The sun and acne. Sigh. A few common thoughts:
- I feel like the sun helps my acne but I have heard that the sun makes it worse.
- I want to enjoy being in the sun but it’s difficult when most sunscreens make my acne worse.
- It’s summer time again and can somebody PUH-LEEZE tell me what to do.
- Vitamin D3, otherwise known as the sunshine vitamin, may be very important when it comes to helping the skin stay clear. Research has shown that people with acne have 50-95% less vitamin D than people without acne.
- Vitamin D3 may decrease the growth of the cells that produce sebum (which means less oil production).
- Vitamin D3 may also protect skin cells from bacterial irritation (which means less inflamed acne).
- BUT – supplemental vitamin D3 is fat-soluable while the vitamin D3 that is made by the sun is water-soluable and travels freely throughout the body. Researchers are not certain that supplemental fat-soluable vitamin D3 is available in the skin to perform the above functions.
- The sun is also anti-microbial. In fact, the sun has been instrumental in curing infectious diseases throughout history. A great example are the tuberculosis sanitoriums during the early 1900s. And, as you know, p. acnes is a bacteria that contributes to the formation of acne (which means the sun may be able to help prevent p. acnes infections).
- Start exposing yourself to the sun very gradually and NEVER allow yourself to burn.
- Download the D-Minder App. This app takes your location, skin colour, amount of exposure and current vitamin D levels into account and calculates exactly how much sun exposure you need each day to produce adequate levels of Vitamin D3.
- Consume 80% fruits and vegetables in your diet so that you have ample anti-oxidants in your body to fight free radicals that are formed with UV radiation.
- Reduce inflammation in your body so that you are not as at risk for skin cancer.
- Apply a botanical oil that contains a natural sun protection factor while you are making vitamin D. These oils will help protect and nourish your skin without compromising vitamin D production. Good oils to apply include sea buckthorn oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil and red raspberry seed oil.
- Use a pressed mineral powder on your face that contains a natural SPF. This is what I do every day all year long, except when I am spending the day at the beach.
- If your sun exposure is going to be intense (such as on the beach), use a natural zinc-based sunscreen on your face. My current favourite is Derma-E Anti-oxidant Natural Sunscreen Oil-Free Fact Lotion.
- Use a natural, organic full-spectrum zinc oxide-based sunscreen on your body as it blocks and reflects the UV rays instead of absorbing the sun’s rays. I like Derma-E Natural Mineral Sunscreen – it does not leave a white film.
- Cover up.