Save Your Skin

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I remember when a pair of sunglasses was all the gear anyone grabbed to spend a summer day outside. Times have changed. Now we’re off to the beach or lake—or out to work in the herb garden—ladened with wide-brimmed sun hats, scarves, extra shirts, and tubes of sunscreen. The threat of premature wrinkles, leathery skin, uneven skin pigmentation, and especially skin cancer is enough to make anyone approach summer sun more cautiously. Almost three-quarters of sun damage occurs without our even trying, as we walk down the street, ride a bike, or even drive a car.

Examining sunscreens

Prevention is the key. However, sunscreens can be a mixed blessing. Your sunscreen may contain the purest natural ingredients but still rely on harsh compounds for its sunblocking properties. The higher the sun protection factor (SPF) number (which is used to rate sunscreen), the more sunscreen it contains. Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), a component of the B vitamin complex, was the darling of the natural sunscreen industry until it gained a reputation for causing sensitivity and allergic reactions. However, these reactions are uncommon and can occur with other popular sunscreen compounds such as cinoxate, cinnamate, or cinnamic acid from cinnamon, and the synthetic benzophenone. Two nontoxic solutions are the sunblocking minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which have the advantage of deflecting all types of sunrays. Because both are drying to skin and impart a whitish color when undiluted, you may prefer using them mixed into an herbal sun lotion.

Herbal sun protection?

A new wave of natural sunscreens is based on antioxidants. Research from institutions such as Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and the Xienta Institute for Skin Research in Bernville, Pennsylvania, shows that vitamins C and E not only protect against free radical damage but also reduce your chances of getting sunburned. So does taking vitamin C supplements. Potent antioxidant herbs, such as green tea (Camellia sinensis), are also proving effective. (A note to savvy shoppers: The cosmetic ingredient TEA is not green or black tea but the chemical tri-ethanol-amine.) In the future, look for sunscreens containing a variety of herbs. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) has compounds that absorb UV-B rays. An extract of helichrysum (Helichrysum angustifolium), best known by aromatherapists for its essential oil, is an effective sunscreen. Amino acids from sea algae are currently being tested in Australia. And one caveat: when out in the sun, avoid wearing skin-care products that contain citrus essential oils, especially bergamot (Citrus bergamia). They increase the skin’s sensitivity to light and occasionally cause skin discoloration or rashes.