Sunscreen: what's your opinion?

[IndigoKoi]

Ok, so I'm still pretty new to this forum, and I couldn't figure out where to post this question. But, since it partially has to do with what you eat, I figured this might be an appropriate place.

Anyway, we all hear how important sunscreen is in preventing skin cancer and sun damage, etc. But there is also talk about how vitamin deficient diets and using sunscreen actually CAUSES skin damage.

There is a big marketing push for everyone to wear sunscreen to prevent skin damage and skin cancer. But on the other hand, there are some people that think sunscreen is actually causing more damage by disrupting melanin production which can cause long term damage. So what's your opinion on sunscreen? Do you think it's necessary?

I guess I'm confused because I know what all the marketing says, but I'm not very knowledgeable in the other side of the argument. TIA!

[Gena 22]

Wow, that is fascinating. Perfectly in line with my instincts on this. I know I should wear sunscreen, and do when in intense sun, but hate it on a day to day basis because it smells and feels bad. And it means I'll need to wash it off after use, just like your letter said! Never had a good reason for that except that it felt like my skin needed to breathe. And I totally agree on Vit-D deficiencies.

That's my solution too - hats, clothing and avoiding peak times, otherwise getting a little sun every day. For me and my babes.

Thanks for sharing!

[mamadelbosque]

Yeah, mostly we don't use sunscreen - unless we're going to be outside literally all day in the sun, swimming or something. The rates of skin cancer certainly haven't gone down since all the hoopla over "YOU MUST USE SUNSCREEN!!", so I'm personally not sold on the whole idea at all... I just know I don't like to be burnt, but as I rarely burn (and neither does ds1... though dh and it appears ds2 certainly do I generally don't worry about it too much (and yes, I know all the 'a tan is just as bad as a burn!!' bs, but personally, I just don't buy it... )

[zinemama]

I stick with the oxides, zinc mostly. I agree that covering up is the way to go, but you can't cover everything, all the time. I'm comfortable with my mineral sunscreen. This is a good source for info:

http://safemama.com/2010/04/09/safem...n-cheat-sheet/

[mbravebird]

Also keep in mind that in order to make adequate vitamin D, most people at most latitudes actually *have* to be out between 11 and 2.

We actually try to build up a base tan without burning, so that we can have sun exposure without damaging the skin. We use sunscreen only if we're going to be in an extreme situation -- lots of sun all day, or a couple of hours in the middle of the day or something.

Also, keep in mind that the sun doesn't just produce D in your body, it also produces at least ten other compounds -- compounds that they don't know what the use in the body is. But I bet the body knows. And I bet you need them just as much as Vitamin D. You can't supp the sun. We evolved with it.

Take a look, too, at the connection between Omega-6 intake and sunburn, and Omega-3 intake and lack of sunburn. Saturated fats are also really good for preventing burn. All of these things humans used to get in large doses, regularly. In our family, we are burning less easily this summer (we can stay out longer, even without a tan, and not burn), and the only thing we've done differently from last year is we started this winter sauteing everything in home-rendered, pastured lard.

[leafwood]

we are really fair and try to avoid mid-day sun. if we're in it we use sunscreen but not on a daily basis. we wear a lot of hats in the sun!

[IndigoKoi]

Thank you everyone for your input so far!! Yeah, I don't usually use sunscreen on myself or son, only if we are out somewhere like the beach, which has only been once this summer. And even then, my son had UPF clothing and hat on, so I only put a little on his cheeks. And the sunscreen we do use is always zinc/titanium dioxide, no chemicals. I've actually only ever had a sunburn once while I was in St. Lucia, kayaking on the ocean, and son has just been turning browner. But, having an adequate diet makes sense to prevent sun damage though, more so than sunscreen, if I think about it. Anti-oxidants are supposed to take care of free-radicals and all the summer fruits are loaded with anti-oxidants plus super juicy with extra water necessary to combat dehydration and free radicals. Nature's built in sun protection to our diets!

mbravebird- you say we *have* to be out in the sun between 11-2, why is that? Just because that is when the sun is the highest? B/c that is almost certainly asking for trouble in our current heat.

[tanyalynn]

http://nadir.nilu.no/~olaeng/fastrt/...MEDandMED.html

Here's a very cool calculator showing how important: time of day, % skin exposed, and latitude are (plus skin tone, very significant for dark-skinned people) at determining how much vitamin D a person makes in the sun. Time of day is really important--by 3 or 4pm, even in the Houston, TX area, the amount of D created drops a lot.

Check into the studies on omega-3 supplementation and time to sunburn, it seems to fit quite well with a lot of peoples' anecdotes, including my own, that time to burn increases quite a bit with dietary changes. For me, a big reduction in omega-6s and an increase in saturated fat intake, no omega-3 supplementation for me (for quirky individual reasons, not on principle), and I'm taking a long time to burn now (I'm quite pale, and I used to burn quite easily). It took a year or more for me to see a difference but my health wasn't starting at a great spot, I think swapping out all the stored fat for newer fats took a while for me.

[sbgrace]

Interesting thread.

I haven't burned and tan pretty easily for the first time in a long time since I got my vitamin D levels normalized.

But skin cancer runs in my family so we use sun protective clothing, hats, etc. and mineral based sunscreen as well for things like the beach.

I want to say the studies showing a link between sunscreen use and skin cancer have postulated that the issue is that people stay out in the sun much longer because they are wearing sunscreen and don't burn. If that sunscreen method doesn't block all the sun rays you're still increasing risk of cancer and increasing it to a degree you never would without sunscreen because you'd be out of the sun due to burning. At least I think that's what I've read.

[SuburbanHippie]

We rarely use sunscreen and if we do it's California Baby because it rates low on the cosmetic safety database. We usually get about an hour of mid-day sun exposure everyday and I coat them with coconut oil. My kids, despite being fair skinned, haven't burned yet this summer. They are getting a little tanned though.