I am learning that something I thought was certain is not only far from it, but may prove to be the opposite of what I thought! Jeez, I don’t like this.
h3. About Today’s Show
Do you find it strange that skin cancer rates have increased significantly since the introduction of sunscreens? There was a class action lawsuit filed recently against several sunscreen manufacturers. I used to “know” that sunscreen prevents skin cancer and have used it by the boat load, being an active person who loves the outdoors and a person with many relatives who have had cancer.
But apparently I have been living with a false sense of security, perpetuated I believe by the chemical sunscreen industry. In a nutshell, sunscreen can prevent sunburn. But it cannot block out much of the UVA that causes DNA damage and is the likely culprit for the more serious kind of skin cancer. Yet used enough, it can block the body’s production of Vitamin D, which is helpful in preventing cancer! Chemical sunscreens also contain petroleum-based and other chemicals that may be cancer agents. I found one study that also showed these sunscreens increase the skin absorption of herbicides. Not a pretty picture for farm workers or serious gardeners.
I am in a bit of shock as I thought this was a “done deal.” Using a physical sun block, also called inorganic, appears to be aok as it reflects the sun off the skin, as compared to chemical or organic sunscreen that absorbs the sun rays, producing this little chemical soup on/in your skin. Zinc oxide is my new plan.
If you used sunscreen and got skin cancer, you can join the lawsuit here.
Please read for yourself and let me know what you think:
Oxybenzone Skin Absorption
Sunscreens & Cancer – a lot of detail
WebMD: Too little sun cause cancer?
Sun Exposure May Help Fight Cancer
Hawaiian words
Kahikole: early morning sun
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rox…very informative piece. it’s something that more people should know about…especially here in LA. like a lot of things people should really research something before believing what the pharmaceutical or medical industries tell us because they really only out to make $$$.
I started using the zinc oxide sunscreen last summer (Aubrey Organics), but it makes me look like a scary pastey white ghost. So, I have still been using the chemical sunblock if I need to go to a public event. If anyone finds a physical sunblock that looks somewhat normal, please post the brand!
I’ve started using “Mexitan” from the local health food store. It claims SPF 30, yet casts only a very sheer translucency that I find very acceptable!
Thanks Rox, I will try that one next if I see it, discovered their website http://www.mexitanproducts.com/> I just found another zinc oxide sunscreen that I would recommend to readers – made by Badger Balm, SPF 15 for face & body. It just makes your skin look a little shiny, very good, and smells heavenly due to lots of essential oils.
Wow…just learning more and more about this as I have photosensitivity. Thanks for being so informative and will be coming back again and again to your site.
This is a very informative post, i was searching in google for Skin Cancer and came across this post. My niece is suffering from Skin Cancer, information mention in this article will greatly help me in offering her some advice.