Everyone Has It Wrong
Dangers of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the skin from common oils
In recent history, the shift from saturated animal fats to plant-based seed oils has led to widespread health and cosmetic issues. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), derived primarily from vegetable and seed oils, have become a staple in the standard American diet and a key ingredient in skincare products. This transition has coincided with an alarming rise in chronic illnesses, skin damage, and other health challenges.
Saturated fats are chemically stable compounds, meaning they have no double bonds in their molecular structure. This lack of double bonds allows their molecules to maintain a flat, organized structure, making them easy to compactly “stack” on each other, increasing their sturdiness. This is why most of them are solids at room temperature, thus making them extremely resistant to oxidative stress from heat and light. In contrast, unsaturated fats have at least one double bond, and polyunsaturated fats have multiple double bonds, introducing angles in their molecular structure that prevent the molecules from stacking neatly. This structural instability makes PUFAs highly susceptible to oxidation.
When PUFAs are exposed to heat, light, or oxygen, the double bonds in their structure create weak points that oxidize and eventually break, forming toxic and dangerous free radical compounds. These free radicals are highly reactive and can damage cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. The result is increased inflammation, accelerated aging, and a higher risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders.
Here is an analogy: think of a wall of bricks stacked nicely on each other. That is what saturated fats look like. Think about how stable those are and how hard it would be to damage that foundation. Think of polyunsaturated fatty acids wall made of tree branches that are bent and all different shapes and sizes. Imagine how unstable that would be. If an earth quake were to happen, the saturated brick wall stays intact and branches crumbles. Oxidative UV rays from the sun is that earthquake that destabilizes the unsaturated fats.
When you get sunburnt, that’s not because the sun is toxic. It’s because the unstable chemicals in your skin easily become toxic in the sun. The sun is not your real enemy, you need it to survive. When your skin starts burning, turns red, and gets inflamed, that is in fact the polyunsaturated fatty acids in your skin oxidizing and the weak bonds breaking. The goal should not to be eliminate the sun, it should be to eliminate the toxic oils in your skin. That comes mainly from diet, but you will also find those toxic oils in common cosmetic products, especially sunscreen. If you’re not careful with your sunscreen, you’ll find yourself rubbing on the same toxic oils that are causing you skin to be toxic in the first place. However, it’s important to avoid a sun burn because we know that causes cell damage over time, so if you are going to rub something on your skin, it better be Shaw Naturals.
Steric Acid - Saturated Fat Found In Tallow
Here is an image of two compounds of Steric Acid, a very stable saturated fat found in tallow. There are no double bonds in its chain therefore those compounds can fit nice and close to each other. In fact, they pack so nicely together it allows tallow to actually be a solid at room temperature. After all, that’s what makes a solid different from a liquid - its chemical bonds are held closer and tighter together. There’s a correlation to how saturated an oil is and how resistant it is to oxidation.
Linoleic Acid - Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Found In Refined and Processed Seed Oils
Linoleic Acid
Take these polyunsaturated fatty acids on the other hand. It’s impossible for those compounds to come together at all. This level of unsaturation creates massive instability of the fatty acid, making it extremely susceptible to bond breakage and therefore cell damage
Refined seed oils, like soybean, canola, sunflower, and corn oils, are the primary sources of PUFAs in modern diets. These oils are commonly found in cosmetics too, especially lotions and sunscreens. These oils are often marketed as "heart-healthy," but their instability and propensity to oxidize make them dangerous. Consuming oxidized PUFAs, whether through diet or through skin absorption, introduces toxic compounds into the body, contributing to systemic inflammation that’s linked to a range of chronic health issues.
Historically, diets rich in saturated fats - such as those from animal products and tropical oils like coconut oil - were associated with robust health. These fats provide stable energy sources and support the body's structural integrity without the oxidative risks posed by PUFAs.
Your skin reflects your diet. Today, the average skin composition contains 15-20% PUFAs, compared to less than 3-4% in historical populations. This shift has made the skin more vulnerable to oxidative stress, and therefore burn. UV radiation from sunlight exacerbates this issue by oxidizing the PUFAs in the skin, breaking their molecular bonds and generating free radicals. Your skin is the body’s biggest organ, that’s why it’s imperative to choose your ingredients wisely.
When you get sunburnt, and your skin gets inflamed and uncomfortable, that is quite literally the polyunsaturated fatty acids in your skin oxidizing. It’s the weak bonds (created by the unsaturation levels created by PUFAs) breaking, creating free radicals that cause cell damage and cancers.
alpha-Linoelic Acid
Vitamin D, synthesized in the skin through sun exposure, is a critical antioxidant that helps combat oxidative stress. Historically, populations with low PUFA intake and high levels of vitamin D experienced minimal skin damage and cancer despite frequent sun exposure. Today, low antioxidant levels and high PUFA consumption have reversed this trend, making the skin more susceptible to UV-induced damage.
Moderate sun exposure is essential for maintaining healthy vitamin D levels and overall skin health. Avoiding sunburns is crucial, as repeated burns can cause cellular damage. However, the solution is not to avoid the sun entirely but to optimize your diet and chemicals you rub on your skin to protect it naturally.
In reality it takes a while to reduce PUFA composition in your skin and people will still continue to eat poorly - it’s hard to avoid these bad oils in life. That’s why for most it’s crucial to put something on your skin, but if you are not careful, you’ll do as much harm as good.
We’ve developed the ultimate solution for safe and effective sun protection. Our sunscreen is formulated with the cleanest, most natural ingredients in their purest unrefined state, ensuring that it shields your skin from harmful UV rays without introducing toxins or exacerbating PUFA-related damage. Designed with minimal ingredients, our product prioritizes safety, stability, and effectiveness, making it the ideal choice for those seeking to protect their skin and health.
