Prevent Sunburn with 6 Supplements
Did you know that you can boost your bodies natural (internal) SPF through supplementation?? And I’m excited to share with you, how we Prevent Sunburn with 6 Supplements!
Most people are unaware that diet and nutrition plays a large part in getting a sunburn. And you may not realize that the amount of antioxidants that you have in your skin plays a major role in your development of sunburn. The more antioxidants you take in, the lower your risk of sunburn. If you stay away from processed foods and consume a lot of foods which are high in anti-oxidants, such as raw fruits, vegetables and fresh juices, you will find that you have increased tolerance to sun exposure and do not burn as easily. In addition to eating a healthy diet full of organic fruits, veggies and quality healthy fats we’ve been adding a supplement routine 10 weeks prior to our spring break vacation to help our bodies prepare for the sudden change in climate.
If you’ve been following me on Facebook or Instagram you surely already know what my hubby and I look like, I’m a medium skinned brunette and my hubby is a fair skinned blonde. Up until we started this supplement routine, we’d both get sunburns.
Although my skin tans very well, I have had a few bad sunburns and get some degree every year as I first get sun exposure after winter. My nose and shoulders were notorious burn spots for me, and the first year we went on a spring break vacation I got a severe burn on my forehead that blistered and peeled, it was awful.
Ray, my hubby, burns like a fair skinned blonde would be expected to. Infact it seemed like his “tan” was basically different shades of red until we were finally nearing the end of summer and it would turn more of a golden brownish-red. And when on vacation that first year he had to wear a t-shirt in the pool most of the time to avoid completely and miserably frying his skin.
The sun and it’s nourishing rays are NOT the enemy. However since we are no longer living the natural lifestyle our ancestors did for millions of years that worked with the sun’s rays instead of against it.. Eating a diet free of processed foods, full of organic fruits and vegetables, pasture raised meats, eggs & diary, healthy fats and probiotic rich fermented foods are the undeniable keys to better health including boosting your body’s natural SPF. And in addition to healthy eating, there are supplements that can help you bridge the gap and make a HUGE impact in how your body uses the sun’s rays your skin is exposed to.
Before we went on vacation the 2nd year, we started taking a combination of 6 supplements to help our body get prepared for sun exposure (we live in Pennsylvania where it’s super cold in the winter) and the change was immediate and astonishing. Neither one of us got a sunburn! We did sporatically use some of Homemade SPF, but not constantly and by the last 2-3 days of vacation we didn’t use any at all (I actually switched over to a natural dark tanning oil on day 3).
6 Supplements that Prevent Sunburn:
- Green Tea Extract – prevent suppression of the immune system during sun exposure.
- Grape Seed Extract – A small study of healthy female volunteers suggests that grape seed extract in combination with other ingredients, may help to reduce the severity of sunburn.
- Astaxanthin – a natural health remedy to promote tanning and prevent sunburn. It may take 2 – 4 weeks to build up adequate sun protection.
- Beta-Carotene – has been shown to protect against sunburn. Research suggests that it is necessary to “build up” protection by supplementing a minimum of 10 weeks.
- Vitamin C and Vitamin E – offers modest benefits against sunburn as well. One double-blind study of 10 people found that 2 g of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin E taken for 8 days resulted in a modest decrease in skin reddening induced by ultraviolet light.
We will be going on vacation in Mexico this February and I just put together our supplements to start preparing our bodies for the sun exposure. ( I also added vitamin D3, K/k2 and Zinc for general immune health).
Now, because of the world we live in and the far reaching control of the government, I have to STRESS to you that I’m not a doctor and that I can’t tell you how much to take of these supplements and that there are no guarantees.
But I will give you a hint of how I put together our 6 Supplements that Prevent Sunburn (links to the exact products we use are above in the list of supplements)…
We take this combination for 10 weeks prior to our vacation or the beginning of summer. I have ALSO tested these supplements before using a safe indoor tanning bed as winter vitamin d supplementation. During the time I was using an indoor tanning bed AND taking these supplements I did not burn at all, I was questioned by the staff since I could tolerate long times without burning initially. I did gradually get tan but it was not the same as if I did not use the supplements.
Like with any sun exposure, you need to be aware of how you feel and adjust accordingly.
But don’t take my word for it 🙂 Here’s all my references and sources:
- https://amazingwellnessmag.com/spf-supplements/
- https://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/news/20000302/beta-carotene-vitamin-e-help-prevent-sunburn
- https://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=e0498803-7f62-4563-8d47-5fe33da65dd4&chunkiid=21842
- https://www.wellsphere.com/complementary-alternative-medicine-article/is-astaxanthin-the-best-natural-antioxidant-to-prevent-sunburn/657177
- https://www.sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/supplements-articles/can-grape-seed-extract-help-reduce-chloasma-753382.html
- https://products.mercola.com/summer-survival-kit/index-b.htm
- https://pulivahanan.wetpaint.com/page/How+Antioxidants+and+Vitamins+Can+Help+Prevent+Sunburnhttps://www.healthy.net/scr/Article.aspx?Id=3116
- https://www.all4naturalhealth.com/sunburn-prevention.html
I’m so glad you’re putting in for like this out there! We learned several years ago from a private yacht cruise captain and his wife ( ex-pats had been kicked out of their home/farm in Zimbabwe) who are both very fair skinned that many of the British people living in African countries take 10,000 iu’s of vitamin A on a regular basis. I cannot find any info about this online! However, my family has started doing it – just that one supplement – and as a Minnesotan, very fair skinned, I’ve gone to the Dominican in January and hardly even gotten a suntan! As long as I remember to give it to my kids in the summer, they don’t need any sunscreen either. This is a beta carotene A, it’s the fatty retinal A. The captain and his wife required all people on their cruise to take the supplement every day, and strongly encouraged him to start taking it a few days before. You can take 10,000 IU’s for two weeks, and then you need to take a break for a week. Nobody sunburned on the trip… Even when my mom forgot to wear sunscreen snorkeling for four hours in the middle day.
My fair complexion has made the idea of prolonged sun exposure a scary thing. I burn so easily and then I peel like a snake shedding its skin (this is combined with an unbearable amount of itchiness). I am really interested in trying this out, but the amount of pills I would have to take a day is a little intimidating. Do you take the pills all at once or do you spread it out throughout the day? Do you have any recommendations on when and how to take the pills, i.e., morning, full belly?
we take them in the AM on an empty stomach but there’s not compelling research that taking them spread out or with food impacting their effectiveness. Right now, I’d look at your diet and start incorporating adequate healthy fats – at least 50% – butter/ghee/coconut oil – pastured animal fats like lard, tallow, schmaltz — avocado, olives, etc. and then layer your supplements on top. I firmly believe that not processing the sun correctly is simply another symptom of an unhealthy diet. As I’ve eaten more healthy fats, I”ve needed the supplements less and less…
I’ve been following you on IG, but have just recently started reading some of your posts and I just wanted to tell you how great they are. I never leave comments on blogs, but you had me at “the far reaching control of the government” haha. I take most of these supplements, but definitely going to add the few that I don’t. Thanks! xo
Taelor – Thanks for reaching out 🙂 I’m glad you appreciate my ‘humor’!
~ Hayley