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Sun Protection: By Dr. Dorothy Fairley, ND

The sun tends to play hide and seek with those of us living on the west coast, but when it does decide to show itself, it is important to be prepared. This article will review the nutrients that are important for protecting the skin, and keeping it healthy.

One bit of information to note is that 50 to 80% of the skin’s lifetime damage is thought to occur in childhood and adolescence. Be sure to keep good quality suntan lotion available for your children. Once school is out, children often spend a tremendous amount of their day outside.

There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are important to skin health. They all help to provide protection from skin damage.

  1. Beta-carotene and Vitamin A - Vitamin A is needed for healthy skin growth. It is recommended at a maximum dosage of 20,000 IU per day, as it may irritate the liver if taken long-term at a higher dosage. Beta-carotene is the precursor of Vitamin A. It provides antioxidant protection, and can be safely taken in higher dosages.
  2. Vitamins C, E and the mineral Selenium – All of these nutrients provide antioxidant protection. They also reduce the aging effects of smoke and chemicals.
  3. Zinc – This mineral is necessary for cell repair. It is also needed for DNA and RNA production, which may be damaged by sun exposure.
  4. Essential Fatty Acids – These nutrients do not have a vitamin designation, but they are imperative to health, especially of the skin. They are found in nuts, seeds and cold-water fish. They are also called Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids. The important constituents in Omega 3 are DHA and EPA, and the important constituent in Omega 6 is GLA. When purchasing a product, look for the amounts of these constituents. Also be sure that any oil from fish is from a clean source.

Other everyday practices to be keep up include:

  1. Water – Drinking adequate water may be one of the most important things that you can do to keep your skin and body healthy. It is also absolutely necessary to prevent dehydration. Coffees, black tea, alcohol, pops and other sugary drinks all contribute to dehydration. If you find water bland, add a squeeze of lemon, or blend in some fresh fruit juice.
  2. No Smoking! – This is not new information. It is a fact that smoking causes an increase in free radicals, which are damaging to skin cells. It is impossible to have healthy skin and smoke. It may not initially show on the surface, but the mutagenic changes are occurring.

After our rainy winters (and springs!), we deserve a few good months of sunshine. The sun has healing properties, but it must be treated with respect. Our ozone layer has been depleted in some regions, and the incidence of skin cancer is rising. So enjoy the warm summer months, but protect yourself, both inside and out.