It is official, summer is here! Certainly, as North Americans, summer time is to be cherished and not to be taken for granted. Even just for pure health reasons, we should be spending more time outdoors, to be more physically active, to be able to get more fresh air and also to get some desperately needed extra sunshine (vitamin D).
However, as with many other good things, too much sunshine can pose a problem- increased risk of developing skin cancer. This is not ground breaking news to anyone, we are all aware of the importance of skin protection. But did you know that depending on which sunscreen you are using, you might be increasing your chances even more.
If this is news to you, remember that it's old research.
Professor Johan Moan of the Norwegian Cancer Institute found, in 1991, that a very strong correlation between sunscreen usage and the incidence of skin cancer. He published an article in The British Journal of Cancer stating that ozone depletion is not the cause for skin cancer. Further research supported Dr. Moans' conclusions.
Many sunscreens that are on the market contain benzophenone or its derivatives (oxybenzone, benzophenone-3) as the active ingredient. These serve their "sun-blocking" properties by absorbing UVB rays (and to a small extend UVA rays as well, depending on the brand. It is important to note that UVB rays are a primary cause of sunburns, while UVA rays are the rays that are more likely to cause skin cancer. Further, the absorption of UV rays can cause these active ingredients (benzophenones and it's derivatives) to become unstable, forming free-radicals. Free radicals can lead to DNA damage, and thereby cancer development.
This is certainly not to say that sunscreen is to be skipped in the summer, especially if you do spend extended periods of time outside. However to protect yourself, be sure to pick the RIGHT sunscreen. There are two major types of mechanisms of UV ray blocking, chemical or physical. Benzophenone is a chemical sunblock, while ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide block the sun by reflecting it away from the skin. Physical forms of sunscreen are safe to use, as they do not lead to free radical formation.
Lastly, it is important to keep in mind that one should not rely on the use of sunscreens to protect the skin. Other skin protection tips include wearing protective clothing such as hats and light coloured shirts and pants/skirts, and avoiding/minimizing sun exposure during hours when the UV index is highest (i.e. the few hours before and after 12:00pm).
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