All Episodes

July 17, 2025 4 mins

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

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.

 

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.