I for one have never been a believer in sunscreens, the idea that from birth we convince our skin that the sun is only 1/30th of its actual intensity, seems a little crazy to me.

If a myriad of melanomas and non-melanoma cancer are really caused by sunburn, WHY! do we make our skin über sensitive to it?? Sooner or later in our many years on earth we are gonna get caught short.

The truth is, our skin is a remarkable organ that has the ability to adapt to and even nourish our body with the incredibly important Vitamin D, when exposed to the sun.

It seems extremely cruel of nature, after millions of years of evolution to ultimately make us allergic to the sun, the source of all life on earth.  I admit that many of us spend far to long in our caves in modern times, which is IMO is where the problem lives. Sun Avoidance!

There has been millions if not billions of dollars spent on PR campaigns convincing the world the sun is bad for us, despite sunlight being an essential nutrient for health and wellbeing.

If the sun is bad for us why do we all feel better in it?
Why do we rush to it on our holidays?
Why do so many animal’s bask in it?
And why is S.A.D. a pandemic everywhere that experiences gloomy winters?

I’m not gonna stand up and declare sunburn is good for you, of course not. I fully accept that sun burnt skin is a precursor to horrible skin conditions. But we don’t have to burn.

If awareness was placed on the safe and healthy conditioning of the skin by natural exposure to UV rays, our skin would itself adapt to the environment it is in (that’s what we do).

Now, that said binge sunbathing is as harmful as binge eating, binge drinking or binge exercising. But gradual exposure to the sun giving our skin time to adapt is healthy, natural and free.

Too busy to expose yourself to the sun every day? We literally have the technology…The much demonised sunbeds!!!! Woohoo!

Again, same thing applies moderation is the key, when is it not?

Throughout the winter months, start of with 2.5mins per week, moving up to 5mins and then stay there, when the sunnier spring arrives 5-mins once a week to 5 mins  twice per week and so on.

Using this method before I go on holiday, allows me to spend as much time in the sun as feels comfortable, I never burn or even peel and never uses sunscreen.

I know how crazy this blog will seem to the majority of folks that believe what we have been spoon fed, but just know this. The vast majority of research that indicates that sun screen is a vital part of our lives are funded by the people that sell you the stuff.

PS. There are less incidences of all cancers the nearer to the equator you get, and MS too.

Please feel free to start a debate on this.

Please Note: I should mention that this is purely my opinion formed over the years reading numerous studies and using my brand of common sense. I have not carried out any double blind studies on the matter and am only offering this post as everyone has the right to my opinion.