subject: Does Sunscreen Effect Your Health? [print this page] Does Sunscreen Effect Your Health? Does Sunscreen Effect Your Health?
If recent findings of a new study are accurrate, they these blissfully ignorant sun worshippers are wrong.
Despite a dramatic increase in the use of powerful sunscreens over the past 10 years, there is not an iota of empirical evidence that sunscreens actually suceed in reducing the rate of skin cancer or even in preventing malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of the diseas.
On the contrary, the incidence of skin cancer is still rising - and it's rising reasonably quickly.
Another recent investigation into the epidemiology of skin care, carried out by Dr. Lohi Vu of Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles, may uncover no relationship between the actual use of sunscreens and protection against skin cancer. A 12 year review of nine separate investigations conducted by other research groups in addition to conducting research at Cedar-Sinai, examined the issue of whether or not a sunscreen might actually increase the risk of cancer, since they don't filter out the harmful components of ultraviolet light in a uniform manner.
Most sunscreens provide a high level of protection against UVB rays, which are responsible for burning, but give much less consistent protection against UVA rays, which are belived to cause such longterm effects on the skin as premature again and cancer.
Sunscreens that preveent burning might encourage the user to stay out of the sun for longer periods of time, resulting in a much higher dose of UVA.
Products tha provide better protections against UVA are readily avaialble on the market today; you should look for approved ingredients like Parsol 1789.
Although five previous studies have pointed to a possible link between melanoma and sunscreens. One study found no evidence to suggest that there us any increase in the risk of melanoma for people that have been using them.
Another finding that contradicts previous theories concerns the relationship between past episodes of severe sunburn and an individual's chances of developing skin cancer.
Nine or more severe sunburns, according to the Cedar-Sinai study, may be neccessary before the cancer risk begins to climb.
Dr Vu,additionally casts doubt on thr importance of sun exposure during childhood as a factor. In contrast, physical traits have proven to be vastly more significant; People with blond or red hair, blue eyes, and fair skin and those who tan only with difficulty or who have numerous pigmented moles are at much greater risk.
For individuals, according to Dr. Vu, sunburn is not so much the case of their increased cancer odds as an indicator that they are genetically more susceptible to the sun's harmful effects.
So why are skin cancer statistic climbing? Damage to the ozone layer and a substantial increase in worldwide travel may be a factor in the explaination.
Cancer, however is not the only harmful consequence of exposure to strong sunlight. Others include sunburn and skin problems like skin thickening, loss of elasticity, wrinkling, loosening, discoloration, and premature aging.
In light of new research, my understanding of how sunscreen protect against these kinds of effects may need to be reexamined.
Well, at the very least for now, keep packing the SPF 45!
