Sunscreen Tips for Parents

Sunscreen Tips for Parents:

29-Jul-2020 1:55 PM EDT, by Children's Hospital Los Angeles

With so many sunscreens out there, how do you know which one is effective—and safe—for your child? Dr. Minnelly Lu, pediatric dermatologist at Children's Ho


Newswise — Fun in the sun is a year-round activity in Southern California. But all that sunshine means it’s critical to protect your child (and yourself) from the sun’s harmful rays.
“One or more blistering sunburns in childhood can more than double your chances of developing melanoma later on,” says Minnelly Luu, MD, a pediatric dermatologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Melanoma and other types of skin cancers can also occur in all skin types and tones.” 
One way to protect your child is sunscreen. But with so many sunscreens out there, how do you know which one is effective—and safe—for your child? Dr. Luu shares the latest advice.
Babies and sunshine
Keep babies under 6 months of age out of the direct sun and cover them with protective clothing. Sunscreen can be used for babies under 6 months of age on areas that cannot be covered, but shade cover and clothing should be the primary method of sun protection in this young age group.
What are UVA and UVB rays?
A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun: UVA and UVB.
UVA rays, often called “aging” rays, penetrate into the thickest layer of skin and have long-term effects, such as premature wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays, called “burning” rays, produce short-term effects on the skin and are the primary cause of sunburn.
Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer.
SPF and water resistance
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Some sunscreens are also labeled “water-resistant.” This is not the same as waterproof. All sunscreens wash off. Always reapply after swimming or sweating a lot.
Mineral versus chemical sunscreens
There are two main types of sunscreens: mineral and chemical. They both protect you from the sun, but they do so in different ways. (And despite the names, both use chemicals.)

• Mineral sunscreens sit on the skin’s surface and act as a barrier—they physically block UV rays from reaching the skin. These sunscreens use zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both.  
• Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin and filter out UV rays. These sunscreens use a variety of ingredients, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate. 

How can you tell which one you’re buying? Read the “active ingredients” part of the label. If it’s a mineral sunscreen, the only active ingredients will be zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Any other active ingredient is likely a chemical filter. 
Note: Some sunscreens use both mineral and chemical ingredients. 
Which sunscreen type is best?
In general, mineral sunscreens are the best pick—especially for babies and young children. 
Why? First, mineral sunscreens are less irritating for those with sensitive skin. But there is also some controversy around the ingredients in chemical sunscreens.
Recent studies have found that chemical sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream at significant levels—even after just one use. They can remain in the blood for extended periods.
However, just because an ingredient is absorbed into the blood does not mean it’s unsafe or harmful. The Food and Drug Administration still recommends using chemical sunscreens.
Studies have not found that nanoparticles in mineral sunscreens are absorbed into the blood in a significant way. Given the current data, Dr. Luu recommends mineral sunscreens as a first choice for babies and children.
Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen
Although mineral sunscreens often come in “clear” formulas, many can still leave a white, chalky residue and be a bit harder to apply. This can bother some older children and teens.
“If your child or teen won’t use a mineral sunscreen, then it’s OK to use a chemical one,” Dr. Luu says. “Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen.” 
Slather it on
The two most common sunscreen mistakes are not using enough—and not reapplying often enough. Here are some tips for success:

• Slather it on. Do not skimp!  
• Apply chemical sunscreens 20 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun. 
• Reapply at least every two hours. If your child is swimming, reapply every 45 minutes. 
• Don’t miss the ears, feet, back of the neck and the backs of knees. 
• Be careful with sunscreen sprays. You don’t want to inhale the fumes. Don’t spray above the neck area. 
• Use a lip balm with SPF 15 or 30.  

Don’t rely on sunscreen alone
Sunscreen is just one part of protecting your child from the sun. Don’t forget to:

• Seek shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 
• Try long-sleeve swim shirts or rash guards. These are widely sold for kids and are great for days spent at the pool or beach. 
• Choose tightly woven clothing. This will keep your child cooler, too.   
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat that protects the face, scalp, ears and neck. 
• Protect the eyes. Look for kids’ sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays.  

Top Nutrients to Protect Your Skin From Summer Sun

Nutrients for your Skin

By Dr. Mercola

 Important information on skin protection from the sun!

Story at-a-glance

• You can support healthy skin and protect it from ultraviolet damage from the inside. Scientists have identified several nutrients that have UV protective activity, reducing your risk of sunburn and related skin damage
• Astaxanthin, lycopene, beta carotene, vitamins D, E and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have all been shown to help protect your skin against sun damage
• Astaxanthin specifically helps protect against UV-induced cell death. Unlike topical sun block, astaxanthin does not actually block UV rays, so it doesn’t prevent UVB from converting into vitamin D in your skin; it simply protects your skin against damage
• Lycopene also acts as an internal sunscreen, although it’s not nearly as protective as astaxanthin. A 2001 study found tomato paste helped protect fair-skinned individuals with a tendency to burn rather than tan
• Vitamin E absorbs energy from UV light, thus plays an important role in photoprotection, preventing UV-induced free radical damage to skin

Summer and sunshine-filled days are upon us and, with that, increased calls for the use of sunscreen. Unfortunately, most sunscreens contain toxic ingredients that are easily absorbed through your skin and can jeopardize your health.
The good news is you can support healthy skin and protect it from ultraviolet damage from the inside. Scientists have identified several nutrients that have UV protective activity which can reduce your risk of sunburn and related skin damage. Here, I'll review the top contenders: astaxanthin, lycopene and beta carotene, vitamins D and E, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

Astaxanthin — Most Potent Nature-Made Sunscreen

Astaxanthin, one of nature's most potent antioxidants, has been shown to offer significant protection against UV radiation damage by acting as internal sunscreen. It has very strong free radical scavenging activity that protects your cells, organs and body tissues from oxidative damage.
Astaxanthin is produced by the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis when its water supply dries up, forcing it to protect itself from ultraviolet radiation. Astaxanthin is essentially the algae's survival mechanism. It is this "radiation shield" that explains how astaxanthin can protect you from similar radiation, thereby helping prevent skin photo-aging and wrinkles. As noted in a 2010 study:¹

"Repetitive exposure of the skin to UVA radiation elicits sagging more frequently than wrinkling, which is mainly attributed to its biochemical mechanism to up-regulate the expression of matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and skin fibroblast elastase (SFE)/neutral endopeptidase (NEP), respectively.

In this study, we examined the effects of a potent antioxidant, astaxanthin (AX), on the induction of MMP-1 and SFE by UVA treatment of cultured human dermal fibroblasts …

UVA radiation elicited a significant increase in the gene expression of MMP-1 as well as SFE/NEP (to a lesser extent) which was followed by distinct increases in their protein and enzymatic activity levels …

These findings indicate that, based on different effective concentrations of AX, a major mode of action leading to the inhibition elicited by AX depends on inhibition of UVA effects of the reactive oxygen species-directed signaling cascade, but not on interruption of the IL-6-mediated signaling cascade. We hypothesize that AX would have a significant benefit on protecting against UVA-induced skin photo-aging such as sagging and wrinkles."

A second paper,² "Cosmetic Benefits of Astaxanthin on Human Subjects" published online in 2012, noted a combination of 6 milligrams taken internally with 2 milliliters per day of topical astaxanthin led to "significant improvements" in skin wrinkling, age spots and skin elasticity, texture and moisture content by week eight.

Astaxanthin Protects Against UV-Induced Cell Death

When it comes to UV radiation protection, astaxanthin specifically helps protect against UV-induced cell death. Unlike topical sun block, astaxanthin does not actually block UV rays, so it doesn't prevent UVB from converting into vitamin D in your skin; it simply protects your skin against damage. This protective effect is so potent studies even show it helps protect against:

• Total body irradiation,³ primarily by scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species and reducing cell apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• Burn-wound progression, by reducing oxidative stress-induced inflammation and mitochondrial-related apoptosis⁴

Cyanotech Corporation funded a study⁵ through an independent consumer research laboratory to measure the skin's resistance to both UVA and UVB light, before and after astaxanthin supplementation. After taking 4 mg of astaxanthin per day for two weeks, subjects showed a significant increase in the amount of time necessary for UV radiation to redden their skin. According to the authors:⁶

"Results ranged from over 50% more energy needed to burn the skin on some subjects to little or no effect on some subjects. The average of all subjects was approximately 20% more energy, a statistically significant improvement."

Animal studies lend further evidence to astaxanthin's effects as an internal sunscreen. For example, in a 1998 in vitro study⁷ using fibroblasts from rat kidneys, beta-carotene, lutein and astaxanthin were all found to protect against UVA-induced oxidative stress, "with astaxanthin exhibiting superior protective properties."
Another study demonstrated the UV protective properties of other carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin. Here, lutein and zeaxanthin were found to provide a fourfold increase in protection when taken internally, and a sixfold increase when used topically as well as internally.^8,9
Many athletes report astaxanthin allows them to stay in the sun for longer periods of time without feeling ill and without burning. Less burning also means lower skin cancer risk.
For general skin health and protection against the sun, a daily dose of 4 mg is likely sufficient, although if you're an outdoorsman or athlete who exercises outdoors on a regular basis, you may want to consider a dose between 8 mg and 12 mg/day, at which you'll also start reaping benefits in exercise performance and recovery.

Lycopene and Beta Carotene Also Improve Skin's Natural SPF

Lycopene also acts as an internal sunscreen, although it's not nearly as protective as astaxanthin. A study^10,11 published in 2001 found tomato paste helped protect fair-skinned individuals with a tendency to burn rather than tan.
Nineteen men and women with fair complexions, blue eyes and light-colored hair were instructed to add either 10 grams of olive oil or a combination of 10 grams of olive oil plus 40 grams of tomato paste (about 5 tablespoons or half a small can) to their daily diet.
Previous work by this research team had shown cooking improves the bioavailability of lycopene in tomatoes;¹² hence the use of tomato paste in this study. The oil further facilitates your body's uptake of the nutrient.
During the 10-week trial, the researchers periodically tested the participants' tolerance to sunlight by irradiating a small patch of skin on their backs with a sun lamp, to see how long it took for reddening (erythema) to occur.
The olive oil only group experienced no change in tolerance over the course of the study, but those who ate oil and tomato paste combo experienced 40% less reddening at the end of the 10 weeks compared to the first four weeks.
According to the authors, "The data demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve protection against UV light-induced erythema by ingestion of a commonly consumed dietary source of lycopene."¹³ Similarly, a 2008 systematic review¹⁴ of feeding studies evaluating the effectiveness of beta carotene for the protection against sunburn concluded that:

" … (1) beta-carotene supplementation protects against sunburn and (2) the study duration had a significant influence on the effected size. Regression plot analysis revealed that protection required a minimum of 10 weeks of supplementation with a mean increase of the protective effect of 0.5 standard deviations with every additional month of supplementation.

Thus, dietary supplementation of humans with beta-carotene provides protection against sunburn in a time-dependent manner."

Vitamin D Lowers Skin Cancer Risk

If you're like most people, you've probably fallen for the misguided advice from most dermatologists and public health officials to stay out of the sun to avoid skin cancer.
Unfortunately, total sun avoidance is inadvisable, as it can actually increase your risk rather than lower it. In a nutshell, the vitamin D your body produces in response to UVB radiation helps protect against melanoma. As noted in one Lancet study:¹⁵

"Paradoxically, outdoor workers have a decreased risk of melanoma compared with indoor workers, suggesting that chronic sunlight exposure can have a protective effect."

Optimizing your vitamin D through sensible sun exposure can also help protect against many internal cancers, the death tolls of which are far greater than melanoma. Vitamin D is also crucial for the prevention of many chronic diseases, and has been shown to be an important criteria for longevity.
For example, a Swedish study¹⁶ published in 2014, which followed 29,518 middle-aged to older women for up to 20 years, found women who avoided sun exposure and tanning beds were twice as likely to die over the course of the study. The researchers attributed this finding to the protective influence of vitamin D. As noted by the authors:

"We found that all‐cause mortality was inversely related to sun exposure habits. The mortality rate amongst avoiders of sun exposure was approximately twofold higher compared with the highest sun exposure group, resulting in excess mortality with a population attributable risk of 3%."

The key is to optimize your vitamin D level while avoiding sunburn, as sunburn is the factor that raises your risk of skin cancer (including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma). As noted in one 2009 paper on vitamin D synthesis versus cancer development:¹⁷

"Concerning MM [malignant melanoma], numerous epidemiologic investigations analysing solar UV-exposure parameters have consistently reported an association between the development of MM and short-term intense UV-exposure, particularly burning in childhood.

It has been convincingly demonstrated by many investigators, that the incidence of MM increases with decreasing latitude towards the equator. However, in contrast to short-term intense exposure, more chronic less intense exposure has not been found to be a risk factor for the development of MM and in fact has been found in several studies to be protective."

Vitamin E Plays Important Role in Photoprotection, but Choose Your Supplement With Care

Another vitamin that helps prevent sun-related skin damage is vitamin E, especially when combined with vitamin C.¹⁸ An article¹⁹ on Oregon State University's Micronutrient Information Center website discusses the many functions of vitamin E in skin, noting that "vitamin E can absorb the energy from UV light. Thus, it plays important roles in photoprotection, preventing UV-induced free radical damage to skin."
Food is your best source of vitamin E, since food contains a combination of the eight types of vitamin E. If you're using a supplement, there are key considerations that need to be heeded. Synthetic vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is derived from petrochemicals and has known toxic effects.
Natural vitamin E includes a total of eight different compounds, and having a balance of all eight helps optimize its antioxidant functions. These compounds are divided into two groups of molecules as follows:

1. Tocopherols

a. Alpha
b. Beta
c. Gamma
d. Delta

2. Tocotrienols

a. Alpha
b. Beta
c. Gamma
d. Delta

Tocopherols are considered the "true" vitamin E, and many claim it's the only kind that has health benefits. Part of the problem with tocotrienols is that they simply haven't received as much scientific attention. In my view, it's safe to assume you would benefit from a balance of all eight and not just one.
Synthetic vitamin E supplements typically include only alpha-tocopherol, and research^20,21 published in 2012 concluded that synthetic alpha tocopherols found in vitamin E supplements provided no discernible cancer protection while gamma and delta tocopherols found in foods do help prevent colon, lung, breast and prostate cancers. Bear in mind that a supplement will not actually tell you it's synthetic, so you h
ave to know what to look for on the label.

• Synthetic alpha-tocopherol is typically listed with a "dl" (i.e., dl-alpha-tocopherol)
• Nonsynthetic or naturally-derived is typically listed with a "d" (d-alpha-tocopherol). Note that when vitamin E is stabilized by adding either succinic acid or acetic acid, the chemical name changes from tocopherol to tocopheryl (as in d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate, for example).

Vitamin E Recommendations

I strongly recommend avoiding synthetic vitamin E supplements as they've been shown to have toxic effects in higher amounts and/or over the long term. Synthetic vitamin E has also been linked to an increased tumor progression and accelerated lung cancer in mice.²²
So, if you opt for a supplement, make sure you're getting a well-balanced all-natural vitamin E supplement, not a synthetic one. Also look for a supplement that is free of soy, soybean oil derivatives and genetically engineered (GE) ingredients (some of the most common GE ingredients found in supplements are derivatives of corn, soy and cotton seed).
According to a scientific review^23,24,25 published in 2015, a mere 21 percent of the global populations studied had a vitamin E serum level of 30 micromol per liter (μmol/L) or higher, which appears to be the threshold above which beneficial health effects are obtained.²⁶
According to the paper²⁷ "100 Years of Vitamins," a special issue in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research published in 2012, achieving a level of 30 μmol/L requires a daily intake of 15 to 30 mg of vitamin E.
A primary reason for such widespread deficiency is that most people eat a primarily processed food diet, which tends to be lacking in vitamin E and other important nutrients.
Moreover, following a low-fat diet can have the undesirable side effect of lowering your vitamin E level, as your ability to absorb the vitamin E present in the foods you eat or supplements you take is then impaired. Since vitamin E is fat-soluble, taking it with some healthy fat, such as coconut oil or avocado, will increase its bioavailability.

Green Tea Antioxidant Helps Prevent Genetic Damage in UV-Exposed Skin

The antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), found in green tea, has also been shown to prevent genetic damage in skin cells exposed to UV radiation. The study,²⁸ published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2011, found women who drank a beverage with green tea polyphenols (total catechin content 1,402 mg) reduced their risk of sunburn compared to controls. As reported in this study:

"Skin photoprotection, structure, and function were measured at baseline (wk 0), wk 6, and wk 12. Following exposure of the skin areas to 1.25 minimal erythemal dose of radiation from a solar simulator, UV-induced erythema decreased significantly in the intervention group by 16 and 25% after 6 and 12 wk, respectively.

Skin structural characteristics that were positively affected included elasticity, roughness, scaling, density, and water homeostasis … In summary, green tea polyphenols delivered in a beverage were shown to protect skin against harmful UV radiation and helped to improve overall skin quality of women."

To boost the benefits of green tea further, add a squirt of lemon juice to your cup. Research²⁹ has demonstrated vitamin C significantly increases the amount of tea catechins available for your body to absorb. The addition of 30mg of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to 250 ml of tea boosted EGCG recovery to 56% to 76%, while normally less than 20% of green tea catchins remain post-digestion.
Another study³⁰ published in 2012 confirmed plant polyphenols in green tea "exhibit significant antioxidant, chemopreventive, and immunomodulatory effects in protecting the skin," noting that:

"UVA radiation is far more abundant (90%) and penetrates much deeper into the epidermis and dermis of the skin. It is weakly absorbed by DNA but reacts with other nonDNA chromophores that lead to the formation of ROS which damage DNA, proteins, and lipids in the skin.

Singlet molecular oxygen produced by UVA targets DNA base guanine producing 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-odHG) which is an important marker of oxidative stress … Additionally, stress signals created by UVR [ultraviolet radiation] trigger protective signaling responses in the cell membrane, nucleus, and mitochondria that lead to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis.

Chronic and excessive UVR exposure overwhelms and depletes these cutaneous defense mechanisms. Therefore, compounds with antioxidant and cell repair potential are promising additions to our sun protection armamentarium …

Topical application of EGCG in a hydrophilic ointment demonstrated better photoprotective properties versus oral consumption in mice …Earlier studies using topical and orally consumed GTPP [green tea polyphenols] in mice decreased UVR-induced carcinogenesis, by inhibiting the activity of chemical tumor initiators and promoters …

Photoaging is caused by chronic UV exposure. In vitro studies using cultured human skin fibroblasts pretreated with GTPP showed a decrease in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced ROS … As discussed in this paper, GTPPs have important antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and photoprotective functions.

Their ability to modulate critical biochemical functions through topical and oral formulations makes GTPPs a promising candidate for chemoprevention and treatment of disease."

Healthy Skin and Natural Sun Protection Are Created From the Inside Out

As you can see, there are many ways to improve your skin's ability to withstand the sun's rays, thereby allowing you to get the benefits without adding much risk. As mentioned, the key to preventing skin damage and skin cancer is to avoid burning.
As soon as your skin starts turning the lightest shade of pink (which will be relative, depending on your base skin color), it's time to get out of the sun or put on protective clothing. A wide-brimmed hat to protect your face is advisable at all times. A majority of your vitamin D production comes from exposing large areas of your body — not your face.
Topping the list of nutrients that protect your skin from sun damage is astaxanthin. Taking somewhere between 4 mg and 12 mg daily can allow you to spend far more time outdoors without risking a sunburn. Just remember — it will take a few weeks before the effects become apparent, so start early.
That said, optimizing your vitamin D and taking natural vitamin E can further add to your body's natural sun protection, as can drinking green tea or taking an ECGC supplement.

Why You Should Embrace Healthful Sun Exposure

Sun exposure


 Most helpful facts on sun exposure!

Story at-a-glance

• Both ultraviolet A (UVA) and the near-infrared light spectrum increase NO. Sunlight also boosts cytochrome c oxidase, serotonin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other photoproducts, all of which are produced even in the wintertime when the sunlight is too weak to trigger vitamin D production
• Your body is designed to benefit from sun exposure, and if you’re diabetic or have heart disease, it may well be one of the missing factors. Sunlight also lowers your risk for many other conditions, including Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and several types of cancer, including melanoma
• For every death caused by diseases related to excessive sun exposure — such as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer — there are 328 deaths caused by diseases of sunlight deprivation
• For every skin cancer death in northern Europe, between 60 and 100 people die from stroke or heart disease related to hypertension

Marc Sorenson, who has a doctorate in education, and who is the founder of the Sunlight Institute,¹ has written an excellent book, “Embrace the Sun,” in which he reveals why sunlight is foundational for optimal health and longevity.² While vitamin D supplements clearly have their place, you cannot obtain all the benefits you get from the sun when you swallow it.
For example, many of the benefits of sunlight, such as a decreased risk of heart disease, have to do with its ability to increase nitric oxide (NO) production in your body.³ Ultraviolet A (UVA) and the near-infrared light spectrum both increase NO, so you’re getting that benefit from both ends of the light spectrum. Fifty percent of sunlight is near-infrared.⁴
Near-infrared also increases cytochrome c oxidase (COO),⁵ the fourth cytochrome in the mitochondria, and neither of these benefits can be had from swallowing a pill. It’s really important to realize that your body is designed to benefit from sun exposure, and if you’re diabetic or have heart disease, it may well be one of the missing factors. As noted by Sorenson:

“When we get out in the sun, the research is incredible. The risk of heart disease and the risk of myocardial infarction drop dramatically in the summertime, and go up dramatically in the wintertime.

Meaning, there’s something there that has to be beyond vitamin D, because the vitamin D supplement studies with heart disease haven’t worked out well. What we know now is the main mover to prevent heart disease is probably NO, which is a potent vasodilator. It opens them up.

Blood pressure can go down dramatically with regular sun exposure, which it does. Among people who are getting sunlight on a regular basis, the risk of dropping dead of a heart attack goes down rather dramatically ...

You can produce 20,000 international units (IU) in 20 minutes of ideal unobstructed sun exposure on both sides of the body …  ”

How the Sun Avoidance Conspiracy Was Born

Importantly, for every death caused by diseases related to excessive sun exposure — such as common skin cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) as well as some other uncommon diseases — there are 328 deaths caused by diseases related to sunlight deprivation,⁶ according to Sorenson’s data.
According to a 2013 study,⁷ for every skin cancer death in northern Europe, between 60 and 100 people die from stroke or heart disease related to hypertension alone. Knowing your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke is 80 times greater on average than from skin cancer should really put things into perspective.⁸ Clearly, sun avoidance is hardly the lifesaving strategy dermatologists make it out to be.
I’d always wondered why there was such an avid aversion of sun exposure within the dermatology community. It just doesn’t make any sense — until I read Sorensen’s book, in which he dissects the motivation behind this illogical stance. He explains:

“The powers of darkness, as I call them, are very highly invested in the sunscreen industry. About 70 percent of the funding comes from the sunscreen industry. Of course, with a dermatological society, they back those who produce sunscreens.

We’ve got a vast conspiracy with the sunscreen industry. That’s one of the main things. Besides … medicine in general is not that interested in keeping people well, because if they do get people well — and sunlight will do that to a great extent — they’re out of business. There is a conspiracy out there. I’ve written a very large chapter about that and how they used their anti-sun [propaganda] to keep people sick.”

---

On Skin Cancer

There are two basic types of skin cancer: melanoma and nonmelanoma. Importantly, 75 percent of all melanoma occurs on areas of the body that never see the sun, Sorenson notes, and indoor workers have double the rate of lethal melanoma skin cancer than outdoor workers.⁹ A primary risk factor for melanoma appears to be intermittent sun exposure and sunburn, especially when you’re young.
According to data presented in his book, in 1935 about 1 in 1,500 people contracted melanoma. As of 2002/2003, that rate was 1 in 50. Between 2006 and 2015, melanoma rates increased 3 percent per year,¹⁰ so rates just keep going up.

“The more we use sunscreen, the more melanoma we get. Australia’s proven that for many, many years,” Sorenson says. “They use more sunscreen than any people on Earth, yet they have the highest prevalence of melanoma …

Melanoma increased by 3,000 percent between 1935 and, let’s say, 2002 to 2003. That’s a tremendous increase. Sun exposure during that time, by my government figures, has gone down by over 90 percent. We have a 90-percent decrease in sun exposure and a 3,000-percent increase in melanoma.

How does that add up for their theory? It doesn’t add up at all. They’re now beginning to realize that, I think, little by little. But still, they’re in that hip pocket of the medical schools that promote sunscreens and such.”

As noted by Sorenson, the sun actually protects you from melanoma. It does not protect again the more common skin cancers, though. However, protection from those can be had from a diet high in antioxidants.

Sun Avoidance Kills Far More People Than Sun-Related Diseases

Nonmelanoma skin cancers are primarily divided into basal cell and squamous cell cancer, and sun exposure does increase your risk of those cancers. The thing to remember is that these are typically nonlethal. The relative safety of skin cancer is craftily hidden, however, by combining statistics for nonfatal and fatal skin cancers.
Most of the deaths attributed to nonmelanoma skin cancers (basal and squamous cell), which number around 4,420 per year, according to cancer.net,¹¹ are in those who have severely compromised immune systems. Melanoma, meanwhile, kills an estimated 7,230 people per year in the U.S.^12,13 It’s also important to realize that common skin cancer does not turn into the deadlier melanoma.
When you consider the statistics, it seems clear that sun avoidance is actually increasing your risk of deadly skin cancer, and that by exposing your skin to the sun, you will decrease your risk of melanoma.
What’s more, sun avoidance will also raise your risk of internal cancers, along with a long list of chronic diseases, the mortality rates of which are far more alarming than melanoma. As mentioned earlier, for every sun-related death there are 328 deaths from sun-deficiency-related diseases.
Sorenson’s book also cites Iranian research showing women who cover themselves completely have a 10-times higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who don’t cover themselves completely. That’s a 1,000-percent greater risk of breast cancer. Yet women are being told to avoid sun exposure at all costs to protect their health.

You Can Benefit From Sun Exposure Year-Round

During wintertime at latitudes above 22 degrees you’re not going to be able to get enough ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure on your skin to significantly raise your vitamin D level, unless you are at high altitudes in the mountains.
However, you’re still getting other photoproducts such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NO and others. They will be produced even in the winter when the sunlight is too weak to trigger vitamin D production.

“I tan every day in St. George, Utah,” Sorenson says. “It may be 40 degrees F. outside; I step into the garage, so I’m protected from the breezes. I get out in the sun every day. It’s not doing me a bit of good for vitamin D, but I do have my own tanning bed. I can go into that tanning bed and it produces a dramatic amount of vitamin D.

So will a good vitamin D sunlamp … Sometimes I fudge and take a vitamin D pill, but I would rather [use my tanning bed] because it’s a lot more natural than taking a vitamin D pill, in my opinion. That’s the way that I do it …

Of course, tanning beds have been much maligned, [yet it] dramatically increases bone strength. It dramatically increases vitamin D levels. It reduces the risk of psoriasis and eczema. It does many other things that they never give any credit for …

I was just thinking about the new study on Parkinson’s disease, [which] showed people who are out in the bright sun daily, regularly have 1/50th the risk of ever getting Parkinson’s. That’s fairly new research. I was stunned by that research.”

Avoid Sunburn at All Costs

Naturally, regardless of the season, you want to make sure you do not get sunburn. Once your skin turns the lightest shade of pink, move into the shade or put on clothing and a hat to cover up your skin. Beyond that point, there’s no benefit, only the risk of skin damage. As noted by Sorenson:

“Your body shuts it down at that point. In fact, your body will shut down your vitamin D production, along with anything else, that it doesn’t want. There is a very interesting piece of research … that shows people who use sunscreen have anywhere from three to six times the risk of sunburn.

Another one was a big meta-analysis, which showed there was no benefit whatsoever in using sunscreens. None at all. In fact, there was a slight increase in the risk of all skin cancers together.”

Sun Exposure Decreases Risk of Autoimmune Disease

Aside from lowering your risk for a variety of cancers, including melanoma, sun exposure also radically decreases your risk of autoimmune diseases. (Diseases in which your body identifies proteins and other structures made by the body as foreign and destroys them.) Two classic examples are multiple sclerosis (MS) and Type 1 diabetes.
Sorenson cites research from Finland showing vitamin D supplementation decreased the risk of Type 1 diabetes by five- to sixfold. When compared to Venezuelan children, who get ample sun exposure, Finnish children had 400 times the risk of Type 1 diabetes.
Researchers have also found an inverse risk between vitamin D status and MS risk,¹⁴ and studies have confirmed MS is far less prevalent in areas near the equator, such as Ecuador, where prevalence ranges from a low of 0.75 per 100,000 inhabitants in the South, to a high of 5.05 per 100,000 in the capital city of Quito.¹⁵

What’s a Healthy Vitamin D Level?

Science has shown 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L), which is typically considered the cutoff for vitamin D sufficiency, is still grossly inadequate and dangerous to health. For optimal disease protection, you need a vitamin D blood level between 60 and 80 ng/mL¹⁶ (150 to 200 nmol/L).
Once you get above 60 ng/mL, the risk for cancer and other chronic illness declines dramatically — in the case of breast cancer by more than 80 percent.¹⁷
There appears to be variations in the ideal level, however, depending on the condition in question. Sorenson cites research showing that athletic performance, and the risk of injury due to falling among nonathletes, improved until they reached a level of about 63 ng/mL (158 nmol/L), at which point performance and risk of falling started to slightly decline again.
On the other hand, in the case of breast cancer, which is a major concern for women, levels upward of 80 ng/mL (200 nmol/L) appear to be the most protective. When aiming for those higher levels, though, I believe getting your vitamin D from sunlight becomes all the more important, especially if you’re seeking protection from diseases such as heart disease.
Because, remember, swallowing a vitamin D pill will not trigger NO production like sun exposure does, and increasing NO appears to be a significant way by which sun exposure lowers your heart disease risk. Sunlight also boosts your serotonin level, a neurotransmitter thought to play an important role in depression.
In his book, Sorenson cites research showing that spending the entire day in bright sunlight increases your serotonin level by 800 percent. A precursor to serotonin — melatonin — is also crucial for sleep and cancer prevention.

Sunlight and Visual Acuity

Myopia, with people needing glasses at an early age, and presbyopia, which is when you need reading glasses, are also on the rise, and this too may be a side effect of insufficient sun exposure. Sorenson explains:

“One of the studies was done comparing people in Singapore to people who grew up in Australia. They had the same ethnic background, basically Oriental-Asian background. Those who were playing in the sun in Australia had about one-sixth the risk of getting myopia.

It is so important. If we don’t get out and we don’t focus [our eyes] in the sun, [if] we don’t look into the distance — that may be one of the reasons we don’t get enough vitamin D, we don’t get enough serotonin, NO and any of the other photoproducts produced by the sun.

There is a pandemic of myopia. We’re seeing it here in the United States with the Asian kids. In many cases, as they get older, it will lead to blindness. Of course, they always talk about macular degeneration and so forth, but there’s a dichotomy here, because if you have macular degeneration, they tell you to totally stay out of the sun.

It does tend to relate to sun exposure. At the same time, vitamin D levels that are high tend to reduce the risk. So, what do you do? Stop getting your sun and take a vitamin D pill? I don’t think so. I think if we’re in the sun the way we ought to be and eat the polyphenols and so forth … that’s probably the way to prevent most of the older-age diseases.

Now, as far as presbyopia … I’ve had it since I was about 40. I just take some reading glasses and I can get along with reading my fine print. I wasn’t able to escape it. It runs in my family. I think there must be some genetic component there, because I was out in the sun and I never had any myopia.”

As for age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), which is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly, research by Dr. Chris Knobbe, an ophthalmologist who wrote a book on the risk factors of ARMD, whom I’ll be interviewing on this topic, has compiled massive amounts of data showing that ARMD did not exist before 1930 and this appears largely due to the consumption of processed foods, especially processed vegetable oils.
Sugar, of course, does not help either. That combination causes massive degeneration of your vision, which is very difficult to reverse in its advanced stages. But if you catch it at an early stage, you can reverse it using dietary changes.
For presbyopia, I recommend not wearing sunglasses and avoiding reading glasses. As you age, there’s a tendency to want to make that font bigger to see text better, but I recommend resisting that temptation, as it’s only going to make matters worse.
Also, avoid squinting and simply blink instead. Blink multiple times until the text becomes clear, then relax your eyes to refocus. Brighter light may also help you read without increasing the font size on your tablet or computer, or using reading glasses.

Sunlight for Bone Health

Sorenson also recounts some of the historical data supporting the idea that sun exposure benefits health in important ways and boosts athletic performance. Aside from breast health, research shows sun exposure also helps prevent osteoporosis, which is yet another significant concern for women in particular. Sorenson says:

“In Spain, women who were sun seekers, those who were always outside, trying to tan … as much as possible, those women had 1/11th the risk of ever having a hip fracture as women who were avoiding the sun. That one point alone should get every woman out in the sun, because all women are afraid not only of breast cancer but also of osteoporosis.

Women need sunlight to prevent it. Whether vitamin D pills will work, I am not convinced. They don’t give them enough vitamin D so they can’t really tell in the research. But we know that sunlight works to prevent hip fractures. Boy, that’s a big one to me …

[Higher] vitamin D levels also dramatically help your brain … People think better … You are 3.5 times more likely to end up in a rest home [assisted care facility] if you do not have a good vitamin D level … [If] you’ve got a mom, dad, uncle or whoever is in danger of going there, I think it can be prevented … They can stay at home, maybe with a son or daughter, and they wouldn’t need to worry about them injuring themselves every other second.”

More Information

To learn more, I strongly recommend picking up a copy of Sorenson’s book, “Embrace the Sun.” Strongly emphasized in the book is the importance of sunlight for the prevention of cardiovascular disease — again, by way of boosting NO, which lowers your blood pressure and increases blood flow, more so than raising your vitamin D.
Sorenson believes erectile dysfunction (ED), for men, may be a related problem that could be addressed through improved sun exposure, as one of the major reasons for ED is lack of NO. Cialis or Viagra is not the answer. Sunlight is.

“I think … we have to have holistic sun [exposure] again,” Sorenson says. “We need to have every single photoproduct produced. I have written down about five more photoproducts I haven’t even had the time to study. We don’t know what they do yet.

But why would you go for a vitamin D pill when you could get out in the sun and get all of the available [photoproducts] that we don’t even know [the benefits of] yet? For optimal human health, we need to be in the sunlight.”

The Ultimate Guide To Sunscreen

The Ultimate Guide To Sunscreen

Some time ago I shared an article about skin cancer.  Here is the ultimate guide to sunscreen which should give all the necessary information on products and how to best protect yourself agains sunburn.................



 

So it might not officially be summer until next month, but it sure feels like it! One of the most important steps in any skincare routine, especially during the warmer months, is sunscreen!

Between avoiding an uncomfortable sunburn (ouch), protecting yourself against harmful UV rays, preventing sunspots, fighting against skin cancer and preventing wrinkles, sunscreen is absolutely crucial and I can’t stress that enough (you will still manage to get a tan with sunscreen on). Remember, sunscreen is important for EVERYONE, no matter age or gender.

So grab your boyfriend, your little cousin, your best friend, your parents, your siblings, basically anyone and slather some sunscreen on them. Whether they like the mist version, the standard block version, or the SPF 100, they’ll thank you in the long run, I promise.

To help you guys get as passionate about sunscreen and my team and I are (do you blame us for looking out for you?), I created a little guide for all your sunscreen needs. To shop and discover more about each product, just click on any and all of the products!

Sun Damage To Your Skin

 For those living in a warm climate and those who are jetting of for some Winter sun, this study gives information and highlights the importance of sunscreens.  It is always best to take precautions.

Shining a Light on the Damage That Daily Sun Exposure Can Cause: U-M Study Highlights Need for Better Sunscreens,

To your good health,

Adele Bantle,
International Style Coach