As the June 2008 edition of WDDTY reports, sunscreens are not as safe as you might think.  Here are five ways of protecting yourself against the sun without exposing your body to contaminating chemicals.

• Avoid prolonged exposure, especially between 11 am and 3 pm, when UV rays are most prevalent.
• Cover up with clothing instead of creams during the hottest part of the day.
• Take supplements in the run-up to sun exposure, which can bolster the skin’s natural defences against sunlight:
• Antioxidants such as selenium, and vitamins C and E can help. In one study, 2 g of vitamin C and 1000 IU of vitamin E daily reduced sunburn, although neither on its own gave any protection against UV radiation, suggesting a synergistic relationship (J Am Acad Dermatol, 1998; 38: 45–8).
• Carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene have consistently been shown to protect against sunburn. One study found that taking a supplement of natural carotenoids (mostly beta-carotene) in daily amounts of 30 mg, 60 mg and 90 mg gave progressively more protection against UV radiation (Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 2000; 223: 170–4).
• Proanthocyanidins (OPCs), a group of flavonoids found in pine bark, grape seeds and other plant sources, have shown promise in warding off the damaging effects of UV light. Supplementing with the OPC-rich French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol (1.1–1.66 mg/2.2 lb of body weight/day) significantly increased the amount of UV radiation tolerated before sunburn occurred (Free Radic Biol Med, 2001; 30: 154–60).
• Eat lots of tomatoes, which contain lycopene and other antioxidants that can help protect the skin. A daily dose of tomato paste, equal to 16 mg/day of lycopene, significantly reduced sunburn symptoms after 10 weeks (Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol, 2002; 15: 291–6).
• Choose more natural suncreams. Few contain all-natural ingredients, but a number of formulations are available that are free of toxic chemicals. Visit WDDTY’s sister service, Proof!, for a recent review of some of the popular alternative products on the market.