Sunscreen causing skin cancer.

[Gary]

Just in time for summer!

They determined animals slathered in this chemical developed cancer 21% faster than direct sun exposure.

The additive in question is 'Retinyl palmitate', a vitamin A derivative.

The link:
Could a sunscreen additive cause cancer?

[teslaproject]

Great!

Just in time for summer!

They determined animals slathered in this chemical developed cancer 21% faster than direct sun exposure.

The additive in question is 'Retinyl palmitate', a vitamin A derivative.

The link:
Could a sunscreen additive cause cancer?

Oh man...you have to laugh don't you! Don't go in the sun....don't eat pork...wear sunscreen....drink a little bit of red wine it's good for you....DON'T drink red wine it's bad for you! Half the time it all depends who the research is being funded by as to what is being said because the results are so contradictory.

This sunscreen thing reminds me of that cheesy 80's film 'RoboCop'. Obviously a futuristic film where in one scene a TV advertisment is pandling sunscreen so strong (1 million SPF as the memory serves), that the disclaimer at end of ad reads "extended use WILL cause cancer and death".

I guess if you balance it all out and attempt to be level headed, there are always going to be negative statistics in everything. Nothing has a 100% safety record, especially when it comes to massive variables involving the human genome. I would say in this case, sunscreen saves more lives than it takes.

Regards

TP

[sucahyo]

It is unavoidable since we educated to blindly believe scientist.

[Gary]

Yes, the irony is thick, because we have been warned forever that going out without sunscreen will absolutely give you cancer and now they think the sunscreen accelerates it.

Personally I wear sunscreen when I know I will be over exposed to the sun, but I do not use it all the time, nor do I put it on right away. It blocks the beneficial things the sun delivers too.

It will be interesting how this develops. Kind of like the 4 out of 5 dentists recommending you consume fluoride.

[shawn]

There are 3 types of UV :A, B, and C.
Apparently the type A & C are the ones that will toast you and cause cancers whereas UVB is actually good for you (stimulates vitamin D production, and such).
The thing is UVB occurs during the mid-day (when they tell you to stay out of the sun and wear sunblock) .
20 minutes or so is usually sufficient exposure to get your vitamin D dose for the day (UV-B will still burn you, if over exposed, though).
When the angle of the sun is low the (morning and late afternoon/evening) UVC is allowed through and the UVB is blocked.
UVA is mostly blocked by the atmosphere at a constant rate.

(A thing to be aware of is that fluorescent lights give off UVC and so are not very healthy. Does that mean people should wear sunscreen inddors when exposed to fluorescents?)
I personally will not use the stuff at all as there are too many negatives that have been said about it and the ingredients list doesn't look appealing.
Best just to wear some clothing to ward off the UV. It may not be stylish, but neither is skin cancer.

[serenac]

Hi! Really interesting thread here!

I've been trying out using just coconut oil as a sunscreen. Seems you should accompany it with eating coconut oil regularly as well in order for this to work.

It also seems to depend a great deal on genetics. Here in Spain people have noticed something for years. We notice that Spanish people rarely get skin cancer, but foreigners who come here to spend their holidays often get skin cancer.

Of course as just ordinary normal people on the street with not much scientific training, most of us here can only speculate on the reasons for this. However most people here think that foreigners burn and get skin cancer, unlike Spanish natives, because: a) here we are getting exposed to the sun little by little as winter turns into spring, the sun is hotter and stronger here than in northern Europe, so people get exposed to more sun for a longer period of time for adaptation, so by the time summer arrives people's skin is already well prepared, while foreign tourists come from lands with not much sun, so they haven't had time to prepare their skin for the sun, after all it's not the same to come from a pale northerly clime and all of a sudden plunk yourself down on a Mediterranean beach in the middle of July, and I guess, obviously, b) genetics.

Having said that, I've been using mid SPF creams for years, always hated it because they give me breakouts and ever since I changed to a completely natural, chemical-free skin regime I NEVER got breakouts, and only got them when I used sunscreen. Maybe that in and of itself should be indicative of something amiss, don't you think? If sunscreen were that good for us, why do they give me breakouts when nothing good, healthy, wholesome and natural ever does??

No sunscreen ever worked to keep me and my kids from tanning, though, except one by L'Oreal, which I don't like because L'Oreal tests on animals. But it's the only one that ever worked for me, so...........

But this year even the L'Oreal one didn't work for me! After a day in the sun with the L'Oreal I looked like a prune! So I decided to look into a natural alternative that wouldn't give me breakouts.

So I've been trying coconut oil. So far it seems to work, I don't look like a prune anymore hehe! In fact since switching to coconut oil I seem to brown less than with sunscreen even. After a day at the pool with just coconut oil I'm not any darker than if I had spent the whole day inside my house. And of course no sunburn!

My kids also seem to do well with coconut oil. Well they were doing well without it too, and without sunscreen, because they hate it and only use it at the beach or pool. The rest of the time they just cover up, they always wear a hat when we go out even just for a walk. But with coconut oil their skin does seem to look and feel nicer, smooth, soft, silky, like baby skin hehe!

Also seems application technique is important. You have to wait until the coconut oil is absorbed into the skin for it to work, the same as with traditional chemical sunscreen. If it's sitting on the skin it magnifies the sun's rays on your skin. You must wait for it to get absorbed!!

But anyways I got some virgin coconut oil to eat and cook with as reinforcement from the inside. This regime seems to work for us. It's still just an experiment, but so far I lovey. I lovey no breakouts anymore from using chemical sunscreens. I lovey no more animal-tested L'Oreal. I lovey how much money I save not having to buy expensive sunscreens. And I lovey how our skin looks and feels, so far anyways.

[vril176]

...

Heliotherapy - The Principles & Practice of Sunbathing - http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201...er-sunbath.htm

Eye Strength Through Sunlight - Strengthening The Eye: Chapter XIX

Sunshine Can Increase Your Muscle Strength - Sunshine Can Increase Your Muscle Strength 9/18/04

13 Reasons Why Lack of Sunshine Makes You Fat – 13 Reasons Why Lack of Sunshine Makes You Fat 11/10/04

Vitamin D From Sunlight –
http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnut...ndmiracle.html

Critics Now Accept the Sun as Your Healthiest Source of Vitamin D - Critics Now Accept the Sun as Your Healthiest Source of Vitamin D 6/7/05

Harvard Professor Defends Sunshine, Vitamin D Link - Harvard Professor Defends Sunshine, Vitamin D Link 7/5/05

SUNSHINE
A British Navy study of the effects of lack of sunshine in men in submarines revealed that vitamin D stores diminished with only two to three weeks without sunshine exposure. This depletion was sufficient to cause inadequate calcium adsorption, despite a good diet. (Internal Medicine News 18(5)29, March, 1-14, 1985)

SUNSHINE/INFANTS
Vitamin D levels are increased in infants exposed to the sun. A 30-minute exposure per week with the infant clothed only in a diaper, or a two-hour exposure per week for a fully clothed (without hat) is felt adequate to maintain satisfactory vitamin D levels. (Journal of Pediatrics 107(3)372-376, September 1985

How Sunshine Can Prevent Birth Defects - How Sunshine Can Prevent Birth Defects 8/2/05


Sunlight And High Blood Pressure
The further from the equator one lives, the greater the risk of high blood pressure. This has led some to theorize that decreasing exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light, with a resultant decrease in vitamin D synthesis in the skin and a disturbance of other metabolic effects related to natural light exposure, may cause susceptibility to high blood pressure.
This may also explain why blacks in the U.S. and Europe are particularly prone to high blood pressure compared to their counterparts in Africa. Darkly pigmented skin may only permit penetration of about 5% of ultraviolet light, whereas light skin may permit as much as 30% transmission.
This again supports our continuing theme in the Health Letter of genetic context. The further we depart from our roots, the environment to which we are adapted, the more we can expect adverse health consequences.
Pets kept indoors and fed exclusively processed diets are also at risk of nutrient deficiency and imbalance. Natural prey would contain many preformed nutrients which are destroyed when foods are processed.
Reference: Hypertension, 1997;30:150-

SUNLIGHT/CHOLESTEROL
Sunlight exposure may help decrease levels of LDL cholesterol. Studies have demonstrated that levels of the "bad" type of cholesterol are higher during the winter months than during the summer. (Longevity 1(10)87, July 1989)

SUN EXPOSURE/DEPRESSION
A study done in San Diego, California suggests that many depressed people receive insufficient light exposure to prevent depressive symptoms. (Biological Psychiatry 35:403-407, 1994)

SUNLIGHT/SLEEP IN ELDERLY
Institutionalized elderly often have sleep problems, which are often treated with sleep medications, which often lose their effectiveness after a few weeks, and expose the patient to increased risk of falls, mental disturbances, and rebound insomnia.
A group of twelve elderly, demented men were placed out-of- doors in a brightly lit area twice a day, from 9-10 a.m. and again from 2-3 p.m. each day. There were no particular activities planned during the sun exposure time; patients who wished to sleep were allowed to do so. Some patients demonstrated improved sleep patterns the first night after sun exposure was begun. The men in the study slept more hours at night (and during the day) and their sleep was much more likely to be uninterrupted.
Earlier studies have demonstrated more sleep disturbances in blind individuals, suggesting that lack of sunlight may contribute to disturbed sleep.
Caretakers in the nursing home observed that the sun exposed men also demonstrated improved appetites, better bowel habits, increased attention spans and improved affect during the sun exposure.
Care should be taken that the patient not suffer sunburn during the exposure. Hats and sunscreen were utilized in this study.
The patients quickly returned to their poor sleep habits when the sun exposure was discontinued. (Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants 4:321-6, 1991)

Myth: Sun Causes Skin Cancer –
The Six Top Health Myths 4/17/04

Does Sunshine Really Cause Skin Cancer - Does Sunshine Really Cause Skin Cancer? 8/4/04

Discovering the Truth Behind the Sunshine-Skin Cancer Myth - Discovering the Truth Behind the Sunshine/Skin Cancer Myth 2/19/05

Contrary to popular belief, epidemiological studies show that Tanning (in people who tan easily) may actually help to prevent Melanoma - Newman, M. A. Tans can protect against melanoma. American Journal of Epidemiology. 134:462-470, 1991.

The Non Epidemic of Melanoma - Diagnoses of melanoma are double what they were in 1986, an increase greater than that of any other major cancer. Many dermatologists believe that melanoma is becoming more common and recommend regular skin cancer screening. However, some say that the numbers do not indicate a melanoma epidemic, but a skin cancer screening epidemic. A new study supports this idea - The Non "Epidemic" of Melanoma


Since 1974, the increase of polyunsaturated fats has been blamed for the alarming increase in malignant melanoma (skin cancer) in, for example, Australia. We are all told that the sun causes it. Are Australians going out in the sun any more now than they were fifty years ago? They are certainly eating more polyunsaturated oils: in Australia even the cream on milk was removed and replaced with vegetable oil. Victims of the disease have been found to have polyunsaturated oils in their skin cells. Polyunsaturated oils are oxidized readily by ultra-violet radiation from the sun and form harmful so-called “free radicals”. These are known to damage the cell's DNA and this can lead to the deregulation we call cancer. On the other hand, saturated fats are stable. They do not oxidize and do not form free radicals.

Malignant melanoma is also increasing in Europe and the UK. Does the sun cause this? In Britain the number of sufferers is so small as to be relatively insignificant. Even so, it is not likely that the sun is to blame since all the significant increase is in the over-seventy-five-year-olds. People in this age group tend to get very little sun.

That the sun is not to blame is confirmed by other findings:

Melanoma occurs ten times as often in Orkney and Shetland than it does on Mediterranean islands. It also occurs more frequently on areas that are not exposed to the sun. In Scotland, for example, there are five times as many melanomas on the feet as on the hands; and in Japan, forty per cent of pedal melanomas are on the soles of the feet. - Moved to LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com/Blog: Butter Anyone? Defending Fat With Facts

[vril176]

..

Sunshine Increases Survival Rate of Lung Cancer - Sunshine Increases Survival Rate of Lung Cancer 5/7/05

Using Vitamin D, Sunshine To Treat Lung Cancer Patients –
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthology/story.html
Using Vitamin D, Sunshine To Treat Lung Cancer Patients

Slash Your Risk of Prostate Cancer, Get Some Sun - Sunshine Increases Survival Rate of Lung Cancer 5/7/05

SUNSHINE/BREAST CANCER
The risk of fatal breast cancer is higher in areas of the country with low intensity sunlight according to a study from the University of California. It is felt that vitamin D reduces breast cancer risk. Since vitamin D comes from sunlight, exposure may reduce the risk of breast cancer. (Preventive Medicine 19:614-622, 1990)

Sunshine: The Newest Natural Weapon Against Asthma - Exposure to ultraviolet light not only made these animals more resistant to asthma, but caused them to produce cells that could provide similar benefits in other animals –
Sunshine: The Newest Natural Weapon Against Asthma

UV-A LIGHT/LUPUS
Ultraviolet A light has been shown to increase the life span of laboratory animals who have lupus. A study of 18 systemic lupus erythematosus patients revealed that exposure to UV-A light five days a week for three weeks resulted in improvement in the clinical disease. (Arthritis and Rheumatism 33(9 Suppl)S165, September 1990)

ULTRAVIOLET A LIGHT/RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Exposure to ultraviolet A (UV-A) light may be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-six patients were exposed to light for five days a week for three weeks, and reported significant improvement in fatigue, joint tenderness, joint swelling, morning stiffness, and grip strength. Sunlight is usually readily available with minimal expense, and much less toxic than many of the pharmaceutical agents used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The dose used in this study was insufficient to produce even slight redness of the skin in fair-skinned patients. (Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 5:323-328, 1987)

You Can Naturally Relieve Pain With Simple Sunlight - You Can Naturally Relieve Pain With Simple Sunlight 3/5/05

SUNSHINE/ACUTE CLOSED ANGLE GLAUCOMA
A study from Finland reveals that as the hours of sunshine decrease the rates of acute closed angle glaucoma increase, suggesting that sun exposure may be protective. (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 45:291-293, 1991)

Fight Gingivitis With Sunshine - Fight Gingivitis With Sunshine
Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and gingival inflammation -- Dietrich et al. 82 (3): 575 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

SUNSCREENS/HEAT INTOLERANCE
Many are now advocating the use of sunscreens to decrease the risk of skin cancers due to sun exposure. People who use sunscreens should be aware that sunscreens may significantly increase skin temperature and hinder sweat evaporation. This may increase the risk of heat related illnesses. (Physician and Sportsmedicine 12:132-44, 1984)

Trash Your Sunscreen –
Trash Your Sunscreen and Other Summer Sun Tips 5/26/04

SKIN CANCER/SUNSCREEN
Sunscreens contain 5-mop, a tanning ingredient, may promote skin cancer. Lyle Cartwright, M.D., of San Francisco and Joseph F. Walter, M.D., of the University of California Medical Center at San Diego found tumors and skin changes in laboratory mice that had been covered with 5-mop and exposed to sunlight. The researchers reported that 100% of the mice having sunscreen applications and a dose of sunlight equal to one hour of midday sun in a temperate climate developed tumors. Mice not treated with sunscreen but given large doses of sunshine did not develop tumors. (American Medical News, June 24, 1983, p. 18)

SUN SCREENS/TUMORS
Urocanic acid, found in sunscreens, body lotions, foundations or makeup bases, may trigger or stimulate the growth of skin tumors. Laboratory animals exposed to sunlamps after the application of urocanic acid had four times more tumors than those not treated with urocanic acid. (Medical Tribune, April 18, 1991)

Sun-Care Chemical Proves Toxic in Lab Tests - Sun-Care Chemical Proves Toxic in Lab Tests 10/15/00

Sunblock Can Actually Increase Your Cancer Risk - Sunblock Can Actually Increase Your Cancer Risk 7/2/03

Sunscreens Don't Prevent Melanoma - Sunscreens May Not Prevent Melanoma

TANNING BOOTHS
The old-style ultraviolet tanning booths are being replaced with ultraviolet A, considered safer because they do not cause sunburn. A panel of experts from the American Academy of Dermatology now reports that persons overexposed to ultraviolet A radiation in the more modern booths risk development of skin cancer, premature aging of the skin, and cataracts. In addition, such conditions as cold sores, lupus erythematosus, pemphigus dermatomyositis, vitiligo, albinism and Darier's disease may be worsened. (American Family Physician 28(1)255, July 1983)

INDOOR TANNING
Tanning beds are available to almost everyone today, but many are unaware of the risks associated with their use. The oldest units were designed to give off ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which range from 290-320 nm. These are the rays most likely to induce sunburn. Exposure to UVB has been associated with acute keratitis (inflammation of the cornea of the eye) skin cancer, premature aging of the skin, and bacterial mutations. Because of these risks, tanning units producing ultraviolet A (UVA) rays were developed. UVA rays range from 320-410 nm, and are proclaimed much safer than UVB, because the range is less likely to produce sunburn. Persons using the tanning beds report that their tans were not the same as those produced by natural sunlight, and many were more bothered by the redness and itching produced than pleased by their tans. UVA exposure may also cause photosensitization reactions, damage to the retina, and cataracts. Long exposure may also cause degenerative changes in the skin leading to wrinkles, damage to the elastic fibers producing leathery skin which may bruise or injure easily, and heal with difficulty. It may increase the risk of squamous cells and basal cell cancers as well as malignant melanomas.

Advocates of the tanning beds claim that they increase vitamin D levels in the skin, but UVB is required for vitamin D production.

Some conditions, including melasma (dark pigmentation of the skin), lupus erythematosus, itching, vitiligo (localized depigmented areas), albinism, xeroderma pigmentosum, and porphyria cutanea tarda, may be worsened by ultraviolet A exposure. (American Family Physician 32(3)142-146, September 1985)

UVA SUNBEDS/SKIN CHANGES
UVA exposure in sunbeds may lead to impairment of immune function, damage to the lens and cornea of the eye, itching, redness, freckling, dry skin and may lead to skin cancer. (British Journal of Dermatology 120:767-777, 1989) That "healthy tan" may actually be unhealthy!

Gender-bending chemicals that mimic oestrogen are common in sunscreens, warn Swiss researchers - The World's No.1 Science and Technology News Service - New Scientist - New Scientist

CANTHAXANTHINE/EYE CHANGES
Fifty-one persons in Canada who took canthaxanthine as a skin-tanning agent showed deposits of the substance in the fundus of the eye. (Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology 18(7)325-328, 1983) This finding illustrates how unwise is the taking of any medication, chemical, or food additive unproven by decades or even centuries of use.

TANNING PILLS
"Tanning pills," commonly available by mail order or sold in tanning salons are reported to have caused aplastic anemia, which led to death in a healthy young woman. A 20-year-old woman was hospitalized with headaches, fatigue, a general feeling of not being well, easy bruising, and weight loss four months after beginning the use of canthaxanthin-containing tanning pills. She had noticed the onset of fatigue and easy bruising about two weeks after beginning the pills.

Canthaxanthin can remain in the body for long periods of time; it has been found in blood several months after use was discontinued. It may accumulate in the retina of the eye, and has been reported to cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) with itching and hives.
Canthaxanthin has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a tanning pill. (Journal of the American Medical Association 264(9)1141-1142, September 5, 1990)

[vril176]

Sunscreens have always included a lot of toxic chemicals, f.ex titanium dioxide, octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), Retinyl palmitate (which is NOT a derivate from natural vitamin A, but from the syntetic version), avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, homosalate, octocrylene, octyl salicylate and a lot more. Info - Trash Your Sunscreen and Other Summer Sun Tips 5/26/04

Usually polyunsaturated fats that creates inflammation in the skin cells when they oxidise are also included.

If your diet includes much plant oils/polyunsaturated fats without saturated fats to control their oxidation you triple your chance of getting skin cancer. Info -
Unsaturated Vegetable Oils: Toxic
The Surprising Toxic Effects of Vegetable Oils 6/28/05

The sun has never, ever caused a single case of skin cancer. This is a myth created by the sun screen industry. As a example, melanoma occurs ten times as often in Orkney and Shetland than it does on mediterranean islands. If you don't believe what you are told, but investigate the statistics yourself you find the truth of the matter. Info - Moved to LivinLaVidaLowCarb.com/Blog: Butter Anyone? Defending Fat With Facts

About using coconut oil as sunscreen, this is a very good advice, and the protective effect are confirmed by moderns cience as well as traditional use among many cultures. I always use it myself, and have done so for the last 13 years. But, contrary to what is said in a post here, there is absolutely no genetics involved in cases of skin cancer, and there is no science to document this theory. What is documented is that darker skinned people have a different kind of pigmentation - of course - that block certain effects from the sun. This is pigmentation, not genetics, like in some people are more genetically disposed to get skin cancer than others. I say this just to be sure this myth is not included in the matter.

About using coconut oil in your diet as a way to protect your skin cells from oxidation, which is the only way they can become cancerous, this works only because the fatty acids in coconut oil are mostly saturated. So palm oil and palm kernel oils (non hydrogenated, and only natural or fractionated) are good too, as well as all so called "animal fats," butter and cream included.

The point about saturated fats is that they stabilize the cell membranes so that the unsaturated fats in these don't oxidise, which means they creates inflammation/free radicals.

Have fun

SpiriT

[vril176]

Shawn, you may enjoy reading this article, starting from "Vitamin D from sunlight" which adds to your statements - The Miracle of Vitamin D

Have fun :-)

SpiriT

[serenac]

More about how SUNSCREENS actually CAUSE SKIN CANCER (and other cancers!):

Olive Oil Sun Protection

You can also check out my (and other people's very informative) posts on this subject here on this same forum:

http://www.energeticforum.com/health...oil-power.html

(Just didn't feel like writing out the whole post all over again hehe! )

[Adem Stival]

I agree with the previous answerers. Also consider this - tanning ages the skin. If you want to look older really fast keep tanning. You'll lose the elasticity in your skin and the wrinkles and dry skin will be there faster than normal aging.

[strjac7]

Normally cancer does not cause due to sunlight moreover sunlight is good for health when sunlight directly falls on us without passing ozone layer than it causes danger. This is happening due to depletion of ozone layer because of high pollution so let us work on minimizing pollution and stop ozone from depletion.

[sucahyo]

I wonder why no one has a ozone green house where people can sun bath under an artificial ozone layer...

[jasikazenith]

addition to absorbing chemicals through your skin, sunscreens block the body's absorption of ultraviolet radiation, which produces vitamin D in the skin,sunscreens may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer such as melanoma.