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Did you know that the incidence of skin cancer increases every year even though sunscreens were invented?
Elizabeth Plourde, PhD. is a California scientist who demonstrated that over the past 30 years, during which sunscreens have been used everywhere and on a large scale, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of malignant melanoma (a malignant tumor disease) and all other types of skin cancer.
Products with protective factors against the harmful effects of UV (ultraviolet) radiation, excessive skin tanning, and sunburn, which we call sunscreens, actually contain dangerous chemicals.
Many of them are known carcinogens and chemicals that break down the endocrine system (EDC endocrine-disrupting chemicals).
So why do people have so much faith in protective filters? What is going on here? A sunscreen with a protective filter is after all a product we bought to protect us.
However, let’s think for a moment. What did we do for thousands of years before this discovery? The sun always has been, is, and will be a source of life and brings a lot of benefits to the human body.
The sun does not harm us
First of all, the sun does not harm us. It nourishes us. There is actually a lot of high-quality, scientifically grounded evidence for that. One of the latest large studies was published in 2014 by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
This study found that women who avoided lying in the sun had twice the likelihood of dying compared to women for whom sunbathing was a daily ritual.
It was truly a large study. They followed 30,000 women for 20 years!
“A” and “B” in sunlight
We often hear about different types of sun rays, so let’s start right at the very beginning.
Ultraviolet radiation (rays) UV-B is the primary cause of skin burning and non-melanoma skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma.
Chemicals that create a protective factor against sunlight in manufactured products are aimed at blocking UV-B radiation.
Ultraviolet radiation (rays) UV-A penetrates deeper into the skin and blocking it is considerably more difficult. There is not enough scientific knowledge about the harmfulness of UV-A radiation, and that could be very dangerous.
Currently there is a general consensus that while damage from UV-A radiation is much less common than that caused by UV-B radiation, damage caused by UV-A radiation is likely much more serious!
False sense of security
The SPF rating of sunscreen (SPF sun protection factor) has very little to do with the product’s ability to protect the skin from UV-A radiation (because protection against UV-A and UV-B is not aligned).
High-SPF products suppress skin burning from UV-B radiation, but do not protect against other damage caused by sunlight.
Therefore consumers have blind trust in these products and remain in the sun longer with ease. By doing so they are exposed to increased amounts of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
People think they are “protected,” and therefore tend to stay longer in the sun, while using sunscreens with low SPF or natural oils.
The result is that those who used ordinary sunscreen will be less burned by UV-B radiation but will absorb more of the more harmful UV-A radiation (studies have not yet proven that its effects cause cancer).
Philippe Autier, a scientist who previously worked for the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization, led several studies on tanning.
He believes that high-SPF products trigger “substantial changes in people’s attitudes toward tanning,” which, according to some studies, can lead to an increased risk of melanoma.
More chemicals than is acceptable
High-SPF products require higher concentrations of chemicals that filter radiation than low-SPF products or natural oils.
Some of these ingredients, after penetrating the skin, may pose serious health risks. These ingredients are associated with tissue damage, potential disruption of hormonal balance in the body and can trigger allergic skin reactions.
If studies proved that high-SPF products were better at reducing skin damage and the risk of skin cancer, then this exposure of the body to a higher chemical load might be justified.
However, they offer no benefit. Therefore choosing alternative sun protection products really begins to look like a much better solution.
Natural protection from the sun
When we are outside, the light entering our eyes sends signals to the pituitary. It sets in motion hormones that should be released to protect the skin.
The more we try to trick nature with chemicals, the more cancer and other diseases appear. Often the stress accompanying these health problems is more harmful than the primary health problem itself. Health is simple and always has been.
Do at least this: let your children run outside and play. Let them get enough vitamin D before you apply all those chemicals to them.
Enjoy the wonderful life-giving sun rays that are a blessing to people! Tan gradually, be sensible and you will live a long, healthy and happy life.
