Hey, hey! Happy June to you! It has felt like summer here in Dallas for a little while, but it’s been weird not being able to go to our community pool whenever we want. We have to sign up for a time to use one out of the THREE pools our complex has haha. Strange times I tell ya. I mentioned in my Instagram stories that we don’t use sunscreen on Oakley hardly ever, and I wanted to write a post about why we don’t. Since I became a mom, I have been so aware of the toxins we use in our everyday life that I used to never think twice about. I haven’t detoxed our entire home of all the nasty chemicals yet, but we are slowly transitioning a few things here and there. I never would consider myself as a “granola” mom, but the more I become aware, the more I feel like one haha.
Last year when Oakley was an infant we put sunscreen on him every time we went outside because I was so concerned about him burning especially since his skin was so fair. I grew up lathering sunscreen all over myself every time I went outside and I just thought that sunscreen would protect me from getting burnt. It wasn’t until a few months ago when I learned a lot more about sun exposure that changed my mind on how I did things. My husband reads A LOT. He enjoys reading about all sorts of topics; especially health and wellness. I also read and research on my own and together we made the decision to limit the use of sunscreen for ourselves and Oakley. I never use sunscreen on myself anymore (except for on my face) because I just don’t burn like I used to. I don’t burn easily, but I just know my skin and how long I could be outside before I started to get pink. If I’m on a lake and plan on being outside for a long time, then yes, I will put some sunscreen on my shoulders and chest, but I don’t apply it everywhere. This post is to share why we limit using sunscreen and to help you see a different side to it. This is what we feel is right for our family, so what works for us may not work for you. You are the only person that can make that decision for your family.
**NOTE: We are not doctors or claim to be. I’m just sharing our WHY with the research I have done. I recommend reading the book ‘Lies My Doctor Told Me‘ and to follow Rose Uncharted (@roseuncharted) on Instagram if you want somewhere to start. She has a whole highlight saved about the sun and it’s so interesting and informative!
- Exposure to Vitamin D is essential for a healthy life. Sunscreen blocks Vitamin D production and it’s an essential nutrient that our body doesn’t naturally make on it’s own. Almost all mother’s are deficient in Vitamin D, resulting in low to none Vitamin D in their breast milk. That means babies or toddlers are not receiving any Vitamin D from their mother. This is why sun-exposure is so important to help your child naturally produce usable Vitamin D. Of course you can take a supplement, but getting it from the main source itself is best. Another thing I want to add is to manage your time in the sun because getting burnt is still bad. Oakley has not been burnt, and that’s because we are mindful how long he’s in the sun.
- Sunscreen is Filled with Toxic and Damaging Chemicals. Sunscreen has been shown to have links to higher rates of cancer than sun exposure does. The most harmful ingredients found in sunscreen are Oxybenzone, Octinoate and Avobenzone. There are a few more ingredients to avoid, but these are the most harmful. Rose Uncharted on Instagram sells Skin Balm that I have yet to try and it’s completely non-toxic. The oils used in regular “gentle” sunscreen are also harmful, like Grapeseed and Sunflower (they oxidize the cells which damage it and makes the skin prone to skin damage), so she made her own skin cream free from all the nasty chemicals.
- Your Lifestyle Determines How You Burn. Current research points towards lifestyle factors such as diet and cellular health for susceptibility to getting burnt rather than overall sun exposure. When you consume a diet mainly filled with healthy fats, this helps with cellular repair which can promote healthier skin. Each month our cells fully regenerate themselves. The health and quality of these cells are directly related to the quality of foods you consume. Oakley eats extremely healthy, so I feel better knowing his skin won’t be as sensitive based on this. Kids already spend lots of time inside, so it’s so important to get them outside and soak up the beautiful UV-rays.
If we put sunscreen on Oakley, it’s if we are going to be outside for a long time and if it’s the hottest time of the day. He naturally gets flushed in the heat, so his cheeks will look sunburnt, but he isn’t haha. He can also get pink on his arms and legs, so when he’s looking pink, I’ll apply sunscreen or we will just go inside. We use Tubby Todd sunscreen on him and it’s the only one I’ve used since he was born. I hope that answers some questions you may have and that you learned something new! I want to know what you think about this topic. Do you use sunscreen for yourself and your children? I have become aware of a lot of other mamas not using sunscreen as well, and I find it interesting to know what their why is. I hope you enjoy the sunshine wherever that may be 🙂
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