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This homemade, chemical-free sunscreen uses non-nano zinc oxide as the active sunscreen agent. The benefits of zinc oxide are that it reflects UV rays off the surface of the skin to prevent sun damage, it does not absorb into the skin like many chemical sunscreens do and it is safe for the environment. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) rates non-nano zinc oxide and non-nano titanium dioxide as the safest and most effective UVA and UVB skin protectants. In fact, the sunscreen rated number one by EWG contains non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient.
Tips & Warnings
Wilderness Survival for Dummies recommends using mud or charcoal to protect your skin from UV rays if you do not have any sunscreen. To make a charcoal sunscreen, pound burnt blackened firewood with a rock to make a powder charcoal. Mix the powder charcoal with water and apply it to your skin.
Do not ingest zinc oxide or allow children or pets to eat zinc oxide or zinc oxide products. Because zinc oxide has low toxicity, an overdose is unlikely, but not impossible. If you accidentally get a little bit of zinc oxide into your mouth, chances are that you will be fine. Some of the symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, chills, jaundice and fever.
EWG considers non-nano zinc oxide to be safer than micronized zinc oxide, because the smaller size particles of micronized zinc oxide can easily be inhaled into the lungs. The inhalation of micronized zinc oxide may pose health problems; more scientific studies are needed to determine the safety of zinc oxide inhalation. Even though non-nano zinc oxide is not thought to pose the risk of inhalation, as a precaution it is better to avoid inhaling it. Keep the zinc oxide out of the reach of children and pets.
Do not ingest zinc oxide or allow children or pets to eat zinc oxide or zinc oxide products. Because zinc oxide has low toxicity, an overdose is unlikely, but not impossible. If you accidentally get a little bit of zinc oxide into your mouth, chances are that you will be fine. Some of the symptoms of an overdose include nausea, vomiting, chills, jaundice and fever.
EWG considers non-nano zinc oxide to be safer than micronized zinc oxide, because the smaller size particles of micronized zinc oxide can easily be inhaled into the lungs. The inhalation of micronized zinc oxide may pose health problems; more scientific studies are needed to determine the safety of zinc oxide inhalation. Even though non-nano zinc oxide is not thought to pose the risk of inhalation, as a precaution it is better to avoid inhaling it. Keep the zinc oxide out of the reach of children and pets.
Article Written By Rose Kivi
Rose Kivi has been a writer for more than 10 years. She has a background in the nursing field, wildlife rehabilitation and habitat conservation. Kivi has authored educational textbooks, patient health care pamphlets, animal husbandry guides, outdoor survival manuals and was a contributing writer for two books in the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Series.
