Sunscreen controversy

[Vantage72]

Common knowledge on sunscreen is to use plenty of it when going into the sun.

However, there is also a lot of information why sunscreen may not be so healthy:
BBC News | Health | Sunscreen 'increases cancer risk'
BBC News | Health | Sunscreen cancer risk
The sunscreen myth: How sunscreen products actually promote cancer
The Sunscreen Myth: How Sunscreen Products Actually Promote Cancer *
Slathering on Sunscreen Does Not Prevent Cancer *
* Dr. Mercola sites can launch popups.

My situation: I can handle the sun very good. I don't get burned.
My question: Should I be using sunscreen while going into the sun?
Or should I just limit my time in the sun and not use sunscreen?

Opinions appreciated.

[bdp]

This free ebook has excellent information on this topic.

Summary:

we need Vitamin D production from the sun
get some sun every day (the darker your skin the more sun you need)
don't get burned
nutrients in your skin can protect it from sunburn
don't use sunblock/sunscreen if it is absorbed by the skin
build up a natural tan

[wolfgang]

bdp: love that naturalnews.com web site - it's been my favorite for health.

I was going to post some links in the web site too:
sunscreen news and articles

And this antioxidant, functions as a natural internal sunscreen that prevents DNA damage and sunburn:
Astaxanthin: The Little-Known Miracle Nutrient for Inflammation, Anti-Aging, Athletic Endurance and More

but I burn so easily its hard to imagine not using sunscreen.

[Vantage72]

Thank you both for those links. However, those links are to naturalnews.com which I also linked to in my first post.

Naturalnews and also Dr. Mercola are quite clear in their message, they basicly say do not use sunscreen, limit time in the sun and avoid getting burned.

All the larger organizations and cancer societies all over the world strongly recommend using sunscreen, lots of it.

So I am still very curious what is more true.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by bdp

This free ebook has excellent information on this topic.

Summary:

we need Vitamin D production from the sun
get some sun every day (the darker your skin the more sun you need)
don't get burned
nutrients in your skin can protect it from sunburn
don't use sunblock/sunscreen if it is absorbed by the skin
build up a natural tan

I'm not sure why people think a tan is so much better than a burn. I recently had melanoma removed from my back. It's not the simple basil cell cancer most people get. The doctor told me point blank, "This is the worst type of skin cancer there is. It's the worst thing we can possibly see as dermatologists." They took a 3-4cm circle - the skin, the fat... all the way down to the muscle - from my back. I had 22 stitches and 5 large metal staples in my back for two weeks. Then, I had to get blood tests, chest xrays, vision tests, dental exam, and a full physical to make sure it didn't spread to other parts of my body. It was terrifying. I'm only 38 years old. Now I have to get my skin checked every three months for the first year and twice a year after that. Unless you're a surfer who is out on the beach all day every day, I hardly think the risks of wearing sunscreen outweigh the risk of cancer.

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

I'm not sure why people think a tan is so much better than a burn. I recently had melanoma removed from my back. It's not the simple basil cell cancer most people get. The doctor told me point blank, "This is the worst type of skin cancer there is. It's the worst thing we can possibly see as dermatologists." They took a 3-4cm circle - the skin, the fat... all the way down to the muscle - from my back. I had 22 stitches and 5 large metal staples in my back for two weeks. Then, I had to get blood tests, chest xrays, vision tests, dental exam, and a full physical to make sure it didn't spread to other parts of my body. It was terrifying. I'm only 38 years old. Now I have to get my skin checked every three months for the first year and twice a year after that. Unless you're a surfer who is out on the beach all day every day, I hardly think the risks of wearing sunscreen outweigh the risk of cancer.

Wow. I've just been reading up on melanoma. I am interested in your story.

Did you spend much time in the sun?
Did you get burned?
Did you use sunscreen?

The scientific research I have just been studying says wearing sunscreen does not decrease chances of getting melanoma.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Vantage72

Wow. I've just been reading up on melanoma. I am interested in your story.

Did you spend much time in the sun?
Did you get burned?
Did you use sunscreen?

The scientific research I have just been studying says wearing sunscreen does not decrease chances of getting melanoma.

After college I really spent very little time in the sun. Some people say the worst damage is done when you are a child, but the doctors told me to stay out of the sun, wear a hat, or always use sunscreen when it's sunny, even in the winter. It seems a little crazy to me, I mean I'm Irish, not an albino. Once you know your body can create this cancer, you have to be diligent about it. Some people actually take photos of their skin to watch for changes. I can tell you a sure sign is irregular shaped moles or multicolor moles and, obviously, moles that seem to be growing. When I was a child, we had a pool. I don't eve think sunscreen was invented until the late 70's/early 80's, so I got burned a lot.

[SaberToothDream]

there's a debate as to whether sunscreen is hurting the environment as well. some think it may be linked to coral damage.

Bleached, But Not by the Sun: Sunscreen Linked to Coral Damage

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

I find this all very interesting. In one of the articles it said that vitamin D is helpful in preventing cancers and that is one reason why sunscreen promotes cancer.

The issue I have is that if I want to be out in the sun for more than about, oh, 15 minutes, I will burn (badly, with blisters and everything) if I don't use sunscreen. I love the beach and being outdoors! No good! I think I will try some of the natural ideas they talk about. When I was younger I just went out more and more each day till I built up a base tan, never used sunscreen and rarely burned. Now that I'm in an office for the majority of my waking life, the burn is almost immediate.

Anyway, I can't say that I know what to do here, but thanks for bringing this to my attention. I would like to look into it further. I want to be outside as much as possible without causing harm to myself or certainly the environment I love so much.

[bdp]

Nature has already taken care of the sunburn issue. It does not make sense to fear and avoid the sun. The sun gives us life; we need it. When we get moderate sun exposure every day, our mood improves and our health improves.

Think about it: if the sun were harmful to us, would probably have evolved a way to deal with it. Oh wait, we did: it's called a tan. You have to gradually build up to a tan, just like with everything else, lest you overdo it and get injured (burned).

As far as cancer goes, diet seems to play a more important role than anything else. More fruits and veggies = less cancer and disease. The phytochemicals and anti-oxidants repair and detoxify cells before they become cancerous.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by bdp

As far as cancer goes, diet seems to play a more important role than anything else. More fruits and veggies = less cancer and disease.

Nature has already taken care of the sunburn issue. It does not make sense to fear and avoid the sun. The sun gives us life; we need it. When we get moderate sun exposure every day, our mood improves and our health improves. Think about it: if the sun were harmful for us, we probably would have evolved a way to deal with it. Oh wait, we did: it's called a tan.

To further reduce your risk of skin cancer, eat a diet high in vegetables, especially leafy greens. The phytochemicals and anti-oxidants repair and detoxify cells before they become cancerous.

It's obvious you don't know what you're talking about. Some people are allergic to the sun. Some people are dark skinned and have no problem. Some people are light skinned and get cancer from it.

[sarahlorrain]

I could be wrong, but I still think it's better to wear sunscreen than just go out and soak up all the sun.

[24evita]

You all have some good points and truths but I want to mention 2 things no one has yet said:

A) The sun today is STRONGER (whether you believe in Global Warming or not) the layer of our atmosphere that filters out harmful UV rays is thinner thanks to all the great gasses we have been spewing out. - I am not saying that out of my own opinion but out of a scientific background.

If you need proof - just ask yourself why our UV index continues to rise each year and is dangerous as early as March or so and sometimes even now in the winter. We cannot unfortunately go around with an old-school mentality and say "well when I was your age we had no sunscreen" - yes but the strength of the sun was also different.

B) We need to consider the time of the day and length of time you spend in the sun. The sun is most harmful when it is the highest in the day (between 11am and 4pm) and hence:

YES the sun is very, very necessary to our health and yes sunscreen is made of cheimicals and no one thinks often how much more chemicals are influenced by heat into various new reactions - so my take on it is to definitely get out into the sun before 11am or after 4pm with little or no sunscreen in general areas (not in the tropical regions where you can still burn at 6pm!) for at least 15 minutes and no more than an hour or two of straight sun exposure. Again use common sense and judgement and pay attention to the day's UV index.

If you must or want to be in the sun all day - the best and most natural advice I can give you is (anything after 15 minutes to get the vit D) should include loose clothing that covers your body - this way you avoid the cancer from the sun and from the sunscreen.

(I was going to do a special series on sun awareness on Evolving Wellness this month...hasn't happened yet and seeing how you guys re-inspired this topic in me and the fact that May is running out I will surely be doing a special on this next week

[votoshka]

I find this issue a bit tricky! I've read the information that says sunscreen is bad, and that eating enough of the right things protects you against skin cancer (and other cancers too). And I've also read enough of the importance of Vitamin D against cancers etc. to wonder if they're right and that we should be wearing less sunscreen and getting more sun exposure!

My issue is that I have FRECKLES and I hate them!! (Mostly on my face). I've worn moisturiser with sunscreen on my face every day for the last 18 or so years in the vain hope that if my face gets no UV exposure my freckles will eventually disappear (I am 35 and it hasn't happened...)

So, my fear is if I withhold the sunscreen, I'll end up frecklier and uglier than ever... and I haven't read anything about preventing freckles!! (In summer if I am going for a walk or am outside I also wear a hat).

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by votoshka

So, my fear is if I withhold the sunscreen, I'll end up frecklier and uglier than ever... and I haven't read anything about preventing freckles!! (In summer if I am going for a walk or am outside I also wear a hat).

Maybe you could do something about your belief "my freckles make me ugly".

You could use cognitive techniques like The Work for example. www.thework.com