Sunscreens can damage skin, researchers find

[latelatebloomer]

Interesting to me that you feel "stifled" by sunscreen. I recently got overheated on a midday ride, and secretly felt that in part it was due to applying a heavier sunscreen to protect myself from the early afternoon sun!

[light_sabe_r]

Interesting that it's been a well known fact and the source of advertising campaigns (More than anything else, campaigns by the sunscreen companies themselves as well as the Cancer council) for years down here in Australia that Suncreens must be reapplied every two hours or so... esp if you're sweating or participating in water activities...

Since sunscreen moisterisers for body are bloody expensive I've been starting to mix 50:50 lots of body moisturiser and 30+ (max Australian rating) Sunscreen together so my shaved legs don't dry out.

I never walk out of the house without putting this mix on, I haven't been burnt since November last year (when I FORGOT) and I have "trial size" sunscreen bottle I keep refilling. It fits perfectly in my jersey pockets and I reapply every 2 hours or so when riding or just out and about.

My mum's had 3 skin cancers removed, my dad one, and I used to work for a Skin cancer screening centre. I never leave home without it!

[KnottedYet]

Sunscreen is my friend. Hats with big brims are my friends. SPF shirts are my friends.

I always wear a sunscreen with a physical block as well as a chemical screen. (The Eureka report is talking about the chemical screens.) Dermatone purely physical block SPF 15 (very greasy paste) goes over the Banana Boat or Hawaiian Tropic SPF 30 in key spots during heavy outdoor stuff.

Can also put Dermatone paste on the lips if you don't mind the smell.

The waterfree paste (in the little blue tin) works much MUCH better for me than the "water proof" lotion in the white bottle.

Any bad effects from the sunscreens and sunblocks I use are more than outweighed by the benefits I get by using them.

[ChickWithBrains]

They are not saying sunscreen is bad for you!!!

They are saying that people don't reapply often enough, and because of it, have even more increased sun exposure. Perhaps if they hadn't put it on in the first place, they would have worn better sun protective clothing or stayed out of the sun. But the sunscreen itself is not what is harmful!!!

[DrBadger]

They are not saying sunscreen is bad for you!!!

They are saying that people don't reapply often enough, and because of it, have even more increased sun exposure. Perhaps if they hadn't put it on in the first place, they would have worn better sun protective clothing or stayed out of the sun. But the sunscreen itself is not what is harmful!!!

This is partially correct. According to the article when the UV filters penetrate the skin and begin to react with UV radition (because additional sunscreen wasn't applied) they actually generate even more of these Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which cause much of the damage. So basically, if you apply sunscreen only once when going outside, and don't reapply, you are likely exposing yourself to even more ROS that you would have if you didn't apply sunscreen at all.

But yes, the over all conclusion is still that sunscreen is very important, and MUST be applied correctly, and often enough, to be truly beneficial.

Interesting article Jo, thanks for posting!

[Dianyla]

I've already been avoiding the specific agents named in that study (octylmethoxycinnamate, benzophenone-3 and octocrylene) for some time now because there is some debate over carcinogenicity. It hasn't been proven, but it hasn't been ruled out either. Also, most of the sunscreen brands that use these UV agents also contain questionable ingredients like parabens as preservatives.

IMO, this article just gives me one more reason to stick to sunscreens that are based on zinc/titanium oxides. Granted, they don't spread on as easily or feel as nice as the really slick brands like Neutrogena, but they're typically more effective (higher SPF) and they are not as toxic or irritating to the skin. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I'd rather use what seems like the safest option whenever possible.

[KnottedYet]

I'm supposed to wear this cr@p every day. (once a cancer patient, always a cancer patient) and I also lean toward the physical blocks (oxides and clothing). I use the chemical blocks when I know I'm going to be sweating or swimming, just because they do absorb into the skin and work after the solar radiation has penetrated your flesh. (kind of a last-ditch protection in my book)

Wear your sunscreen correctly! Wear protective clothing! Hooray for brimmed HATS! (block 90% of sun you may encounter)

[Trek420]

Oh heck, let's just all stay indoors. Just kidding!! Really.