I need NOT comment on the heat having arrived in Texas this summer, but I DO realize the need to comment on the amount of sun we get on our skin for a number of reasons! The traditional understanding is we need to avoid the sun at all costs, according to many so-called experts the sun is the source of all skin cancers, etc. It is true that the more sunburns you’ve had and more exposure to UVA rays increase your chances of having a skin cancer lesion on your body. But is the sun all bad? Certainly not! The reality is that if you expose most of your skin to the sun for only 10 minutes per day, that converts to 10,000 units of natural Vitamin D! Vitamin D plays a massive role in our immunity, our bone health, and even fighting depression! While sun exposure in safe amounts is critical, avoiding sunburns is important, too. So, what is the best way to do that? Be intentional about avoiding direct sun for long periods of time, wear hats & long-sleeves to protect your skin if you’re going to be out for longer than 30 minutes. If you’re headed to the lake, beach, or swimming pool and you plan on being out all day look for shady spots to retreat. Non-toxic sunscreens are a great way to extend your sun-time as well. Sunscreen ingredients to AVOID: Oxybenzone (a known hormone-disruptor) and vitamin A derivatives like: retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate, and retinyl palmitate (linked with production of skin lesions and tumors). Look for mineral-based sunscreens; these are the ones that turn your skin white and are usually hard to rub-in (they are much less toxic). Check out www.EWG.org and their mobile app to see how your sunscreen rates for toxicity!
***CLEARVIEW WILL BE CLOSED FOR VACATION JULY 22-25***