So (topical) vitamin A and the sun are not friends.
Hence, vitamin A has often been marketed as having anti-aging benefits. However, it can actually worsen the signs of aging when you go out in the sun. Adding it to the ever growing list of ingredients to look out for, here’s a list of reasons why vitamin A should never be in your sunscreen.
A decade long of studies conducted by the U.S. National Toxicology Programme reveals
-When exposed to UV rays, topically applied Vitamin A leads to increased instances and speed of melanoma development, supported by numerous independent scientists in 2011.
-Vitamin A does not play a role in your sunscreen that actually aids in protection.
-If you are pregnant, planning to be, or breast feeding you should not be using vitamin A topically at all either.
-Too much Vitamin A in the body leads to irreversible liver damage and very severe birth defects (note that some cosmetic ingredients can be absorbed into the bloodstream).
With all the above mentioned, how can we best-obtained sun protection benefits from Vitamin A?
The safest and the surest way is to consume a Vitamin A rich diet to secure the sun protection benefits. Below is a simple recipe to try out. ☺
Roasted Carrots with Cardamom Butter
Roasting these carrots with only a bit of butter and some cardamom(a kind of spice) gives them a rich, nutty flavor that belies how healthy they are. A single serving gives you over 600 percent of the daily recommendation for vitamin A!
