CW Vol 2 Ed. 23 - The Sun, Your Skin & What They’re Not Telling You
“More sunscreen use has not resulted in fewer melanomas. In fact, melanoma rates have increased—because we're ignoring internal health and toxin exposure as major causes.”
— Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy, via Instagram (2025)
What If the Sun Isn’t the Enemy?
We’ve all heard it: “Avoid the sun. Wear sunscreen. Protect your skin.” But what if that advice misses the mark?
Doctors like Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy argue that the rising rates of skin cancer may not be caused by sunlight alone—but by what we put on our skin, what we eat, and how our bodies are functioning internally.
Dr. Connealy reminds us that sunlight, in moderation, is essential for immune health, vitamin D production, mood, and hormone balance. And Dr. Mercola goes further: our diet—especially one high in seed oils—could be making us more prone to sun damage.
🛢️ Sunscreen: What’s In It—and What It’s Doing
Everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. So let’s look closer at this cocktail of lab-made chemicals, most of which are derived from petrochemicals (refined from crude oil) or synthetic fragrance compounds.
Listed below are the most common offenders.
Ingredients to Be Cautious Of, Its Common Use and Why Experts Warn Against It
Oxybenzone: Chemical UV filter. Linked to hormone disruption; penetrates skin easily.
Octinoxate: UVB absorber. Hormone-disrupting effects and is toxic to marine life.
Homosalate: UVB filter. Allows other harmful chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Avobenzone: UVA filter. Breaks down quickly in sunlight - often forming free radicals.
Fragrance / Parfum: A mix of secret chemicals (often including phthalates.) Can trigger allergies, disrupt hormones.
Parabens: Used as preservatives. Linked to estrogenic activity and possible cancer risk.
Did you know? Most chemical sunscreen ingredients were developed in the 1950s–1980s, before long-term safety testing on hormone disruption or environmental effects was required.
🥗 The SAD Truth About the Standard American Diet
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is high in sugar, refined carbs, seed oils, and ultra-processed food. According to Dr. Mercola, these oils—like soybean, corn, and canola—embed themselves in your skin's fatty tissues and make you more likely to burn when exposed to sunlight.
Dr. Connealy links poor diet with chronic inflammation, hormone imbalance, and weakened cellular defense—perfect conditions for cancer to grow.
How do you protect yourself from the inside out?
✅ Eat antioxidant-rich vegetables and berries.
✅ Replace seed oils with healthy fats (olive oil, coconut oil, grass-fed butter.)
✅ Prioritize protein and fiber over sugar and starch.
✅ Support your liver’s detox pathways (e.g. leafy greens, dandelion, beets, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.)
Tips for Protecting Your Skin From the Sun:
Sunlight in moderation is good—don’t fear it, but don’t burn!
Opt for physical barriers such as hats, sunglasses, clothing.
When purchasing sunscreen, look for:
Micronized Zinc Oxide (at least 20%)
Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
Broad-Spectrum Protection against both
UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays
Fragrance Free
Free of Seed Oils (oils like sunflower, soybean or canola)
Improve your diet to reduce inflammation and protect your skin!
View this Newsletter and links to resources here!
Go to www.incidecoder.com to research ingredients!
6/4/2025
CW Vol 1. Ed. 8 - What are Seed Oils?
A recent study from the University of South Florida found that seed oils, introduced in the 1970s and commonly used in processed foods, contribute to the increasing rates of colorectal cancer in younger adults. Researchers found that these oils promote chronic inflammation by disrupting cellular signaling pathways and creating oxidative stress in the body. This combination damages DNA, weakens the immune response, and interferes with the natural repair mechanisms that prevent the formation of tumors.
Seed Oils are vegetable oils extracted from the seeds of various plants. Many seed oils are highly refined. The refining process involves deodorizing, bleaching, and sometimes hydrogenation, which can alter the nutritional profile and introduce trans fats. The extensive processing of many seed oils can strip away nutrients and introduce additives or harmful byproducts.
To learn more about common seed oils that have been identified as potential contributors to chronic inflammation in the body, click here.
12/18/2024