Sun Tips & Safe Sunscreen for Sensitive People - Protection for Your Family

First published in August 2014 as Sunscreen and Sun Tips, this updated article includes updated and added information.

In this article:

• Why the sun is actually essential for immune health — and why blocking it completely can work against you.
• How diet and medications affect your skin's sensitivity to the sun.
• Why conventional sunscreens are a significant source of toxic load — especially for sensitive people and sensitive children.
• Which sunscreen chemicals to avoid and why.
• How to use the EWG database to find the safest sunscreen for your family.
• Sharon's current top sunscreen picks for sensitive families.

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For sensitive people — and especially for parents of sensitive children — sunscreen season raises a question that doesn't get asked often enough: is the sunscreen itself adding to your toxic load?

Sensitive people tend to absorb and react to chemical inputs more intensely than others. That means the sunscreen your family uses all summer long, applied repeatedly to large areas of skin, deserves the same scrutiny as the food you eat and the products you put in your home.

In our family, we use very little sunscreen throughout the summer — and that is a deliberate choice. Before I share which products I do recommend, I want to explain why, because the reasoning matters just as much as the product list.

Sun and Nutrients

Did you know that if you are wearing sunscreen, you are limiting the nutrients that get absorbed into your body? I actually believe there are multiple micro-nutrients we get from the sun, both through our skin and our eyes. Stimulation of the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin are just two examples. If you are always wearing sunscreen (and sunglasses), you are missing opportunities to maximize these vital nutrients.

The sun is also our main source of natural Vitamin D3, which is critical for many processes in the body. Vitamin D3 acts more like a hormone than a vitamin, and it is needed to maintain good gene health, a healthy immune system, strong bones and teeth, just to name a few.

(Certain foods such as wild salmon, quality organ meats, and farm eggs also supply Vitamin D3. Fortified foods, on the other hand, supply the synthetic version of Vitamin D2, which is not the same.)

For sensitive people who are already dealing with immune system overwhelm, low Vitamin D3 is extremely common — and often overlooked as a contributing factor. If you are sensitive and consistently avoiding the sun, it is worth asking your doctor to test your Vitamin D3 levels.

It is actually very healthy to purposely get 10 to 20 minutes of sun per day without sunscreen. (The length of time will depend on your skin type.) In fact, many natural healing programs require time in the sun. And, in the early years of medicine, the sun was often prescribed for treating incurable diseases like tuberculosis and influenza.

My suggestion is to use sunscreen only on an as-needed basis. Use sunscreen for those times when you know you will be in the sun for extended periods of time and use it more often in the early part of the summer as you build up your base tan. 

Sunburns and Photo-sensitivity

Other lifestyle choices can determine how your skin is affected by the sun. For example, did you know that the more preservatives you eat, the more likely your skin will burn in the sun? Eating high amounts of linoleic acid, primarily found in processed food and seed oils, can also raise your risk of sunburn.

The cleaner and more natural you eat and the more balanced your nutrients, the more your skin (and eyes) will be able to benefit from the sun. (You may need to clean up your diet for several months before exposing yourself to too much sun, especially when the sun is at its strongest.)

There are also quite a few medications that can affect how your skin reacts to the sun. Photo-sensitivity can occur when the medication interacts with the ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun, resulting in a typical sunburn or brown splotches, tenderness, rash/hives, etc. Certain antibiotics can cause this, as well as many oral contraceptives, statin drugs, diabetic drugs, antihistamines, acne medications, just to name a few. Even over-the-counter NSAIDs, like Ibuprofen, can cause sensitivity to the sun.

(You may additionally need to consider how the chemicals in conventional sunscreens could potentially interact with any medications you are taking.)

Sensitive people are particularly prone to photo-sensitivity reactions because their nervous systems and immune systems respond more intensely to chemical-sun interactions. If you are sensitive and taking any of the medications listed above, use extra caution and consult your doctor before extended sun exposure.

Quality of Sunscreens

What we put on our skin gets absorbed into our bodies, some say up to 60%, so you want to make sure your sunscreen has quality ingredients. There’s a big difference between sunscreen brands. Like other body products, the products are not closely regulated so many chemicals are used.

Your sunscreen, especially those that are not mineral based, include chemicals to block the sun. They might include chemicals like octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, among others. PABA and trolamine salicylate were other common chemicals that have more recently been banned. Over time, these chemicals accumulate in the body and can cause a number of health issues. Preservatives, like parabens and phthalates, and synthetic fragrances are other things to avoid. Learn more about these chemicals in my article about bath and body products.

For sensitive people and sensitive children, this chemical accumulation is not a minor concern — it is a meaningful contributor to the overall toxic load that burdens a sensitive immune system. Choosing a clean sunscreen is one of the most practical and impactful swaps a sensitive family can make.

Additionally, you want to avoid any sunscreen products that contain nano-particles. That means that a particular ingredient has been purposely reduced to an ultra-tiny particle, which is more easily absorbed by your skin. These particles can get into your bloodstream and accumulate in your body. Some products now include "non-nano" on their ingredient list.

And, definitely avoid the spray-on sunscreens. Not only are they wasteful since so much over-spray occurs, but you and those around you end up breathing in the sunscreen. The ingredients end up directly in your lungs! Walk away if you see someone spraying.

Other Sunscreen Options

Before grabbing for the sunscreen, first consider other ways to cover up: wear a large-brimmed hat, wear a long-sleeve shirt, use an umbrella, bring a portable tent, etc. You can also preplan your sun excursions – breaking up the day so that there are some sun activities and some shade activities.

When you know that you will have a prolonged time in the sun, like an extended family picnic or going to the beach, use a quality sunscreen. Luckily, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a great database. They research the ingredients, check the products, and suggest the best ones. It is updated annually and can be found here.

You can use this database two ways: (1) use the search function to type in the name of your current sunscreen and see how it rates and (2) use the various lists to find the best brand for your needs.

Select a Sunscreen – My Top Picks

The things that are most important when you select a sunscreen and what I look for include:

• organic ingredients that are food-based
• no artificial chemicals or preservatives
• mineral-based product using zinc oxide (not titanium dioxide)
• no nano-particles
• gluten-free and GMO-free

After reviewing the newest EWG lists, these are my current top sunscreen brand choices: Badger, All Good Kid, and Earth Mama. On the rare occasion we use sunscreen, my family typically uses this Badger product; however, more recently, they came out with this clear zinc option which rubs in clear so you do not get the white chalky look. (Badger sunscreens typically have great ratings.)

When you select a sunscreen you may want to consider baby products. These sunscreens tend to have fewer ingredients yet are often good for the whole family. You can learn more about which ingredients to avoid by reading EWG’s Sunscreen Guide. 

You may notice that more natural sunscreens often have lower SPF ratings than their chemical-based counterparts. Therefore, you and your family should still monitor your sun exposure and, when necessary, wear sun-appropriate gear as mentioned above.

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For sensitive people and parents of sensitive children, reducing the chemical load in everyday products — including sunscreen — is one of the most practical places to start when it comes to supporting immune system health. Every clean swap matters, and summer is a great time to audit what your family is putting on their skin.

For more guidance on reducing toxic load in your home and for your sensitive child, explore the Calming Tools for Sensitive Kids course, or schedule a free discovery call here.

Related articles:

This article is part of a series on natural summer health for sensitive people and families. 

• Summer Sun & Bug Safety for Sensitive People
• Lyme Disease Protocol for Sensitive People
• Pool Chemicals: How to Protect Sensitive Kids