How the sun sees you brilliant video

[AniaR]

Why I wear sunscreen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BqrSAHbTc&feature=youtu.be

[Echidna]

um.
I'm going to quote one of the comments to that video, because it's almost exactly what I thought.


Sunlight helps the body produce nutrients and vitamins that are hard to obtain from food products.
(Sunscreen prevents your body from doing so.)
The human species has lived in sunlight without sunscreen for thousands of years, and has adapted through the production of melanin in the dermis to reduce damage.
(again, sunscreen prevents your body from producing that natural protection.)

I'm not saying "don't use sunscreen".
UV light can be harmful to cellular DNA and can cause cancer, but showing these people the freckles they can't see isn't exactly a great argument for the necessity of sunscreen.
If you have moles or other skin irregularities, it's a great idea to wear sunscreen on those areas. If you are going to have a long amount of sun exposure it's also a good idea to wear sunscreen.

Is this video some sort of advertisement for sunscreen?
I guess I'm just a little perplexed as to why you tell these people with perfectly healthy skin to "put on some damn sunscreen already."
There is nothing wrong with these people. The ones with a bunch of sun freckles probably live much healthier life styles than those that don't.

There have been studies that show that skin cancer rates have been rising exponentially since ~30 years.
My grandparents and all their family before, for example, have never used sunscreen in their lives, were in the sun a lot more than we nowadays with our mostly indoor-livingstyle, and none of them had skin cancer.

Due to the studies, skin cancer risk rises if you use sunscreen, because it hinders your body from building up the natural UV protection, which in turn raises the risk of getting a sunburn if you forget the sunscreen.
Also, there are several types of UV radiation, and while sunscreen/sunblock prevents a sunburn, it lets the more damaging UV radiation through which ultimately can cause cancer.

^^I'm no expert at this, I've only read the studies.
But from personal experience I can say, people who don't use sunscreen at all, and are considerate with sun exposure times (wear hats, stay in the shade whenever possible) are less likely to suffer bad long-term effects from the sun than those that do.

[AniaR]

I've read the studies too (and continue to read them) and have done a lot of educational research on sunscreen. You have to give the context to of where you live as different parts of the world get different intensities of the rays. Here in NS skin cancer rates are much lower than places like Florida where you are in sun almost year round. And it's not so much that there is more cancer (in general) than before, but in the past 30 years early detection, diagnostic tools, and awareness has gone up exponentially. People still got it and died of it before. It just wasnt as well documented, as well diagnosed, as well caught.

There are many genetic skin factors that go into someone's susceptibility into whether or not they are at risk of skin cancer. I think it's unfair to take your family's experience and apply it to the rest of everyone else.

You can think what you'd like, but with a family history of skin cancer and fair skin that marks easily, I enjoy my sunscreen.

The UV shows you the damage you cant already see. Just because we associate it as being a "healthy glow" doesn't mean it is.


Also for people too lazy to click


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BqrSAHbTc&feature=youtu.be

[AniaR]

It is like anything else, it needs to be used properly, and in combination with others things. You cant just roll in it every once in a while and expect to be fine. You also cant treat it like using it makes you immune to the sun. You only need a very very short period of time and bit of skin unprotected in order to get enough vitamin D. People can get enough simply walking to their cars outside.

Further reading for those interested:

http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/sunscreens-safe-and-effective

https://www.particlesciences.com/docs/A_review_of_sunscreen_safety_and_efficacy.pdf

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/sunscreen-myths

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/07/wear-sunscreen.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/sunscreen-benefits_n_3464687.html

http://www.sunsmart.com.au/uv-sun-protection/slop-on-sunscreen

http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/how-often-apply-sunscreen.htm

http://time.com/109249/yes-you-need-to-wear-sunscreen-everywhere-heres-how/

http://dermatology.about.com/cs/skincareproducts/l/blsunscreen.htm

[Kishiko]

I stand in the middle here. Do I think you should never ever wear sunscreen and spend your life in the sun? No probably not. Do I think you should never go outside and bathe in SPF 70 when you do? Again, no probably not. I think both are healthy in portioned amounts. If you're going to be outside in direct sunlight for a while, then you should use sunscreen, but like me personally, I never put sunscreen on my thighs or most of my legs (zebra idea the tops of my ankles/feet) because I never ever tan or get sunburned there. I have a vitamin D deficiency (bone condition) so I need all the sun I can get, but I also have extremely fair skin so I burn quite easily. Once I was running a track meet and my mom and I both forgot to grab sunscreen. It was only about 68 degrees, but there was no clouds and the sun was reflecting of the track and I was sweating a lot. My shoulders got so burned by the end we were worried I would get skin cancer, but luckily I didn't. Would I say that was a smart thing to do and you'll be fine if you do it to? No, that would be a stupid and incorrect thing to say. But sun is extremely healthy for you. It will increase your vitamin D, help clear acne, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and has also been shown to send breast cancer into remission. But in large, unprotected amounts in can be very dangerous.

[Echidna]

You have to give the context to of where you live as different parts of the world get different intensities of the rays. Here in NS skin cancer rates are much lower than places like Florida where you are in sun almost year round.

that's a good point.
Living in the colder climates of more northly regions, you sure can be more lax with sunscreen than if you were at the equator.
Skin colour also factors in, and the ozone layer.

Maybe one should do a skin cancer map of the world in correlation to ozone layer thickness.
It'd be interesting to see, and it could give a better idea whether sunscreen is helpful preventing it or not.

Anyway, I wasn't trying to keep anyone from using their sunblock, just explaining my personal view on the matter.
I've been to Egypt and walked outside around noon for over an hour during summer, no hat, no sunscreen.
My mother was with me, she had a hat and a thick layer of sunscreen.

When we went back inside, she had the worst sunburn imaginable while I had nothing.
We are both the same fair complexion.

I have a healthy respect for the sun (in fact, I've avoided direct sunlight for decades because I took medication that leaves blemishes on your skin if you get into light, and I NEVER ever sunbathed), but overall I think I'm personally better off without lathering me with some chemical compound that contains tons of not-so-good stuff for your health.
(I'm also wary of bug repellents.
I've used them and had nasty side-effects, so I go the natural way: long sleeves and pants, and always on the look-out for biters :p )

[Mermaid Galene]

I'm sensitive to many chemicals, so I've done a lot of research into more natural sunscreens. There are some, but most don't block UVB effectively, if at all. Still, I only use the natural formulas, both for my own health and the health of aquatic animals where I swim. Sun exposure is tricky for me. I have an actual allergy to UVB rays, particularly on skin that's not usually exposed. Without adequate protection, I get a horrifically itchy and somewhat painful measles-like rash. Still, I don't worry too much about sun in my normal daytime clothes, though I wear a hat and long sleeves if I'm out in the sun for more than 10 minutes. But for mermaiding in skimpier costumes, it's a problem. Lots of sunscreen and a decorative umbrella if I'm not in the water.

[AniaR]

Sunscreen and sunblock are also both different.

[Sherielle]

My family has a history of skin cancer, so I always use sunblock on my face and neck. I'm a little more lenient on the rest of my body, though I should be more diligent.

[AniaR]

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/no-sunscreen-will-not-give-you-cancer

[Echidna]

You can just as easily find articles and studies saying the exact opposite.
For example
http://christhekiwi.com/ditch-the-sunscreen-the-kiwi-guide-to-intelligent-sun-exposure/

it's long, but worth a read, especially when it gets to the part that malignant melanoma is most prominent in people who have had little sun exposure.
On the bottom of the page is a truckload of studies and sources for everything the guy says.

What I find disturbing in the iflscience article is the statement,
"sure, sunscreen is bad for aquatic life but that doesn't matter, coz all the other stuff humans put in water are soo much worse!"
What kind of argument is that :thumbdown:

Ask any marine biologist, or water resource manager.
Sunscreen messes water quality up like no tomorrow (as does perfume and make-up).

It's the reason why I wouldn't wear any of that in water.
Saying the toxins and crap people already spilled into our waters are that much more detrimental is NOT an excuse to make it even worse.

[AniaR]

Ifls frequently employs sarcasm. Its a blog called I fucking love science after all lol. I just like sharing their blogs because they always cite peer reviewed articles.

[Echidna]

oh ok, didn't know what the abbreviation meant.
Not sure if there was sarcasm or not.

At any rate it's annoying when one source says one thing and another the opposite. :p

[AniaR]

They've got loads of articles about the state of our oceans ;)