential, especially for those at higher risk of skin cancer. Tackling viral myths head-on, we emphasize the necessity of science-backed information and encourage you to consult a dermatologist for personalized advice. Let's debunk fears and reinforce that the benefits of sunscreen far outweigh any perceived risks, ensuring you stay protected and informed.
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Music by AVANT-BEATS
Photo by Boris Kuznetz
Hello you, brilliant truth and health seeker, welcome back to Bodyholic with Dee, the podcast that dives deep into the science behind health and wellbeing. So today we're tackling a sizzling topic pun intended that's been causing confusion and if you follow me, you know it's been driving me a little crazy. It's sunscreen. So if you're one of those people who religiously slathers on sunscreen every time you step outside you and I have that in common very much I'm like wake up, pee, brush teeth and slather on the sunscreen. But lately there's been a wave of alarming reports questioning the safety of sunscreen ingredients. So some social media personalities are even saying that it could cause cancer. So that completely freaked me out and I rolled up my sleeves and dove into the research and let me tell you that the truth is way, way more nuanced and, to simplify, it is like ridiculous and actually you know what it's really dangerous.
Speaker 1:Bodyholic with Dee, your one-stop shop for science-backed well-being breakthroughs. Forget the fads, ditch the myths. We are here to get you on the fast track to feeling and looking fantastic. So get ready to dive deep into the real deal on your health, happiness and everything in between. Let's go Okay.
Speaker 1:So let's start with the basics. Sunscreen isn't just about avoiding a lobster red sunburn, which can definitely be a perk for some people. No judgment, but it's really about protecting your skin's DNA from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation UV. So there are two main types of UV rays that you need to know about. The ultraviolet radiation is basically this electromagnetic radiation that's emitted by the sun and it's categorized as UVA and UVB. There is UVC, but what we need to worry about is UVA and UVB, because those are the two radiations that reach the Earth's surface. So I'd love for us to really get into the differences between UVA and UVB so that we can better understand all this. So UVA has a longer wavelength than UVB. Uva radiation ranges from 320 to 400 nanometers and UVB radiation ranges from 280 to 320 nanometers, so UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the skin compared to UVB, and UVA can reach the underlying layers of the skin, which is including the dermis, but UVB mostly affects the outer layer, aka the epidermis, and the intensity is also another difference. So this is interesting because UVB radiation is more intense than UVA, but UVA radiation is more consistent throughout the day, and here's really something important I want you to remember this UVB is strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. So both UVA and UVB can be really harmful to the skin and to the eyes, but UVB radiation is the primary cause of sunburn and it also plays a major role in the development of skin cancer. Uva also contributes to skin aging, wrinkles and can, of course, contribute to the development of skin cancer. So basically, I think we can all agree that protection for the skin is important. It's really important to protect your skin and eyes from UVA and UVB.
Speaker 1:The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with a staggering one in five Americans developing it by the age of 70. And more than two people die of skin cancer every single hour in the United States, which I find extremely disturbing and I hope you do as well. But here's the silver lining and also the reason why I'm infuriated by the dangerous and nonsensical anti-sunscreen people. Listen up Most skin cancers are preventable with consistent and proper sunscreen use. Ok, you have to understand that it's not just about skin cancer. Research is also suggesting that there's a link between excessive sun exposure and other health issues like autoimmune diseases. There might be a link with lupus and don't get me wrong, like I've I've discussed this. In fact, soaking up sun is really essential for vitamin D production. We've talked about this before, but moderation is key and I want you to think of sunscreen as your skin's armor.
Speaker 1:Let's get into SPF for a sec, okay, which stands for sun protection factor, spf. It's a measure of how well the sunscreen can protect your skin from the harmful effects of the UVB radiation. So the SPF number on the sunscreen products right, we see 50, 30,. That indicates the level of protection that it provides against the UVB. The higher the SPF number, the greater the level of protection. The higher the SPF number, the greater the level of protection. So sunscreen with SPF 15 filters out approximately 93% of the UVB rays and SPF 30 filters out around 97%. And it's important to note that SPF only measures the sunscreen's effectiveness against UVB rays and does not directly indicate protection against UVA rays. Really interesting. And to ensure broad spectrum protection, which includes protection against UVA rays, you want to look for sunscreens labeled as broad spectrum.
Speaker 1:Okay, now let's discuss how to use sunscreen effectively, and it might actually sound silly or obvious to you, but I didn't actually fully understand this until digging into the research. So, firstly, we want to apply a generous amount of sunscreen to all exposed areas on the skin around 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, because this allows the sunscreen to fully absorb into your skin. And we also need to kind of look at the overlooked areas, which I totally overlook. It's the ears, the back of the neck, the tops of your feet. I'm so guilty of not doing that and I'm really trying to get of your feet. I'm so guilty of not doing that and I'm really trying to get on it. And I'm also guilty of this you have to reapply the sunscreen every two hours, or more More frequently if you're sweating or swimming. So even if a sunscreen claims to be water resistant, you can ignore that. It's still really important to reapply regularly to maintain the optimal protection. So I want to just dive in and tackle those very, very uncool and disturbing viral sunscreen myths head on.
Speaker 1:Myth Sunscreen chemicals are absorbed into your body and poison you. Fact A landmark study published in JAMA in 2019 examined the absorption of various sunscreen ingredients, and researchers found that the levels absorbed are so minuscule, far below any safety threshold set by regulatory agencies, and, in other words, very little gets into the bloodstream and it's very unlikely that it'll cause any harm. It doesn't mean that we don't need any more research? Okay, but what is clear is that the ultraviolet is far, far more concerning than the sunscreen. Okay.
Speaker 1:Myth Oxybenzone causes cancer Fact Oxybenzone is a UV filter, not a carcinogen. It's basically designed to protect your skin from the DNA damage that can lead to cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology to cancer, the American Academy of Dermatology, the Skin Counts Cancer Foundation and other leading medical organizations have all affirmed the safety of oxybenzone based on extensive research. Hold on, before you get all angry at me. I found that it may actually have undesirable outcomes because some studies showed that it may act as a hormonal disruptor, but it is not a carcinogen, okay.
Speaker 1:Myth Mineral sunscreens are always the healthier choice Fact Both chemical and mineral sunscreens are safe and effective when used correctly, and mineral sunscreens are safe and effective when used correctly. So mineral sunscreens create a physical barrier on the skin surface reflecting UV rays, and chemical sunscreens absorb the UV rays and then they convert them to heat, which is then released from the skin, and the best choice for you depends on your skin type, your sensitivity and your personal preference. Myth sunscreen harms coral reefs Fact this one is a bit trickier. Some studies actually have shown that certain sunscreen ingredients ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate can harm coral in lab settings. However OK and I feel like this is kind of obvious the concentrations in these studies are so much higher than what's found in the real world ocean environments. Ongoing research is exploring this issue, but for now, the main culprit behind coral reef damage remains the climate change and the pollution. So, if you're concerned, opt for the mineral sunscreens with the non-nanotized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide Myth.
Speaker 1:We don't need sunscreen because we can build up a natural tan for protection. Fact while melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning, does actually offer some protection, it's not nearly enough to shield. Tan is actually a sign of skin damage, and repeated sunburns can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer. So the world of sunscreen is not static. Scientists are constantly researching and developing new ingredients and new formulations to really enhance protection and minimize any potential side effects.
Speaker 1:Let's get into antioxidants for a moment. These are powerful compounds that help neutralize free radicals that are generated by UV radiation, so that's adding another layer of defense to your skin. Research that was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology suggests that antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E can boost effectiveness of sunscreen and help repair some of the damage that was caused by sun exposure. There's also the factor of DNA repair enzymes. These are enzymes that are like tiny little repair crews for your skin cells. They help fix the DNA that was damaged by the UV rays, potentially reducing the risk of skin cancer. And a study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology showed that a DNA repair enzyme derived from plankton, which are these tiny little organisms that drift in aquatic ecosystems and serve as the base or foundation of the marine food chain. So they could significantly enhance the sun protection factor, the SPF, of sunscreen. Now there's IR protection infrared. The radiation actually doesn't cause cancer, but it can penetrate deeper into the skin and contribute to aging. So some newer sunscreens include the IR protection, the infrared protection, offering another defense for long-term skin damage.
Speaker 1:Now I'm going to break down the ultimate sun protection playbook that I have put together for you after diving into the research. So sunscreen is just one piece of the sun protection puzzle. I've put together your general plan for safeguarding your skin, and also I wanted to make some order out of everything I researched, like the fake and baseless info and the studied and researched info. I wanted to just make you understand. So the first and most important is limit sun exposure.
Speaker 1:You want to avoid the peak sun hours, usually 10 am to 4 pm. You want to look for shade whenever possible and you want to wear protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. And then you want to choose the right sunscreen. So opt for broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB, spf of 30 or higher and a formula that really suits your skin type. You want to apply generously, and often Most people, including myself, under apply sunscreen, so you want to use a shot of glass for your body and a nickel sized dollop for your face and reapply every two hours or more.
Speaker 1:We talked about this. If you're swimming or you're sweating, and then I'm just reminding you here don't neglect those tricky spots your ears, your lips, the top of your feet. Those are the areas I personally miss, and maybe you do too, and you want to really cover those up. And here's the biggest one Go for checkups, see a dermatologist for a full body skin exam annually or more often. If you have a history of skin cancer or you are at risk like me, I've got to get to a dermatologist.
Speaker 1:The bottom line sunscreen is an essential tool in your health arsenal. Don't let fear mongering on social media scare you away from protecting your skin. The benefits of using sunscreen far outweigh any potential risks, and if you're still unsure or you have specific concerns, please, please, make an appointment and go talk to your dermatologist. They can help you choose the right sunscreen for your needs and address any questions you might have. That's a wrap for today's episode of Bodyholic with Dee. Remember that knowledge is power when it comes to your health, so let's stay informed and let's stay safe, and I want you to just keep doing what you're doing so you can stay nuts.