Myths surrounding the topic of sun protection constantly circulate online and on many social media channels. Under the hashtag "#OhneSonnencreme" (without sunscreen), influencers and users are currently warning against sun protection, claiming it is harmful to health.
In this blog post, we will shed light on which arguments are indeed valid, which reservations we consider rather unfounded, and provide you with tips on how you and your loved ones can protect yourselves from sun radiation with a clear conscience.
Why could sunscreen be harmful?
For most processes, the human body has its own responses: If you have inflammation, for example, your immune system responds and fights the pathogens. The most common argument against using sunscreen could therefore be that the body has its own mechanisms to protect itself from the sun. Primarily, this is the production of melanin, which "tans" the skin, giving it higher natural protection. However, this is a fallacy. Because skin tanning is already a reaction to acute damage to skin cells, which can lead to mutations and, in the long term, contribute to the development of skin cancer. Especially in childhood and adolescence, one should therefore incur as little of this skin damage as possible to keep the general risk of developing skin cancer low.
Another argument often brought up against using sunscreen is its ingredients. Here too, it's worth looking at the details, because, of course, ingredients can also be questionable for the body, but the question is, what long-term effects are more dramatic for health and the body.
Which sunscreen ingredients are questionable?
There are ingredients in sun products that have recently fallen into disrepute. These include, for example, so-called plasticizers, i.e., phthalates. Fortunately, most sun products have been free of these controversial substances for many years. Our sunscreens, as certified natural cosmetics, have also always been free of phthalates.
In addition, many organic UV filters are repeatedly criticized. The criticism usually refers to environmental damage (e.g., with oxybenzone and its effect on corals) or health damage (e.g., with octinoxate and its possible hormonal effects). Fortunately, alternative UV filters have been available for many years, so most products on the market no longer use these substances. In our sun protection products, you will find exclusively the mineral, inorganic UV filter zinc oxide, which is generally considered well-tolerated by the skin. This shows: with a little research, you can quickly find a sun protection that reliably protects the skin.
Why is there an anti-sunscreen hype?
To understand this "anti-trend," it's important to be aware that opposing views are often taken to generate attention. It could be that someone who writes that they don't use sunscreen wants to say that they simply don't stay in the sun for long and therefore simply "don't need sunscreen." This view should be taken with caution, because do we really all know our skin's natural protection time? This can be influenced physiologically by so many factors that even "mindful sun exposure" can lead to long-term skin damage. And even in the shade or on cloudy days, UV rays can have an effect. Above all, however, such an attitude should not, in my opinion, be transferred to children. Children should be moisturized with high SPF, avoid intense midday sun, and always wear adequate head covering.
What is "natural" sun protection and what can it do?
In the discussion about whether using sunscreen harms the skin, there is often talk of self-made, natural sun protection, such as pure oil mixtures of coconut or raspberry seed oil. However, these only protect our skin to a very small extent from harmful UVA and UVB rays (SPF 3 to SPF 6). Since UV protection is a logarithmic curve, it makes a big difference whether you use SPF 3 (UV protection is less than 10%) or SPF 20 (UV protection is almost 90%). The rapid increase also means a rapid decrease if the SPF is too low.
If you are looking for natural sunscreens, you are on the safe side with certified natural cosmetics, for example, our mineral sun products. Our UV filter acts like a shield on your skin and works immediately after application without any waiting time.
Does sunscreen prevent vitamin D production?
Sunscreen protects the skin by filtering UV radiation – but it doesn't completely block the rays (as it's a logarithmic curve that never reaches 100%, see above). Even with sun protection, UVB rays reach the skin to a lesser extent, which are essential for vitamin D production.
Studies clearly show that people who regularly use sun protection still produce enough vitamin D – especially because even short periods in the sun are enough to stimulate the body's own production.
How do I protect myself and my children from the sun?
Basically, if you want to reliably protect yourself and your family from the sun's UVA and UVB rays, you should use sunscreen. The WHO and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommend at least SPF 30 for children, protective clothing (especially on the head), and avoiding intense midday sun.
If you are still unsure which product from our sun series best suits you and your needs, we recommend our sunscreen finder. Here you can easily click through and find out which product is ideal for your skin type (or your child's).
So: apply sunscreen, preferably a mineral sun product, from a UV index of 3, don't forget! :)
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, doctor & mother of 3
