Suncreen Labels and Skin Cancer
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-06-16/suncreen-labels-and-skin-cancer
If you’ve shopped for sunscreens lately, you’re aware of the dizzying number of product choices, but it’s hard to know what kind of protection a particular product actually offers. The FDA has felt your pain, but not especially quickly. After thirty three years of review the agency has come out with new rules about how sunscreen manufacturers can and cannot describe their products.‘Sun block’ is out as is ‘waterproof’, and only products with an SPF value of 15 or above with both U-V-A and U-V-B protection can claim to reduce the risk of cancer and premature aging. Join us to discuss new rules for sunscreen labels and the ongoing battle against skin cancer.
Guests
Dr. Janet Woodcock
director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA
Dr. Margaret O'Neill
dermatologist
Dr. Stephen Katz
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health
Dave Andrews
senior scientist, Environmental Working Group
Dr. Lynn Schuchter
professor and division chief, Hematology-Oncology,
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
and leader, Melanoma Program, Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Comments
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This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. My young son monte (you may have seen his posts on this site) suffered severe brain damage from too much sun.
It has caused him to say and write offensive things- he thinks it is funny to be rude to people. I wish we had taken care of him better- some of his problems stem from the fact that he is young and immature and some from the over exposure to the sun. See he would immediately, in a knee-jerk reaction, blame skin cancer on democrats and the president. He does it all the time. If it rained he would find a way to blame 'big government democrats.' He just makes stuff up- as if the sun had dried up all common sense and just left a ball of hate where a soul should be.
I try to explain to him that writing offensive things doesn't change anyone's mind but he seems incapable of stopping himself- as he gets older we expect him to learn a little more self control (if the sun didn't permanently destroy his ability to think rationally).
I hope the panel discusses other sun related problems, like the one monte suffers from, instead of just focusing on skin cancer.
Perhaps the panel could discuss 'sun addled brain' issues.
I was not planning to comment on this topic but since I am here, this is just another stupid intervention on the part of the government. Thinking the people are so dumb that the removal of the words "sun block" is going to save lives.
Happy I am making so many friends here! It could be argued that what comes out of liberal democrats is more flatulence than anything else, it is a given that methane gas contributes to green house gases and could be causing more rain events in certain places. Whether or not there exists other toxic agents emitting from democrats to cause thinning of the ozone layer has yet to be determined.
By the way, I only respond back when I am attacked personally, with equal mean spirited retort. If you bother to look into it you will see my responses are a direct reaction to under handed sniping from someone who cannot stand to be disagreed with. Further I have about a 50% response rate to such attacks and have not stooped to your level at this point. Get it in your head! I am not here to persuade anyone on anything, just voicing my opinion and if I understand the rules of this forum correctly I am welcome here to do so.
Monte is being Monte. He/she has discouraged my commenting. I can't judge her/him except by what he/she says here. If I did that, I would be using his/her yardstick of decorum.
I look to what faiths teach, and some don't follow, and is a very basic human right, the right to be verbally and physically treated with respect and dignity. No exceptions.
I have a question about the SPF rating of clothing. My husband and father in law have had skin cancer and I have purchased hats, shirts and trousers for them, in addition I own an umbrella that is also SPF rated. Do the rating on clothing/fabric really mean anything? And will these ratings change too?
The Environmental Working Group has an elaborate website that rates sunscreen based on risk to the ingredients in sunscreen. I spent hours trying to determine the safest sunscreen, but it appears that there is no clear best answer to that question.
They claim risks to common chemicals such as vitamin A and Oxybenzone. We don't really know what risks there are to the nanoparticles of Zinc and Titanium, which inevitable will get into our bodies through cuts or ingestion.
Please ask your group to assess the claims and concerns of the Environmental Working Group.
Mike, Detroit
What about the risks of the toxicity of the titanium dioxide nano particles used in many sunscreens?
from Livestrong website: Peter Wick and colleagues reported in the March 2010 issue of "Environmental Health Perspectives" that free nanoparticles in the bloodstream are capable of crossing the barrier of the human placenta.
I have heard that these type of toxic products are not sold in Europe.
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Also-- Doesn't Sunblock stop skin from generating healthy Vitamin D via UV exposure?
Thanks for this discussion.
What does any of this do to our RDA for vitamin D? How does it affect it?
I have 2 questions.
1. What about make up that have SPF rating? Is this just a marketing gimmick?
2. How will this sunblock affect our ability to absorb vitiman D ( the main source being the sun)?
I would like to hear your guests comment on the level of chemicals in sunscreens and how harmful those chemicals are to our bodies. There is a rising body of evidence that shows that these chemicals can often be more harmful than the sun's rays in moderation.
Hi Diane.
I have fair skin and use sunscreen heavily. My question is about my daughter, who is Hispanic and relatively dark skin. How do I weigh the risk of skin cancer for her vs the risk of the chemicals in the sunscreen?
I hate to be a skeptic but, does it not raise an eyebrow to think that positive skin cancer results have more than doubled since the encouragement of sunblock went into place?
We as humans have been under the intense sun for more than a million years, why is it, that only now skin cancer is so serious? I understand we are now "looking" for, and able to detect it, but... we have skin, and vitamin D in our bodies to build natural sunblock. Maybe we should encourage a healthy diet to promote natural sunblock, as opposed to putting potentially toxic sunscreen on our bodies.
I for one will keep myself and my children outside, in the sun, and not worry or stress about how bad the sun is. It is the reason we are here, I will enjoy my life in its beauty.
I don't want to absorb chemicals through my skin. Please discuss what our body does to process sunscreen. You are suggesting that we apply a LOT of chemicals to the largest organ of our body.
Double Post, Apologies
What types of sunscreen do you recommend for infants and what do you think about UV protective clothing? My son is only 3 months old and we live in south Florida, it is nearly impossible to go out with him during the day, I keep him inside and use a parasol when we have to go out. Our pediatrician said to wait until he is 6 months which is what all the childrens' sunscreen bottles recommend. Thank you very much.
Dr. Katz's response in no way addressed the question of why BOTH skin cancer rates and sunscreen use rates are on the rise. Was he trying to say that, while sunscreen use rates are rising according to the numbers, population growth is outstripping that growth, making for an overall negative relative growth in sunscreen use? That's the first possibility that comes to mind. It's disappointing that Diane let him slide on this.
I'm interested in knowing what the risk factors are for the 3 types of skin cancer and how these are being addressed. I am also interested in the speakers addressing the increasing body of scientific research showing that vitamin D is preventative against many cancers, overall cancer incidence is increasing, and vitamin D status is low in many people.
Can you ask your guests to elaborate more on safety concerns of ingredients? What do we really know about Oxybenzone as an endocrine disruptor, about nanoparticles of metals, or the carcinogenic risks of vitamin A?
So far they seem to be understating any concerns in this area.
Mike, Detroit
I am a 63 year women who grew up outside and was a lifeguard during my late teens and early summer. I was laughed at because I used a sunscreen spf of 6, which was the highest of the time. I'm blond, blue eyed and light skinned and I hated having a burn. I have had basal cells removed from my shoulders and face even though I didn't get a burn, but had long exposure. What is the best for today for someone who are out in the sun almost continually because of a job.
Diane
Diane, could you address two issues regarding the use of sunscreen and skin cancer please. First, my understanding has been that 20 minutes without sunscreen is needed for daily required vitamin D. Second, isn't the answer to why there is more skin cancer now also due to the decrease in the ozone layer?
Relevant question for the safety issue:
Is any research on the topic of sunscreen safety done that is not funded by the sunscreen and other industry corporations?
The sunscreen with SPF 50 cause our clothing to turn orange where it touches the skin.....what is our option. The sunscreen has ruined a tremendous amount of clothing and this is VERY expensive. I have hear many people complain of this but it's never mentioned by the sunscreen companies. Thanks Diana
Hi Diane,
I am curious to know more about preventative measures to take against the sun, aside from the protective clothing and sunscreen already mentioned on the show. Do your guests have suggestions regarding specific foods and nutrients that are helpful in maintaining skin health and protection against the damaging effects of the sun?
Kendra - Cincinnati
One of the areas of skin cancer that is not covered on your show is that no one uses sun screen while driving. I found out the hard way that windows in the truck and car that I drive are not uv or uvb protected exposing me to the suns rays all day. Why not make auto makers add uv protection to the cars
Diane, can you discuss alpha hydroxy acids and their relation to increased cancer risk?
What about sunscreen as an endocrine disrupter?
For non-industry information of safety on sunscreen, Environmental Working Group has an annual guide that is full of information. That guide does not agree that all products on the market are safe as the FDA representative lead us to believe this morning.
Why was the the question regarding Vitamin D production and sunscreen not ever asked the participants?
Has anyone addressed the issue of cost? With so many people having trouble paying their bills, the cost of sunscreen makes it a luxury. Is there any talk of sun-screen give-aways?
Also, we are concerned about our obese children, and say, get up off the couch and go outside and play. Now the dermatologists say, stay out of the sun. We lose one way or the other.
For non-industry information of safety on sunscreen, Environmental Working Group has an annual guide that is full of information. That guide does not agree that all products on the market are safe as the FDA representative lead us to believe this morning.
Why was the the question regarding Vitamin D production and sunscreen not ever asked the participants?
What is the best way to dispose of outdated sunscreen without adding these potentially dangerous chemicals and nanoparticles to our waste stream.?
I was told more than 5 yrs ago by a dermatologist to avoid sunscreens with any ingredient ending in "benzone", as that ingredient is carcinogenic. Almost all sunscreens include a "benzone" ingredient. I was told to look for Zinc instead, which now comes in a formulation that does not appear white if you apply carefully.
It's difficult to find a nonbenzone, with zinc instead
Is this info correct?