eating and skin sun care

[MommyHawk]

question: is there anything that I can put into our diets that will help our skin handle the sun? like more of a certain vit? or adding certain oils to our meals? thanks!

[tanyalynn]

There are some studies out there that show an increasing amount of time to sunburn when people supplement with omega-3 fatty acids.

I've seen discussion on the topic, it seems like it's a balance issue between omega-6s and omega-3s, so reducing omega-6s and increasing omega-3s may help--never seen a study that specifically reduces omega-6s.

Anecdotally, people in TF have had improvements either by increasing saturated fat, I think the side effect is decreasing polyunsaturated fat (omega-6 is a polyunsaturated fat), or some add coconut oil. There's a thread on that if you Search for it.

I didn't supp omega-3s, and it took a while for me to see a change--I did the more saturated fat, less polyunsaturated route, but I can be out a lot longer than I used to be able to be able to.

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/search?q=sunburn

There's discussion here, some studies are linked, and some of the Comments may be of interest.

[Bri'sgirl]

I've read that taking lots of vitamin C can help prevent sunburns. I'm very fair skinned and tend to burn less when I'm taking a C supp.

ETA: tanyalynn, that's a great article. Thanks!

[AJP]

I definitely burn less easily and heal faster from sunburn since increasing saturated fat in my diet from sources like pasture-raised meat and dairy, free-range eggs, and small amounts of coconut oil, and reducing polyunsaturated fats. I noticed a difference within one year of making that diet change (about 8 years ago). I don't supplement omega-3s now, but I did for a while (cod liver oil) - the greater resistance to burning hasn't gone away after stopping the supps.

[kjbrown92]

I was always either red or white, but now I tan. I started supplementing Vitamin D (I was low), started eating coconut oil/milk (because we went off dairy and a bunch of other foods). So I don't know which it was, but something helped!