E112. Harvard Scientist Reveals Why She Rarely Wears Sunscreen—and What She Does Instead

Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée

Can too much sunscreen be doing more harm than good?

In this eye-opening episode of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Sophia shares a behind-the-scenes conversation with Dr. Carmen Messerlian, a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health expert in environmental reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology. After wrapping their official interview, Dr. Messerlian casually shared her personal approach to sun exposure—and it may surprise you.

You’ll learn:

• Why this Harvard environmental health scientist rarely uses sunscreen

• How she uses the UV index to guide safe sun exposure

• Natural ways to build sun tolerance and protect skin from within

• When sunscreen is essential—and when it might not be

Plus, Sophia reflects on how this surprising insight is shaping her own nontoxic lifestyle, and she shares a delicious, skin-protective pasta recipe that supports your body’s natural defenses against UV damage.

Part of the Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked series, designed to help you detox your home one Raindrop at a time. Click here to learn more: Practical Nontoxic Living™ Raindrop

RELATED RESOUCES

• Skin-Healthy Pasta Recipe with Lycopene for Natural Sun Protection
• Ruan Living newsletter
• D-Tox Academy

ABOUT RUAN LIVING

Grounded in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, Ruan Living offers flexible ways for you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™ to help you elevate your health and well-being—one thoughtful choice at a time. Specifically, we're zoned in on environmental influences—easy ones you can control—that can optimize your, and your intergenerational, healthspan and epigenetics through Practical Nontoxic Living™.

Rooted in mindfulness over perfection, we guide you with empowering insights to detox your home and body of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, radiation, and stress. Ruan Living offers books, online programs, customized support, and free resources to help you create a home and lifestyle that nurtures healing and thriving. Learn more at www.ruanliving.com.

ABOUT SOPHIA RUAN GUSHEE

Sophia Ruan Gushée is the founder of Ruan Living and author of the critically acclaimed bestselling book A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures. Throughout her suite of Ruan Living Offerings, the diversity of Home detox paths that she has created are designed to welcome you to craft your Ultimate Home Detox™—rooted in the philosophy of Practical Nontoxic Living™, which protects your joy and convenience while guiding you to avoid toxicity. Learn more about Sophia here: Sophia Ruan Gushée.