Talk Cancer

Question:

Does anybody have any ideas? I’ve read a few articles describing how normal sunscreen can cause cancer, and have no desire at all to cover my body with such a horrible collection of petrochemicals. Any ideas, web sites, references, etc would be most welcome! Thanks from down under,         Ed —   Are you living a life of passion, or just going through the motions? Totally risk free: you’re completely satisfied or 110% your money back. Canberra: (02) 6230-7145  Sydney, the rest of Australia: (02) 9475-1009 America: New York +1-212-214-0356       Europe: London +44-20-7504-8297

Response:

Does anybody have any ideas? I’ve read a few articles describing how normal sunscreen can cause cancer, and have no desire at all to cover my body with such a horrible collection of petrochemicals. Any ideas, web sites, references, etc would be most welcome!

For a clearer look at the problem, try www.cancer.org.  I just did, and I did a search for "sunscreen".  Looks like you have gotten hold of a distorted story about the dangers of sunscreens.  The only thing I found was this:   *some* sunscreens (about 25% of them) contain a compound called    PBSA, which can cause irritation that *might* promote skin cancer. That’s a pretty shaky reason to abandon conventional sunscreens altogether.  Just check the label, and avoid PBSA. Oh, and those stories about sunscreens causing blindness are scientific urban legends, i.e. they aren’t true either.  Slather on in peace.   — David Wright :: wright at ibnets.com :: Not a Spokesman for Anyone      These are my opinions only, but they’re almost always correct.        "If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants                   were standing on my shoulders."

Response:

Does anybody have any ideas? I’ve read a few articles describing how normal sunscreen can cause cancer, and have no desire at all to cover my body with such a horrible collection of petrochemicals. Any ideas, web sites, references, etc would be most welcome! Thanks from down under,

I am allergic to most sunscreens.  If I put them on my face, for example the left side of my face, my lips swell up, crack and peel.  This is not putting them on my lips.  Somehow something in them travels through my skin and affects my lips.  Same on the other side of my face.  This problem exists with sunscreens that are non-allergenic as well. However, I have found a good cheap sunscreen which is the Franklins Generic brand.  It causes no problems whatsoever. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ed —   Are you living a life of passion, or just going through the motions? Totally risk free: you’re completely satisfied or 110% your money back. Canberra: (02) 6230-7145  Sydney, the rest of Australia: (02) 9475-1009 America: New York +1-212-214-0356       Europe: London +44-20-7504-8297

Response:

In the US, there are a number of brands of "natural", sunscreens. They use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as UV blocks, in a bland base of lotion.  Very effective, not very easy to apply and some are cosmetically less-than-desirable.  (They leave a whitish film on the skin. After all, they are essentially white paint in a tube! Some add pink pigments to enhance the cosmetics.) They work by reflecting UV energy away from the body. Like a shield.

I don’t consider those products as being "natural" (titanium?). A good alternative sun block is a long-brimmed hat with pants and long-sleeved shirt. frank

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anybody have any ideas? I’ve read a few articles describing how normal sunscreen can cause cancer, and have no desire at all to cover my body with such a horrible collection of petrochemicals. Any ideas, web sites, references, etc would be most welcome! For a clearer look at the problem, try www.cancer.org.  I just did, and I did a search for "sunscreen".  Looks like you have gotten hold of a distorted story about the dangers of sunscreens.  The only thing I found was this:   *some* sunscreens (about 25% of them) contain a compound called    PBSA, which can cause irritation that *might* promote skin cancer. That’s a pretty shaky reason to abandon conventional sunscreens altogether.  Just check the label, and avoid PBSA.

In the US, there are a number of brands of "natural", sunscreens.  They use zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as UV blocks, in a bland base of lotion.  Very effective, not very easy to apply and some are cosmetically less-than-desirable.  (They leave a whitish film on the skin. After all, they are essentially white paint in a tube! Some add pink pigments to enhance the cosmetics.) They work by reflecting UV energy away from the body. Like a shield. But there is a caveat: Some recent studies indicate that the microcrytalline structure of the oxides might actually refect the UV INTO the skin, possible contributing to skin damage. Stay tuned. –LB — Larry Bickford, OD Doctor of Optometry, Family Practice Eye Health and Vision Care The EyeCare Connection http://www.EyeCareContacts.com Please note: Addresses are munged using the .invalid protocol to reduce spam. Help fight spam! Report spam to SpamCop  http://www.spamcop.net

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