Sun, Sunscreen and Cancer

Dragonwolf

Wellnessmama has another (the latest of several she's done) article on the topic. Definitely worth the read: http://wellnessmama.com/55366/why-most-sunscreen-is-harmful/

canadjineh

I used to stay out all day in the sun in my area of the country (30-35C summertime clear skies) and only burned a couple times when I was young. In the past 15 yrs or so I can no longer stay out in the sun. I'm lucky if I can take 1 hr without sunscreen before 2nd degree burns. Something is going on and I personally feel the environment has changed, making full sun all day dangerous and unhealthy. My SIL had to have skin cancer removed after being a serious tanner most of her youth, and a friend of mine also died relatively young from skin cancer. I'm not taking those sorts of chances anymore, besides I don't want to look like an old weathered bag in 10 years (and I've seen quite a few of these around...)

totaloblivia

Thanks for the advice!

SkinnyKerinny

Hi fatchimom,

I completely understand about protecting your face from the sun. You can still get a nice dose of sunshine while wearing a hat. Just wear shorts and a tank or tee shirt. : ) I have really fair skin and I'm outside in the mornings so I don't burn.

If I need protection from the sun, I wear long sleeve cotton shirts (so it's not too hot) and jeans. Clothes are a great sunscreen right! I also have one of those goofy folding festival chairs that has a shade cover built in. I'm taking that today to my grandson's halfsie birthday party at the park.

KnitOrMiss

camtosh wrote: »

Erm, I just had a large basal cell carcinoma (the most common type of skin cancer) removed from my shoulder, and the wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal-cell_carcinoma) says that especially people with light skin; red or blonde hair; blue, green or gray eyes are susceptible to it, especially if they have ever had bad sunburns in their youth. I was an avid sun tanner in my youth (1970s) and so now have to be more careful. My older brother who spent years as a geologist looking for rocks in the bush, has had 3 removed over the years. So yes, I use sunscreen, but after reading that EWG report the other day (it is making the rounds of all my usual web stops...) I have ordered a zinc oxide type. The chemical sunscreens may be cancer-causing. Check your moles!

I have always had two shades - white and red, then immediately back to white. I do not tan. The only thing close to tan I've ever had is a farmer tan on my arms from continued driving exposure. Then, this all got majorly amplified when I got put on blood pressure meds. I would be out 2 minutes and all but blister. Switching meds, I've leveled out mostly, but I went back to the white/red/white transitions. I have noticed that my recovery was quicker when I did burn, but I'm positively terrified to get back out in the sun now. I do have regular doses of coconut oil in my diet and used it along with a baby version of sunscreen that had zinc oxide, but I've never seen the "mineral" types referred to several times here.

I burned severely as a teen once, and moderately a couple times, but since I'm fair skinned and moderately light eyed, plus well-freckled, I've always covered up as much as possible. Lately, it seems my skin primarily dries out quickly in sun exposure...

I was severely vitamin D deficient for years and years, but have almost tripled my levels to a normal range. I guess we shall see how things go this summer, but I have always had to rely on sunscreen... I don't wear makeup at all (eyeliner is about it), so I don't have that added bonus either...