Why Wearing Sunscreen All Day May Be Doing More Harm Than Good for Women Over 40

Why Wearing Sunscreen All Day May Be Doing More Harm Than Good for Women Over 40

From High Performance Health by Angela Foster

June 12, 2026 · 9 min · Episode 581

About this episode

Angela Foster discusses the potential downsides of wearing sunscreen all day with beauty expert Liz Earle MBE.

Why Wearing Sunscreen All Day May Be Doing More Harm Than Good for Women Over 40 In this thought-provoking episode, Angela Foster sits down with renowned beauty expert and author Liz Earle MBE to challenge conventional wisdom about sunscreen and sun exposure. Liz discusses why current public health messaging around universal, all-day SPF use might be too extreme, potentially robbing us of vital Vitamin D and other essential benefits of natural daylight. KEY TAKEAWAYS Many people assume they still get Vitamin D while wearing sunscreen. However, Liz points out that this only happens because most people apply it too thinly or miss spots. Applying high SPF when it is completely unnecessary, like on a dark winter morning during an underground commute, is a sign that public health messaging has become too broad. Our skin isn't just a physical barrier; it actively receives light and communicates with the body's immune system. Exposing your skin to gentle, early-morning sunlight (when the UV index is low) acclimatizes it. Medical professionals and researchers are beginning to speak out against extreme sun avoidance. BEST MOMENTS "When people say, 'Yes, you get Vitamin D from the sun when…

People in this episode

Host: Angela Foster

Guest: Liz Earle MBE

Topics covered

  • sunscreen
  • Vitamin D
  • sun exposure
  • health messaging
  • skin health

Keywords

  • sunscreen
  • Vitamin D
  • health advice
  • skin communication
  • sunlight exposure

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