The sun releases very strong light rays, including visible, infrared, and ultraviolet. Of all these three bands of radiation, only the ultraviolet (UV) can be damaging to the skin and cause sunburn. Teachers and parents have always educated their students and siblings that overexposure to the sun can cause skin cancer. Because of these facts, people are obsessed with sunscreen products. Many of us are using SPF 50 or higher every time we get exposed to the sun.
Coconut oil can provide you with a natural SPF of 4. If you’d apply it to your skin, it can offer 75% protection against harmful UV rays. Using coconut oil on your skin protects you from at least 45 minutes of sun exposure.
We can say that coconut oils do not have enough SPF to block UV rays for long hours. However, the advantage of using coconut oil is more than just UV rays blocked. Blocking the fundamental wavelengths of the sun from getting through your skin can cause more harm than good. Doing this can cause Vitamin D deficiency. Coconut oil lets the rays penetrate the pores of your skin, which can avert the penetration of free radicals into your skin.
How does coconut oil work as skin protection?
Coconut oil is a natural skin protection agent. Coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties that thoroughly cleanses the skin.
Using coconut oil as a natural sunscreen
Coconut oil can help block UV rays from your skin that can cause sunburn. Remember that people with very fair complexion are not advisable to expose too much to the sun, even if you’re using coconut oil. It’s important to understand that longer exposure can cause sunburn. According to studies, people continually getting sunburned have a high chance of getting skin cancer.
Sunlight as a Source of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential in your body because it stimulates cholesterol in your skin. Sunlight is vital in keeping your immune system healthy in fighting against free radicals and UV exposure. It can also help prevent the growth of cancer cells in your body. Exposure to sunlight during safe hours of the day will help you get the right amount of Vitamin D for your body.
People in North America don’t get sufficient sunlight so they may lack Vitamin D. You can find a good source of Vitamin D in fish oils enough to nourish your body. Another great source of Vitamin D is fish like mackerel or salmon. A cooked salmon (six ounces) has more than 600 international units. Other sources of Vitamin D include cheese, egg yolks, soy milk, cereals, and beef liver.
Coconut oils used as sunscreen helps moisturize the skin. Because the oil is organic, you shouldn’t worry about skin rashes or allergies. The next time you want to go and lay out in the sun at the beach or by the pool, try using coconut oil as a sunscreen. It will provide you with a more natural way to help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.