Sunscreen Scruples

Scruples about sunscreen? How is that even a question? 

Sun exposure --> skin cancer --> bad. This won’t be a news flash to a lot of you tuning in, but like most things I’m learning about Big Medicine these days, question everything! The main reasons why we apply sunscreen is to not burn our skin, but also to help prevent skin cancer.

I’ve been following the fascinating Substack authored by A Midwestern Doctor (AMD), throughout the pandemic. The author recently posted “Dermatology's Disastrous War Against the Sun”. I encourage you to read this entire post (you can read most of the article for free without subscribing). In this post, the AMD goes into great detail, with ample references, about the various forms of skin cancer, the conflagration of very common but benign forms with rare and deadly forms, to create an industry that has ballooned out of proportion and has ultimately undermined our health. I’m going to summarize the information here, and not provide ALL the references cited in the article.

The forms of skin cancer caused by sun exposure, Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas, are not very dangerous. Basal Cell grows locally and although can become quite large and disfiguring, it has approximately a 0% fatality rate. Squamous Cell does have the potential to metastasize but is usually detected early enough to prevent any major health problems. The reason is mostly because these arise in sun-exposed areas which are more visible and therefore more easily detectable. Melanoma, the deadly skin cancer we’re all rightly concerned about, is not caused by sun damage.

Melanoma represents about 1% of all skin cancers but is responsible for most of the skin cancer deaths. Early detection is crucial, and it is important for health professionals to recognize the signs of malignancy. However, melanoma is not caused by skin damage caused by sun exposure. A few points from AMD’s article:

• A 1997 meta-analysis of the available literature found workers with significant occupational sunlight exposure were 14% less likely to get melanoma.

• Outdoor workers get 3–10 times the annual UV dose that indoor workers get, yet they have lower incidences of cutaneous malignant melanoma and an odds ratio (risk) that is half that of their outdoor colleagues.

• Existing research has found using sunscreen either has no effect on the rates of malignant melanoma or increases it, which makes it quite frustrating that governments around the world always parrot the advice to wear more of it, especially whenever melanoma rates are rising (in other words, exactly what we also see with the COVID-19 vaccine drives).

(Note: a case can be made that the chemicals in sunscreen cause skin cancer, and likewise some evidence exists for this with certain cosmetic products on the market.)

The Sunscreen Question

Dr. Mercola has published an article discussing the negative properties of many sunscreen products. These include endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity, listing some of the responsible ingredients. Avoiding sunscreen with nanosized particles (such as the spray-on versions) will reduce inhalation and absorption through the lungs.

“With all the sunscreens on the market, how do you identify a safe one? The key to remember is that there really are only two known safe sunscreen ingredients — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — and they must not be nano-sized.

Your safest choice is a lotion or cream with zinc oxide, as it is stable in sunlight and provides the best protection from UVA rays. Your next best option is titanium dioxide. Just make sure the product does not contain nano sized particles and protects against both UVA and UVB rays.”

Although I don’t agree with The Environmental Working Group’s recommendation (per experts and influencers) that you should wear sunscreen every day all the time while outside, there are times when wearing sunscreen might be a good idea. I recommend plain old zinc oxide, but EWG has published a list of products that pass their scrutiny.

Sunlight is incredibly healthy for us, and I would argue, as outlined by AMD, that sunlight is an essential nutrient. However, the biological and psychological benefits are largely ignored by Big Medicine who have told us to avoid the sun. I think a lot of us know deep down that holidays to the beach are good for us. Vitamin D is essential, and the best way to get it is through sun exposure (without sunscreen!). This post is already a bit on the long side, so I’ll put a pin in it and pick up these threads in the future.

What are your thoughts about this? I’d love to hear from you!