Welcome Aboard New Subscribers! He is exactly right! Your skin is covered in a complex ecosystem of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and viruses known as the skin microbiome. This invisible layer is a critical part of your immune system, actively protecting your body from harmful pathogens, controlling inflammation, and preventing infections. Mark Twain: "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." Dermatologists agree that daily full-body washing with soap is often unnecessary and can do more harm than good. At the crux of all this, as you point out, is the human skin microbiome. That is the collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi and microscopic creatures living on the exterior surface of our bodies. Research shows they contribute to the health of our skin and our bodies. And, yes, this is the same basic principle involved in the gut microbiome. It turns out that each person hosts a unique array of skin microbes, and that these core colonies are formed by the time we are toddlers. They feed on oils and other secretions emitted by the skin and the dead skin cells that slough off as new skin is formed. The skin is a tough environment. It’s not surprising that the soaps, chemicals and abrasives routinely used in bathing can have a direct and immediate effect on the skin microbiome, and perhaps have an adverse effect on its natural balance. Topic for the melanated …relying on the sun for moisture will NOT accelerate aging and increase cancer risk IN FACT for the melanated the sun is all we need for our skin health. Vitamin D: The sun stimulates Vitamin D production in the skin. However, while LOWER melanin levels require more sun exposure to produce Vitamin D, the sun was never used to moisturize lower melanated skin, however higher melanated skin is protected by the sun as it absorbs UV radiation and provides a natural SPF between 13 and 15. The sun has a profound, scientifically proven ability to heal and optimize both the mind and the body in those whom can endure in it naturally. Histological detection of melanin content using Fontana-Masson staining. Melanin content in the basal layers of the epidermis is substantially higher in Black skin compared to Asian or White skin, although the number of melanocytes is virtually identical in skins of different ethnicity. Topic for the un-melanated How Does Sunscreen Look Through a UV Camera White individuals have skin cancer rates roughly 20 to 30 times higher than Black individuals, primarily because abundant melanin in darker skin provides natural UV protection. However, Black patients experience significantly lower survival rates because skin cancers are often diagnosed at much later, more advanced stages. I have heard some melanated people also get burned however I just don’t happen to know any of them. I utilize the sun as my healing property and sun gaze daily in fact the sun will find me and patiently wait for my attention and once I am locked in it goes to work and begins a divine healing process. Sun gazing is rooted in ancient cultural and meditative traditions… I can’t advise you scientifically as a melanated being, but I will say this looks painful. The interaction between sun block on the water is worth mentioning … Research shows that thousands of tons of sunscreen wash into waterways every year, and several common chemical ingredients are toxic to aquatic life, contributing to coral bleaching and damaging marine ecosystems… Sunscreen use has increased in recent years, as sunscreen products minimize the damaging effects of solar radiation. Active ingredients called ultraviolet (UV) filters or UV agents, either organic or inorganic, responsible for defending skin tissue against harmful UV rays, are incorporated in sunscreen formulations. UV agents have a serious impact on many members of bio communities, and they are transferred to the environment either directly or indirectly. Many organic UV filters are found to be accumulated in marine environments because of high values of the octanol/water partition coefficient. However, due to the fact that UV agents are not stable in water, unwanted by-products may be formed. Experimental studies or field observations have shown that organic UV filters tend to bioaccumulate in various aquatic animals, such as corals, algae, arthropods, mollusks, echinoderms, marine vertebrates. This review was conducted in order to understand the effects of UV agents on both the environment and marine biota. In vivo and in vitro studies of UV filters show a wide range of adverse effects on the environment and exposed organisms. Coral bleaching receives considerable attention, but the scientific data identify potential toxicities of endocrine, neurologic, neoplastic and developmental pathways. However, more controlled environmental studies and long-term human use data are limited. Several jurisdictions have prohibited specific UV filters, but this does not adequately address the dichotomy of the benefits of photoprotection vs lack of eco-friendly, safe, and approved alternatives. References Chatzigianni, M., Pavlou, P., Siamidi, A., Vlachou, M., Varvaresou, A., & Papageorgiou, S. (2022). Environmental impacts due to the use of sunscreen products: a mini-review. Ecotoxicology (London, England), 31(9), 1331–1345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-022-02592-w Grice, E. A., & Segre, J. A. (2011). The skin microbiome. Nature reviews. Microbiology, 9(4), 244–253. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2537 Gupta, A. K., Bharadwaj, M., & Mehrotra, R. (2016). Skin Cancer Concerns in People of Color: Risk Factors and Prevention. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 17(12), 5257–5264. https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2016.17.12.5257 Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit criticalthinkingfreecourse.substack.com
