Sun protection has been and continues to be a *hot* commodity. As the holistic lifestyle continues to gain more traction, many have made claims that sunscreen is toxic and hinders us from the benefits of the sun. And while it has been proven that current sunscreens on the market have a negative affect on marine life (we’ll get to more of that later on), sun protection has always been a major necessity.
The History of Sun Protection
Did you know that sun protection dates back to ancient civilizations? As early as 3100-300 BC, ancient Egyptians were said to have used ingredients such as rice bran, jasmine, and lupine. While Egyptians may not have known about the harsh effects of UV rays, they were certainly aware the sun makes you darker. And in their culture, light skin was more desirable. Making a mixture of rice bran, jasmine, and lupine, the Egyptians found a way to protect themselves from the sun, absorb the UV light, repair DNA and lighten their skin.
Ancient Greeks were known to use olive oil. Turns out, olive oil has an SPF of about 8! Additionally, lead based powders were used to protect and lighten the skin as well.
Native tribes were said to use a type of pine needle referred to as Tsuga Canadensis.
As time continues, cultures across the globe use sun protection as a way of keeping their skin lighter. Being of lighter complexion was seen as a high social class status. Due to more labor, lower class people often spent much of their time outdoors. Though they protected their skin with hats, cloth and clothing, a tan was unavoidable after being out in the sun a majority of the time.
Pale is Out, Healthy Glows Are In!
It wasn’t until the roaring 20s when tanning became “the look” thanks to Coco Chanel. Tanning became associated with health and leisure. And from there, the roles reversed as the Industrial revolution took the world by storm. Upper class now spent time outside and the lower working class were inside working at factories for many hours of the day.
This seems to be the turning point of negative effects of sun exposure. Researchers began to take a look at the effects of UV radiation on the skin.
The Benefits of the Sun
Despite all this chatter about sun protection, there are numerous benefits we receive from the sun. Not only for our mind, body, and spirit, but our planet as well.
The sun plays an important role in the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential in the maintenance of healthy bones, teeth, and your immune system. It’s also been known to reduce the risk of many diseases, like Multiple Sclerosis.
In addition to reducing risk of health diseases, the sun has proved to benefit health concerns such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
The sun boosts serotonin production, which contributes to happiness and overall well being. This explains why we feel happier and more energized on bright, sunny days versus gloomy ones. Additionally, this also gives us some insight regarding seasonal depression.
According to Very Well Health, exposure to sunlight in the morning will help to improve your body’s circadian rhythm, or sleep cycle. Not only will this help your body to naturally feel tired at night, but the sun’s light exposure will enhance the quality of your sleep.
Moderate exposure to the sun is encouraged to receive its benefits. However, too much of a good thing isn’t always a good thing.
Disadvantages of Too Much Sun Exposure
Too much exposure to the sun, without the proper sun protection, can be harmful to our skin and our eyes.
The sun radiates three types of UV rays- UVA, UVB, and UVC. We mostly have to worry about UVA and UVB rays. UVC rays are absorbed into Earth’s atmosphere (the ozone layer) without reaching the surface. According to the FDA, humans are only exposed to UVC rays through artificial sources.
Effects of UV Rays can include tanned skin, sunburn, sunspots, premature aging, wrinkles, and higher risk of skin cancer. UV Rays can damage eyes as well, leading to cataracts and macular degeneration.
Because of this knowledge, we know it is important to protect ourselves from UV radiation and limiting extended sun exposure.
And just like our ancient ancestors, we began implementing new forms of sun protection. Along with protective clothing and avoiding the sun during its peak hours (10a-4p), we have since been able to create a multitude of sunscreens with higher SPFs (sun protection factor).
The First Sunscreen
During World War II, Benjamin Green came up with a sunblock concoction. He used red tinted petroleum jelly to prevent burns during his flying missions. (Fun fact, after creating a better formula he started Coppertone- the infamous sunscreen company we have today!)
In the 1930s, the first commercial sunscreen was developed by a chemist named Franz Greiter. His invention, called Gletscher Crème, had an SPF of 2. Today, sunscreens are available with much higher SPFs. They come in a variety of forms, such as creams, sprays, serums and lotions.
Sunscreen still plays a major part in sun protection to this day. We are encouraged to wear sunscreen daily to protect our skin and eyes from the negative effects.
Negative Effects on Marine Life
Unfortunately, the sunscreen we have been using globally for the last hundred years has taken a role in negatively impacting the oceans today. More specifically, the coral reefs.
Coral Reefs protect our coastlines from storms and erosion. They also offer recreational opportunities, especially in tourist areas, and provide jobs to locals.
According to NOAA, coral reefs support more species per unit area in comparison to any other marine environment. Not only do coral reefs support food production, but medical. They play a huge part in the creation of new medicines and possible cures for infections, viruses, diseases and more.
Sunscreen chemicals can easily wash off of a person’s body in the ocean. Oxybenzone and Octinoxate are two of the chemicals said to be toxic to coral reefs, threatening the destruction of these underwater ecosystems.
Studies have shown that even small amounts of these chemicals can be harmful to coral reefs. In addition to directly harming the coral, sunscreen chemicals can also contribute to the growth of harmful algae blooms, which can further harm marine life.
The Turning Point
As people are becoming more conscientious of the living organisms and ecosystems that cohabitate with us on this planet, ‘reef safe’ or ‘ocean friendly’ sun protection alternatives are coming to the forefront.
Consumers are challenging these companies and businesses to ditch the chemicals. We know for sure that it can be done (as seen in ancient Egypt). These newer and evolved sunscreens are made with mineral based ingredients, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These components sit on the surface of the skin, creating a shield from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Here’s The 10 Best Reef Safe Sunscreens of 2023, according to Instyle. We love to see companies being conscientious of the environment and staying committed to evolving with the times.
How do you protect yourself from the sun? Do you prefer methods used in ancient civilizations, or are you a fan of these new mineral sunscreen formulas?
Either way, protecting your skin is equally as important as protecting our planet.
