Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

jon bradford — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:08:10 GMT

Coconut oil seems to work wonders, especially down in the tropics. Its good for both protection and darkening of the skin.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

marissab — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:59:17 GMT

As an Aesthetician, I appreciate the info, especially because this affects me on a daily basis. I have always questioned chemical sunscreens, and am a little embarrased to have been selling these ingredients to my clients.

I am however unimpressed with the doctor's and general publics' knowledge on daily sun exposure. In my training and research, have learned that there is no SAFE tan, regardless if it comes post burn or not. Living in Arizona, I've learned It is critical to protect the skin from daily sun exposure, like the kind you get from just being by a window, walking to and from the car, or even driving.

I was especially appalled to hear that the doctor felt that the "lightest shade of pink" on the skin may be a good indicator of too much exposure. I dissagree. Many people don't turn pink...

I wonder if there have been studies done specifically in the desert region on vitamin D deficiencies...? I'm almost positive most of us are getting more than adequate amounts of sunlight to suffice our needs.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

healthwatch — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:38:47 GMT

Why is Doh's post, referenced many times, not showing up? A sun screen made from a secret recipe of the Alcapulco natives? This site IS getting scary, and extremely less believable. Almost every article is spamming a product, and quite honestly, some products, like the Cocoa Casava bars, do NOT perform as promised. Naaah, what's up doc?

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Susan C. — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:34:23 GMT

Awhile back Dr. Mercola was pushing Aubrey Organics Natural Sun sunscreen and actually promoted ordering the product through his website. I now have 4 of these bottles - a special deal and after looking at this article, one of the primary ingredients in this sunscreen is Padimate O (PABA ester) 8% which is considered a problem ingredient that should be avoided. That's a little disconcerting to purchase something through this website that has Dr. Mercola's stamp of approval - the guru of safe products - only to find out that it may be harmful.....so am i supposed to spend more money and buy the new sunscreen he's now offering.....sheesshhh, I'm going broke and crazy trying to keep up with all the latest documentation on safe products. Susan C.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

uscjs — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:01:04 GMT

I use many Mercola products because of the professional manner in which the products are promoted. Thus, I am very disappointed to see Mercola stoop to such a low level when promoting the sunscreen staing that it contains a "secret" recipe.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Carol Morrisey — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:15:59 GMT

I have no objection to Dr. Mercola selling products. I've ordered before and been pleased. He has a right to make a living just like anyone else, and running this website costs plenty. We can't expect all this good information for nothing. It is also a public service to sell wholesome alternative products. I believe Dr. Mercola is honest, sincere and knowledgeable. He may need to be careful not to get carried away with hyperbole, but I'm glad he can provide things we need. Here are the questions I ask before buying a product:

1. Is the product information accurate?

2. Is the quality good?

3. Does it meet a real need?

4. Is it the best available?

5. Is the price reasonable?

I believe Dr. Mercola's products meet these criteria, as far as I can tell. Carry on, good doctor!

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Linda100 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:56:19 GMT

I've enjoyed reading Dr Mercola over the years, and I just basically ignore what is being advertised. If I see something of interest that he is advertising, I don't mind looking at it, and doing more research. He's only giving suggestions. Which I love. I love what others have to offer and suggest with products and I look at all of that too. Then I make up my own mind.

Along with all my reseach, I've been using this amazing organic sunscreen for a while now. It has natural minerals, that reflect damaging ultraviolet radiation. Someone mentioned olive oil as a sun protector, and this product has that too, along with zinc oxide.

My suggestion to you is take a look at this suggestion and make up your own mind. www.yourskin.biz

I'm not saying you have to buy it, but just read and BE INFORMED!! Don't worry about the small stuff. Enjoy the abundant of information being passed on to us by a reliable source like Mercola, and Live Well and Stay Healthy on your own terms!

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

TracyB — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:27:55 GMT

I used to burn in a matter of minutes. I'm quite fair (born a redhead) and it took maybe 20 minutes or so for me to get pink in the sun. Since I discovered a gluten intolerance, and subsequently stopped eating grains entirely, I don't burn. I can be out for hours, and might get a slight blush of pink. I actually tan now! Diet plays a huge role, IMO and IME.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

wiserd — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:26:02 GMT

Please reconsider the assertion that low Vitamin D causes osteoporosis. It seems that in most cases at least it is meerly correlated with it (typically chronic infection leads to low 25D and high 1,25D which leads to osteoporosis.) More D3 + calcium doesn't increase bone mineral density compared to + calcium alone.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

bpfsa — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:10:40 GMT

I am currently recovering from surgery after a squarmous cell carcinoma necessitated the removal of most of my lower lip. Plastic surgery has very cleverly used grafts from my cheek linings to reconstruct my lip to the point that no-one can notice any change (except at <B><I>really</I></B> close range - and nobody gets that close to my lip).

It would be easy to blame sun damage for that skin cancer. In high probability, it would also be erroneous. The squarmous cell carcinoma grew in the surgical scar of prior surgery on the lip - an unfortunately unnecessary surgical excision of a keratoma some fifteen years earlier that should have been diagnosed more competently and treated without such aggressive invasion.

Skin cancers can occur as a result of many forms of trauma to the skin. Sun exposure is but one way.

That said, several commenters have made mention of personal experiences of vegetable intake improving their resistance to sun damage. Science now supports those personal experiences, with spinach being probably the single most important vegetable for improving your skin's natural SPF level through dietary means. See :

www.spinachwords.com/sun_protection.shtml

I'm not about to suggest that spinach or vegetables alone are enough to prevent sunburn or skin cancer. Other sensible precautions must also be taken. Having travelled amongst and observed indigenous tribes in the South Pacific islands, I noted that, despite their dark brown (protective) skin pigments, it was and still is a custom to have a "siesta" or a break and a sleep for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. In other words, these native tribes with their active outdoors lifestyles have known for probably thousands of years to stay in the shade or go indoors during the peak UV periods of the day.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

tak-5 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:36:13 GMT

Dr. Mercola ask me why I no-longer wanted his emails sent to me about six months ago, I stated he talks to much, that seems to have not changed. It would seem that every artical that I've ever read always leads to something he's selling. They're all extremely long-winded and end with something to purchase!

re re: re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

healthiswealth — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:19:07 GMT

The bottom line is that 99% of Dr. Mercola's articles have ZERO promos in them. This is the greatest natural health site on the internet. He deserves everything good that he gets.

Big Pharma and the Allopathic "sick care" industry is destroying health and lives in America to the tune of $2 TRILLION dollars a year and people are going to get on Mercola's back for making a few dollars while providing a priceless service? That is absurd. This is one of the ONLY honest and decent guys out there that is trying to save your life. Show some gratitude.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

Alan845 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:15:59 GMT

A couple of comments:

1. I made up a mixture of comfrey decoction, olive oil and beeswax and tested its efficacy as a sunscreen as compared with a commercial SPF15 sunscreen. I applied 1 application of the commercial to the left half of my body, and 1 application of the home made to the right half before about 3 hours of sun exposure. There was no difference in results - no burning from either product, And I'm sure the home made was safer.

2. Polyunsaturated oils break down into carcinogenic compounds when exposed to UV light. Our skin is oiled by the oils we eat. Heated polyunsaturated oils are probably rancid and probably contain trans fats. Putting all this together, it seems that a diet high in polyunsaturated oils, especially those which have been heated, could very easily contribute to skin cancers due to those oils being broken down by UV sunlight into carcinogenic compounds on the skin itself. Does anyone know of any research that has been done on this?

Alan

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

preacher — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:31:28 GMT

Preacher: I have found that by eating lots of vegetables and being saturated with clean water I have not gotten a sunburn in over 6 years. Before going to the beach, or spending lots of time in the sun, I also take a bath with a pint of hydrogen peroxide in my bath water. I have been to the equator, Philippines and other hot places and no sunburn.

re: Four Out of Five Sunscreens May Be Hazardous to Your Health

ArizonaSharona — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:47:04 GMT

I am so confused about getting sun exposure despite what the articles say about sun . Here is my problem. I live in Phoenix, AZ. In summer, midday temps can reach 110 plus. It's brutal to put yourself out there for 20 minutes. It's great in fall, spring and winter, but summer is impossible. I have been doing 20-30 minute walks at 7am (which can be as hot as 95 degrees), but now I hear I'm only exposing myself to UVA rays and that's dangerous. Most Phoenicians go out in the early AM hours and hide indoors till evening comes. Does anyone, including Dr Mercola have a solution for me?