The Sun, Sunscreen, And Cancer

[jordan_o]

Alright, I was just sitting around thinking about things, and these questions just popped into my head. After all I've learned here, all I thought I knew but really didn't, and how decieved I was before, I'm going to ask this seriously.

Is the big risk of skin cancer and the absolute need for sunscreen whenever outside ********? I just realised I've never really researched it, or thought more about it than what my parents always told me. So is this all true, or what?

Jordan.

[Calico]

Good questions. I'd like to know the same things.

In an article from the American Cancer Society (2002), fair-skin people are most at risk for Skin Cancer:
The best way to lower risk (of getting skin cancer) is to limit exposure to the sun through the protection of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts, shade.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Skin_Cancer_Risk_Highest_Among_Those_With _Fair_Skin.asp

Now, two new studies are saying that sun exposure may not be as bad as everyone has made it out to be, but that you should still exercise caution.
Until more is known, it's important to keep protecting yourself from too much sun.

"Sun protection should definitely be practiced," Berwick said. "There is no doubt in most people's minds that excessive sun exposure… can lead to the development of skin cancer, including melanoma."

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Sunlight_May_Not_Be_All_Bad_for_Some_Canc ers.asp

I remember, back about 30 years ago, my parents would use a homemade mixture of baby oil and iodine for their suntan lotion. They both had wonderful olive complexions that looked great and healthy. My mother ended up with a nasty melanoma that had to be removed, along with a good portion of her lower leg. My father also developed a nasty cancer (which eventually killed him), but apparently was not connected with exposure to the sun. 50/50?

Me... I've got the super fair complexion of my Irish heritage, so I don't go to the refrigerator without a SPF15 on my skin. I burned way too much as a kid, so I am at risk now as an adult, according to the first article above.

[Soapy Sam]

I'm 50. British. Worked in hot climates a lot. Spent a lot of time in the sun. Never used sunblock.

Compared with most of my stay at home schoolmates, my skin looks considerably aged. Lots of liver spots and dry, wrinkly bits.

No evidence of cancer.

But.

Sun definitely ages your skin. (True of any material- paint, wood, plastic.) It makes sense to cover up. Prevents burns and heatstroke. Especially- a floppy hat is just sensible (even if not fashionable)

Use the head. Cover up. That's my 2c worth.

[DangerousBeliefs]

Sun good.

Sunburn bad.

If you're going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time, wear sunscreen. If not for the fear of cancer, think of the pain. And this new spraycan sunscreen is great stuff - 3 seconds to apply all over.

But, I wouldn't get anal about it. If I'm going out to mow the lawn (about an hour in the sun) I don't bother with sunscreen.

But if I'm going the zoo for the day? Or a swim in the pool for a couple of hours?

Sun good.

Sunburn bad.

[Pidge]

Originally posted by DangerousBeliefs
But, I wouldn't get anal about it. If I'm going out to mow the lawn (about an hour in the sun) I don't bother with sunscreen.


Not something you can get away with in NZ. IIRC, Burn time during the middle of the day gets as low as 10 (perhaps lower!) minutes in NZ. If I'm going to mow the lawn in summer, it's either first thing (yeah, right) or well after 5pm. I can't stand putting on sun screen - I'd rather avoid going outside when I need it than put it on. If I have to go out (swimming, sports etc), however, I will put it on.

The odd thing in New Zealand is that it's relatively cool even in the middle of the summer - In Auckland, the official temperature struggles to get to 36 degress Celcius during the hottest part of summer. Mind you, the humidity's a killer...

I missed the tips of my ears when putting on sunscreen when I was working all day in the middle of summar once - that got me a matching pair of blisters...

[edit for clarity in last paragraph]

[Deetee]

If you are interested on forum members' ideas on this, post this on the Science/Medicine forum.

UV radiation causes skin cancers;- it is sensible to limit unnecessary exposure and use sun screens.

[Orangutan]

Originally posted by DangerousBeliefs
[B]
But, I wouldn't get anal about it./B]

Unless you plan on sunbathing in the nuddie. Then apply all over.

O.
;)

[Calico]

Originally posted by Orangutan
Unless you plan on sunbathing in the nuddie. Then apply all over.

O.
;)

:dl:

Nice one!

[aggle-rithm]

I've had skin cancer a number of times (dermatologists usually refer to it as "sun damage", since it is usually a very mild form of cancer). The theory of sun damage is that it is cumulative over time -- that is, the DNA of the skin cells are damaged, and this damage propagates itself as the skin cells are replaced by mitosis. If this were true, then you would expect the area of skin that has had the most cumulative exposure to the sun to have the most skin cancer.

In my case, the area of most exposure is the face and neck, followed by the arms, which are not covered in warm weather, followed by the legs, which aren't covered during summer vacation, followed by the torso, which is not covered during swimming. Therefore, if the skin cancer is indeed caused by sun damage, you would expect it to first appear on the face and neck.

I've had skin cancer about six or seven times in the last ten years -- all on my face and neck. So that seems pretty consistent with the theory.

As far as whether or not sunscreen helps -- there's no way of knowing for me. Most of the damage was done long before I got conscientious about wearing sunscreen.