Sunscreens Prevent Melanoma But Watch the Vitamin D

Daily use of sunscreens can prevent melanoma in adults according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on December 8 2010. The trial involved 1621 randomly selected participants and was conducted between 1992 and 1996. Half the group applied the sunscreen every day and the other half were left to apply it when they felt it necessary.The participants were examined 15 years later and the number of people who developed melanomas in the group that rigidly applied sunscreen every day was only half that of the group who were allowed to apply sunscreen whenever the thought necessary.

How to use sunscreens

First of all avoid the summer sun for 4 hours around midday if possible. This is between 10am and 2pm. Adjust for daylight saving if it is in your area. Always apply sunscreen to cool dry skin. This means applying before you go out in the sun and allow to dry before sun exposure (15 minutes should be sufficient). Applying sunscreen at the beach when you are standing in the sun and already have beads of perspiration on the skin is NOT the way to get the sunscreen to adhere to the skin. Every two hours come into the shade, cool down, dry off and re-apply and allow to dry before going out in the sun.

Always choose a sunscreen with a rating of 30+. Some sunscreens have higher ratings but are required by law to only show a lower value. The value means that you can theoretically stay in the sun 30 times longer without developing sunburn.

I STRESS that this is a theoretical rating only and would only apply in ideal laboratory conditions. In practice we go into the water so a little is washed off (how much depends on how dry it was before we entered the water). Then we come out of the water and towel dry. This will often rub off any remaining sunscreen. Hence the need to re-apply.

Then we come to the but...

Preventing the suns rays from reaching the skin also prevents the body from making adequate amounts of Vitamin D3. This occurs with both clothing in cooler months and sunscreens in the summer months. Low levels of Vitamin D3 have been associated with increased risk of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. Adequate levels of Vitamin D3 also help protect against melanoma.

So too little is bad for you, too much is worse

The happy medium... An exact amount of exposure has not been worked out and it is complicated by the various skin types, The indications are at the moment that 2-8 minutes every day total body exposure (swimsuit for birthday suit) is enough.

Because of the uncertainty and the seriousness of getting it wrong many people are now opting for supplementation i.e Vitamin D3 in a capsule form. The best source I have found is Metagenics which you can obtain through your Natural Health Practitioner or if you are in Australia you can contact me by email jeff@weightmanagementaustralia.com.au and I will arrange for a delivery to you from the manufacturer.

Jeff Sommers is a Pharmacist and Bowen Therapist who has studied natural health solutions for many diseases.
Preventing disease is far preferable to treating disease and adopting a healthy lifestyle based on eating correctly, exercise and supplements is the key to a longer more productive life. More information can be obtained at http://www.weightmanagementaustralia.com.au/

Original article

92% Of Sunscreens Don't Work - What Does?

A ranking of more than 500 sunscreen products found that 92 percent did not provide satisfactory sun protection in terms of safety and efficacy. The study, conducted by Environmental working Group (EWG), a Washington-based nonprofit organisation, points the finger at a surge in exaggerated SPF claims above 50 and new disclosures about potentially hazardous ingredients.

Products with high SPF rating give a false sense of security resulting in users staying out in the sun longer with a single application and get burned when the products' chemicals break down, wash off or rub off on clothes and towels. The result is that they absorb more UVA radiation and they get the same number of sunburns as unprotected sunbathers.

As early as 2007, the FDA published draft regulations that would disallow companies from labeling sunscreens with a rating over SPF 50+. The agency feels that anything higher than SPF 50+ would be "inherently misleading" given that "there is no assurance that the specific values themselves are in fact truthful..."

The second key issue with sunscreens these days is two products found in many sunscreens.

The FDA has been investigating a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, found in 41 percent of sunscreens as it is suspected to accelerate skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk when applied to skin exposed to sunlight.

The other is oxybenzone, a hormone-disrupting compound found in about 60 percent of the 500 sunscreens analysed. The product enters the bloodstream through the skin barrier. Biomonitoring surveys have detected oxybenzone in the bodies of 97 percent of Americans tested.

So what is recommended in order to stay safe in the sun? Some of these recommendations include selecting and using sunscreen well, as well as other options for sun protection available.

1. Look for minerals zinc or titanium dioxide in the sunscreen

2. Avoid high SPF.Stay with SPF 15-50+ as suitable for your own skin type. Use SPF 30+ for beach and pool and reapply often

3. Water-resistantfor beach, pool and exercise

4. Apply early. Martin A. Weinstock, professor of dermatology at Brown University recommends the application of sunscreen half an hour before heading outdoors and reapplying every few hours.

5. Apply in sufficient amounts. Studies show that people apply on average just a quarter of the required amount. Sunscreen efficacy drops rapidly on under-application so it is recommended to observe the instructions on the packaging.

6. Reapply often. Sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off and rub off on towels and clothing.

7. Use clothing and hats. One study found that melanoma risk was cut by 52 percent for parts of the body usually covered by clothing during summer outdoor work (Holman et al 1986). EWG believe shirts and hats are the best sunscreen for all. Use UPF50+ rated swimwear and shirts and hats effectively

8. Make shade by putting up an umbrella, locate a picnic spot under the tree, take a canopy to the beach. Infants are best kept in the shade as they lack tanning pigments (melanin) to protect their skin

9. Plan around the shade. Unless you really need to, schedule your outdoor visits to avoid the mid-day sun. UV radiation peaks at midday, when the sun is directly overhead.

10. Sunglasses are essential. These are not just a fashion accessory but are necessary to keep your eyes from the UV radiation, a cause of cataracts.

Nana OKADA is the owner of Ocean Paradise, a specialist swimwear retailer in Singapore that has been retailing swimwear for women and children for over 15 years. Fashion, function and family are keywords behind the extensive collection of swimwear and accessories that number 80 brands from all over the world.

Over the years, the retailer has gained popularity with those in the know, who appreciate the range of fashion-forward swimwear and extensive sun protective collections. Ocean Paradise has developed into a highly respected name for the family and was awarded the Expat Living Reader Award in 2009.

http://www.oceanparadise.com.sg/

Original article