Guest guest Posted October 10, 2003 Report Share Posted October 10, 2003 In a message dated 10/8/2003 8:26:14 AM Central Daylight Time, nonHSI@... writes: > > SPF 2 > > Health Sciences Institute e-Alert > > October 8, 2003 > > ************************************************************** > > Dear Reader, > > The executives at corporations that manufacture sunscreen > products might have experienced an unpleasant burning feeling > when a study released last month revealed that sunscreen may > not offer protection from the type of sun damage that could > cause skin cancer. Worse than that: the study also suggests > that sunscreen use may actually do more harm than good. > > This is a new twist on two points we've been telling you for > some time here at HSI: 1) Sunscreen lotion isn't the best way > to protect your skin, and 2) For most people, correct > nutrition and sensible exposure time may provide all the sun > protection you need. > > Meanwhile, millions of sun lovers and people who live in or > near tropical latitudes cover themselves head to toe in > sunscreen and spend hours in the sun, believing they're > protected. They may be protecting themselves from a bad burn, > but there are other things going on below the surface of the > skin that could create more serious problems in later years. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Poor defense > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > Researchers at the UK's Restoration of Appearance and > Function Trust (RAFT) acquired skin samples from consenting > patients undergoing surgery (such as breast reduction). In > separate tests, three commercial sunscreens with high sun > protection factors (SPF) of 20 or more were applied to the > skin samples. The samples were then exposed to ultraviolet A > (UVA) light at intensities comparable to that of sunlight. > > Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy (which determines > natural radiation concentrations), the researchers found that > free radical damage beneath the surface of the skin was > reduced by approximately 50 percent in skin samples treated > with sunscreen, compared to unprotected skin. And while that > may seem at first to be effective, researchers determined > that the actual " free-radical protection factor " was only 2. > > In other words, the sun protection factor of 20+ held true > only with ultraviolet B (UVB) rays - the rays that cause > sunburn. But protection from the free-radical damage that > corrupts DNA and may prompt skin cancer was judged to be > insufficient. > > The authors of the study fear that because sunscreen use > helps prevent burning, people feel safe spending many extra > hours in the sun. Meanwhile, those additional hours of > exposure may add up to cumulative DNA damage and skin cancer > because a considerable amount of UVA rays are still getting > through. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > What your skin wants > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > Before we go any further, it's important to note that the sun > is not your enemy. On the contrary, sunlight exposure prompts > your body to manufacture vitamin D. Those who live in extreme > northern and southern latitudes are often vitamin D deficient > because their exposure to sunlight is too low. As we've seen > with so many other health issues, the key is balance. The > right amount of sun exposure is: not too much, and not too > little. > > So don't listen to those who tell you to hide from the sun. > Sunlight is not just good for us, it's essential. But > excessive exposure leads to sunburn, which is obviously not > good for the skin. Nevertheless, sunburns do serve a purpose. > As V. , M.D., has pointed out, a sunburn is > nature's way of telling us that we're getting too much sun. > It's sort of like a pop-up thermometer on a turkey. When you > start turning red, you're done - your body has had enough > sunlight exposure. > > But what about those people who have to spend hours in the > sun; lifeguards, house builders, traffic policemen, etc.? > Writing in his Nutrition & Healing newsletter last year (June > 2002), Dr. discussed what he calls the " DNA Repair > Group " - the foods and supplements that everyone (and > especially those who get a lot of sun exposure) should be > consuming in abundance. > > Vitamins C and E are very important to relieving stress to > the skin. But according to Dr. , folic acid deficiency > is " a major contributor to skin cancer risk. " He says, " Folic > acid is destroyed rapidly by heat, cold, and exposure to > light, including sunlight. So it's sunlight's destructive > effect on folic acid in the skin, not the actual sun exposure > itself, that accounts for a significant part of the skin > cancer problem. Folic acid (along with vitamin B12 and zinc) > is absolutely key to DNA reproduction and repair. " > > The best dietary sources of folic acid include spinach and > other dark green vegetables, brewers yeast, lima beans, > cantaloupe, watermelon, wheat germ, and liver from > organically raised animals. In addition, Dr. suggests > supplementing with 1,000 mcg of folic acid per day, and more > if you spend a good amount of time in the sun or have a > family history of skin cancer. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Octyl methoxycinnamate! > -------------------------------------------------------------- > > I have one final note on sunscreen. In Monday's e- > Alert " Always at Your Side, " I told you how hard the liver > works to clean the body of toxins and foreign chemicals. The > next time you spread on some sunscreen, check the ingredient > list of nearly unpronounceable chemicals. Every chemical > absorbed by your skin - whether from sunscreen, bug spray, > cosmetics, or airborne pollutants - puts an unnecessary > stress on the liver. > > As frost begins to show on mornings here in Baltimore, this > may seem like an odd time to talk about sun exposure. But > many HSI members live in areas that are warm year-round. And > for those of us in northern regions, we still get - and need - > sunlight all year. So be good to your skin. Go easy on the > chemicals. And if you spend a lot of time in the sun, add > some folic acid to your supplement regimen. > > ************************************************************** Carol A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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