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Coconut Oil Versus Commercial Sunscreens

By Sneha A

The UV rays, emitted by the sun, are very harmful for the skin and can cause a lot of damage if exposed to too much of sunlight.

Specifically, if you are heading towards the beach, skin damage like tanning, sun burns, etc, are a big possibility.

These ultraviolet rays not only cause skin burns but also create problems like ageing and life-threatening diseases like skin cancer. Hence, skin protection becomes a necessity for everybody.

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The market today is filled with various commercial products and sunscreens that claim to provide a perfect protection from the harmful effects due to over exposure to sunlight.

But numerous researches have shown that these sunscreens, which are so easily available in the market, contain chemical additives. So, instead of solving the problem, they end up in increasing the problem further.

However, in so many different parts of the world, the problem of protection of the skin from the harmful radiations of the sunlight is dealt by using coconut oil as a sunscreen.

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Therefore, there has been a big debate on whether coconut oil or a sunscreen is useful in treating suntan. Where some state the effectiveness of the sunscreens, others favour the safety and health benefits and value of the coconut oil.

Here we discuss further about the goodness of coconut oil when used to treat suntan. Take a peek.

1. Sun-blocking Properties Of Coconut Oil:

1. Sun-blocking Properties Of Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil has been known for its sun-blocking properties and as an effective remedy for tanning. Also, this fact has been backed up by millions of people throughout the world.

2. Coconut Oil Provides Defense Against Skin Problems:

2. Coconut Oil Provides Defense Against Skin Problems:

It provides the body with a strong defense against skin problems arising due to the over exposure of the skin to the sunlight and that too unlike sunscreens without blocking the much-needed part of the rays emitted by the sun.

3. Sunscreens Block Only UVB, Leading To Vitamin D Deficiency:

3. Sunscreens Block Only UVB, Leading To Vitamin D Deficiency:

The radiation in the sunlight basically has three bands of frequencies, which are infrared, visible and, lastly, ultraviolet radiation. Out of these three, only the last one, that is, UV radiation is harmful for the skin. The rest is needed by the body for an optimal production of vitamin D. Sunscreens available in the market block these UVB rays, leading to a deficiency of Vitamin D. Hence, coconut oil here becomes a much better option.

4. Coconut Oil Is Natural Any Day:

4. Coconut Oil Is Natural Any Day:

The chemicals like Retinyl palmitate present in the sunscreens are very hazardous in nature and can cause skin cancers like melanoma. Contrary to this, coconut oil is a completely natural product, which will only benefit your skin by moisturising and giving your skin a healthy glow and blocking the reactions of free radicals.

5. Coconut Oil Is Anibacterial In Naure:

5. Coconut Oil Is Anibacterial In Naure:

Coconut oil has some amazing antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. It helps in the detoxification process of the external layers of the skin. Hence, it is helpful in the reduction of the effects of the UV radiations on the skin, ultimately benefitting the skin and saving it from getting too tanned.

6. Higher SPF In Sunscreen Is Just A Myth:

6. Higher SPF In Sunscreen Is Just A Myth:

It is a generally accepted notion that the higher the SPF, the more effective is the sunscreen. However, this is a myth. There are many examples, which show that a sunscreen with SPF15 has been as good as a sunscreen with SPF30. Moreover, these ratings only show the blocking capacity for UVB rays that are quite useful for the body; however, the required blockage from the harmful UVA rays cannot be determined by these ratings.

Story first published: Monday, March 28, 2016, 17:00 [IST]
Read more about: coconut oil sunscreen