The sunscreen controversy heats up

Last summer I wrote about the sun and that we must judge just how much we allow it to shine on our exposed skin. I then alluded to the sunscreen controversy. One year later, the controversy continues. Let me explain:

Sunscreen protects against two common forms of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. However there is some evidence that several common sunscreen ingredients (namely, oxybenzone, benzophenone, octocrylene and octyl methoxycinnamate) may be linked to increased risks of malignant melanoma, a rarer but more deadly form of skin cancer. Other common sunscreen ingredients (namely, octinoxate and homosalate) are potential hormone disrupters.

Remember, too, as discussed last year, sunscreen use has been linked to vitamin D deficiency. Why is this important? Because there are indications that vitamin D deficiency may lead to skin cancer. Confusing, isn't it? We use sunscreen to reduce our risk of skin cancer, and then we learn that we may not be getting enough sun which our skin needs to produce the sun vitamin. In fact, vitamin D is produced in our skin after exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) light. After some processing by our liver and then kidneys, this vitamin will defend our bodies against microbial invaders and also promote the healthy mineralization, growth and remodeling of bone. Finally, vitamin D also reduces inflammation (which we discussed last month).

The Environmental Working Group, an American watchdog on public-health issues, recently reviewed 1,755 sunscreens and found that only 8 percent blocked both UVA and UVB radiation, while also being free (or nearly free) of ingredients with known or suspected health hazards. Both UVA and UVB radiation from the sun (and tanning beds) can cause skin cancers after too much exposure, however for some reason most sunscreens only protect against the less harmful UVB radiation, and not against the more dangerous UVA component of the spectrum.

We can summarize the areas of concern:

• Potentially dangerous properties of some sunscreen ingredients
• Vitamin D deficiency caused by reduced exposure to ultraviolet light
• Incomplete protection against the full ultraviolet spectrum combined with increased time spent in the sun

There have been many sun exposure studies involving thousands of people over the past decade. Possibly due to the many kinds of sunscreen used, the amounts of sunscreen used, the self-reporting involved in most studies and the different countries (at varying latitudes) in which the participants lived, the results have often been contradictory if not inconclusive. Some show that use of sunscreen increases some forms of skin cancers while others show that their use reduces other forms of skin cancer, thus the controversy.

Here's my recommendation for staying healthy:

• Purchase sunscreen judiciously: it must block UVA and UVB radiation and contain none of the suspect ingredients.
• Use SPF 30 - SPF 50, those above SPF 50 have negligible extra benefit.
• Apply liberally when you expect to be in the sun for more than ten or fifteen minutes, especially at midday.
• Where a hat.
• Take a vitamin D supplement daily.
  

Finally, remember to give additional consideration to your lips. They are also at risk of painful burns and worse, lip cancer, too. Fortunately, safe lip sunscreens are available and should be purchased using the same considerations as outlined above for your skin sunscreen.

You are my sunshine

A recent study has shown that the incidence in skin cancer continues to rise by approximately 1.5 percent per year. Indeed it is 50 percent higher today than it was thirty years ago, with nearly 80,000 Canadians expected to be diagnosed with the disease in 2009 alone.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canada.
What exactly is skin cancer and what can we do to avoid joining these gruesome statistics?
In brief, skin cancer is a malignant growth on the skin. There are a variety of different skin cancer symptoms. These include changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcering in the skin, discoloured skin, and changes in existing moles. In Canada, the major cause is overexposure to radiation from the sun or from artificial UV light such as tanning beds or sun lamps.
Some other risk factors include
· light skin, eyes or hair
· skin that burns or freckles easily
· a strong family history of skin cancer
· having many moles
Why do cancer rates continue to increase despite the fact that sales of sunscreen are climbing by 2.5 percent each year, reaching over $100 million in Canada alone last year?
The answer is straightforward: Skin cancer generally has a 20- to 30-year latency period. Many instances of skin cancer in older individuals today can be traced to their behaviours as young adults in the 1970s and early 1980s. Deep tans at that time were routinely regarded as "healthy." Sunburns represented an inconvenient rite of spring or an awkward preliminary stage in the process of acquiring a "healthy" tan. Severe burns were commonplace. Today we know this approach to be reckless. The incidence rates of skin cancer today in persons over 50 years of age reflect that day's popular ignorance.
Interestingly, there are reports coming out of Australia of infants developing rickets, most often caused by a lack of exposure to sunshine due, perhaps, to their overprotective parents.
So then, how much sunshine is the right amount? There is no precise answer, but, I have always used the rule that 10-15 minutes per day is all that is needed to keep our bodies healthy. If you plan to stay outdoors longer, then simply apply a natural sunscreen on all exposed skin. The longer you plan to stay in the sun, the higher the SPF that you need to use. Because it is impractical to apply sunscreen to your head, it is wise to wear a hat or cap to protect your scalp. There is a lot of controversy about sunscreen use, but I will save that discussion for a future article.
What should you do if you do get a sunburn? Treat your skin immediately with a natural cream or gel that should contain one or more of the following ingredients: lavender oil, aloe vera, chamomile or rosehip. These are natural antiseptics, analgesics or are anti-inflammatory and moisturizing.
If you overdid it in the sun, you hopefully only have a mild sunburn. However, if you have a fever or chills or if you feel nauseous, dizzy or faint, it's probably a good idea to call your physician, as these are signs of heat exhaustion and require medical attention.
The summers in Canada are short and it's fun to be outdoors to play or relax, but we all need to have a healthy respect for getting too much of a good thing!