SPF Sunscreen Good or Bad?

limitme · � #31 � 05-01-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u&iraok

Marilyn,

Limitme,

I think the coconut oil would make some people burn if used initially because it encourages tanning but I don't know about adding aloe.

there are alot of tanning lotions that put coconut oil in their products....
plus, if you think about it....it seems as though it would make sense that oils and extracts from beach plants might offer some protection for your skin....

Ted_Hutchinson · � #32 � 05-02-2010, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitme

there are alot of tanning lotions that put coconut oil in their products....
plus, if you think about it....it seems as though it would make sense that oils and extracts from beach plants might offer some protection for your skin....

Effect of different oils on UV penetration this paper shows that Coconut oil does not prevent UV penetrating to the skin.

So the good news is that applying coconut oil to your skin will not prevent you making Vitamin D, the bad news is that coconut oil does not reduce the amount of UVA exposure that could damage skin and newly made vitamin D3.

NUTRITIONAL PROTECTION AGAINST SKIN DAMAGE FROM SUNLIGHT This paper (full text fee online) has an interesting section showing sunburn sensitivity was diminished by ingestion of 4g omega 3 EPA, for 3 months.

But remember if trying this yourself, OMEGA 6 is the bullyboy that pushes omega 3 out of it's place in your cells. So if you want more omega 3 in, you must take OMEGA 6 industrial seed oils such as corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower and cottonseed oil OUT of your diet. That means looking at all the manufactured foods you consume and eliminating those with any of those Omega 6 oils present.

Don't forget the time frame either. I've probably said earlier in this thread it takes roughly 2yrs to rebuild half the cells in your body with the ideal omega 3<>omega 6 ratio and probably 5 yrs to complete the job so this is a long term project and the 3 MONTHS lead in period is required before you should expect to see a significant change in your skin's ability to withstand sun exposure.

But there will be other benefits from correcting omega 3<>omega 6 ratio that will become apparent if you are involved in an accident, require hospital treatment or come under extreme stress. Just 7 days omega 3 supplementation is cost effective in reducing time spent in hospital following surgery.

u&iraok · � #33 � 05-03-2010, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitme

there are alot of tanning lotions that put coconut oil in their products....
plus, if you think about it....it seems as though it would make sense that oils and extracts from beach plants might offer some protection for your skin....

Maybe you're right limitme. The book Coconut Cures says that coconut oil offers protection from burning. I seem to remember that my skin tanned quicker but also turned red quicker but I don't have a good memory so maybe I'm remembering it wrong.

I seem to remember a discussion somewhere about applying Vitamin C to your skin, maybe in the coconut oil, to protect your skin from the UVA rays.

limitme · � #34 � 05-03-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted_Hutchinson

Effect of different oils on UV penetration this paper shows that Coconut oil does not prevent UV penetrating to the skin.

So the good news is that applying coconut oil to your skin will not prevent you making Vitamin D, the bad news is that coconut oil does not reduce the amount of UVA exposure that could damage skin and newly made vitamin D3.

Well, maybe coconut oil has stuff in it that helps your skin from drying out and burning...

I think there's more to your skin burning than just UV rays, right? Like how much moisture is in your skin...perhaps many other factors my tired brain can't think of....

Ted_Hutchinson · � #35 � 05-04-2010, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitme

Well, maybe coconut oil has stuff in it that helps your skin from drying out and burning...

I think there's more to your skin burning than just UV rays, right? Like how much moisture is in your skin...perhaps many other factors my tired brain can't think of....

I agree that's why I suggest a comprehensive approach using diet, supplements and omega 3.

While I think all approaches will help, the key has to be the reduction of omega 6 industrially made vegetable/seed oils and that means not just the food you prepare at home but particularly food you buy ready prepared or eat out of the home. Too much omega 6, that is more than 4.5% more omega 6 than omega 3 and the omega 6 ACTIVELY displaces omega 3 from it's position in cells. So more omega 6 means less omega 3 in tissues.

Omega 3 is particularly important because it enables more blood to flow to the surface of the skin and thus act as a coolant. The omega 3 content makes the cells more porous, so stuff can get in and out of the cell easier, and it also makes the cell membrane more flexible so the cells can squeeze through the finest capillaries faster.

limitme · � #36 � 05-04-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted_Hutchinson

I agree that's why I suggest a comprehensive approach using diet, supplements and omega 3.

While I think all approaches will help, the key has to be the reduction of omega 6 industrially made vegetable/seed oils and that means not just the food you prepare at home but particularly food you buy ready prepared or eat out of the home. Too much omega 6, that is more than 4.5% more omega 6 than omega 3 and the omega 6 ACTIVELY displaces omega 3 from it's position in cells. So more omega 6 means less omega 3 in tissues.

Omega 3 is particularly important because it enables more blood to flow to the surface of the skin and thus act as a coolant. The omega 3 content makes the cells more porous, so stuff can get in and out of the cell easier, and it also makes the cell membrane more flexible so the cells can squeeze through the finest capillaries faster.

Very interesting...I had no idea n-6 oils and vitamin d played a part in tanning....

I knew that n-3 oils were what you ideally wanted and cutting back n-6 oils were essential to good health....I've been reading Dr. Blaylock's book..Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life....he has a chapter in there where he goes into detail as to why you need n-3 oils and you want to avoid all hydrogenated oils....

quick question....are all omega 6 oils hydrogenated?

u&iraok · � #37 � 05-14-2010, 11:03 AM

No, all omega 6s are not hydrogenated. It's all about quality and minimal processing. Quality oils that contain Omega 6s will give you needed fatty acids but most people get too many 6s from poor quality oils and not enough omega 3s.

And now people are switching to olive oil which can be good in many ways and certainly better than canola, vegetable, soy, and corn oil but it has neither 6s nor 3s so that gets them away from 6s but not towards 3s.

BlancheYHU · � #38 � 05-14-2010, 12:11 PM

Also, it's the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 that has become a problem. The ration is stated as 1:1 to 1:3 for omega-3 to omega-6. Now it runs around 1:20 to 1:25 with some experts even saying that it can go as hign as 1:36 in the favor of omega-6.

The omega-6 in today's diet is poor quality. Most of it comes from pre-packaged foods.
The sun isn't the real problem it is the diet, and we have to look there first instead of to lotions. Protection comes from the inside, not the outside.

There are a few facts that aren't widely known. Sailors who worked on the decks in the sun were fine, the ones that worked in the steam rooms below deck had the problems.

Ted_Hutchinson · � #39 � 05-23-2010, 03:31 AM

Influence of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid sources on prostaglandin levels in mice.

Quote:

Studies from this laboratory, employing a hairless mouse model, have indicated that a polyunsaturated fatty acid source rich in omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) inhibits ultraviolet (UV)-carcinogenic expression, when compared to that of diets containing predominantly n-6 fatty acids.

Omega-3 FA is a poor substrate for cyclooxygenase, the rate-limiting step in prostaglandin (PG) synthesis--the latter, particularly PGE2, are known to influence tumor biology.

Based upon this rationale, plasma and cutaneous PGE2 levels were determined from hairless mice fed diets containing either 4% or 12% corn or menhaden oil.

After two weeks on the respective diets, plasma PGE2 levels of corn oil-fed animals were approximately 6-fold greater than those of the menhaden oil-fed groups.

A similar response was found in the dermis.

Although the relationship to carcinogenic expression is unknown, dietary n-3 FA content can have a pronounced effect upon PGE2 levels and possesses the potential for influencing other immunomodulators.

Ted_Hutchinson · � #40 � 05-30-2010, 04:39 AM

Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer

Quote:

WASHINGTON (May 24) -- Almost half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A or its derivatives, according to an evaluation of those products released today.

AOL News also has learned through documents and interviews that the Food and Drug Administration has known of the potential danger for as long as a decade without alerting the public, which the FDA denies.

The study was released with Memorial Day weekend approaching. Store shelves throughout the country are already crammed with tubes, jars, bottles and spray cans of sunscreen.

The white goop, creams and ointments might prevent sunburn. But don't count on them to keep the ultraviolet light from destroying your skin cells and causing tumors and lesions, according to researchers at Environmental Working Group.

In their annual report to consumers on sunscreen, they say that only 39 of the 500 products they examined were considered safe and effective to use.

The report cites these problems with bogus sun protection factor (SPF) numbers:
The use of the hormone-disrupting chemical oxybenzone, which penetrates the skin and enters the bloodstream.
Overstated claims about performance.
The lack of needed regulations and oversight by the Food and Drug Administration.

But the most alarming disclosure in this year's report is the finding that vitamin A and its derivatives, retinol and retinyl palmitate, may speed up the cancer that sunscreen is used to prevent.

Environmental Working Group

A dangerous additive

The industry includes vitamin A in its sunscreen formulations because it is an anti-oxidant that slows skin aging.

But the EWG researchers found the initial findings of an FDA study of vitamin A's photocarcinogenic properties, meaning the possibility that it results in cancerous tumors when used on skin exposed to sunlight.

"In that yearlong study, tumors and lesions developed up to 21 percent faster in lab animals coated in a vitamin A-laced cream than animals treated with a vitamin-free cream," the report said.

The conclusion came from EWG's analysis of initial findings released last fall by the FDA and the National Toxicology Program, the federal government's principle evaluator of substances that raise public health concerns.

EWG's conclusions were subsequently scrutinized by outside toxicologists.

Based on the strength of the findings by FDA's own scientists, many in the public health community say they can't believe nor understand why the agency hasn't already notified the public of the possible danger.

"There was enough evidence 10 years ago for FDA to caution consumers against the use of vitamin A in sunscreens," Jane Houlihan, EWG's senior vice president for research, told AOL News.

"FDA launched this one-year study, completed their research and now 10 years later, they say nothing about it, just silence."

On Friday, the FDA said the allegations are not true.

"We have thoroughly checked and are not aware of any studies," an FDA spokesperson told AOL News. She said she checked with bosses throughout the agency and found no one who knew of the vitamin A sunscreen research being done by or on behalf of the agency.

But documents from the FDA and the National Toxicology Program showed that the agency had done the research.

"Retinyl palmitate was selected by (FDA's) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition for photo-toxicity and photocarcinogenicity testing based on the increasingly widespread use of this compound in cosmetic retail products for use on sun-exposed skin," said an October 2000 report by the National Toxicology Program.

FDA's own website said the animal studies were done at its National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson, Ark. And it was scientists from the FDA center and National Toxicology Program who posted the study data last fall.

In a perfect world

The ideal sunscreen would completely block the UV rays that cause sunburn, immune suppression and damaging free radicals. It would remain effective on the skin for several hours and not form harmful ingredients when degraded by UV light, the report said.

National Cancer Institute
Graph of melanoma of the skin rates from 1975 to 2006. APC stands for annual percent change and AAPC stands for average annual percent change.

But in the U.S., there is currently no sunscreen that meets all of these criteria. European countries have more chemical combinations to offer, but in the U.S. the major choice is between the "chemical" sunscreens, which have inferior stability, penetrate the skin and may disrupt the body's hormone systems, and "mineral" sunscreens zinc and titanium dioxide.

Increasingly, as AOL News reported in March, the industry is using titanium dioxide that is made nanosized, which a growing number of researchers believe have serious health implications.

The sunscreen industry cringes when EWG releases its yearly report -- this is its fourth. The industry charges that the advocacy group wants to do away with all sunscreen products, a claim that is not accurate.

The report's researchers clearly say that an effective sunscreen prevents more damage than it causes, but it wants consumers to have accurate information on the limitations of what they buy and on the potentially harmful chemicals in some of those products.

EWG does warn consumers not to depend on any sunscreen for primary protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Hats, clothing and shade are still the most reliable sun protection available, they say.

Don't count on the numbers

Some of us are old enough to remember when the idea of having a tan was good, a sign of health, when billboards and magazine ads featured the Coppertone girl showing off her tan when a puppy pulls down her bathing suit bottom.

Going for that tan, we coated our kids and ourselves with sun blockers with sun protection factors of 1 or 2. Some overly cautious parents might have smeared on a 4 during the hottest part of a day.

But we've learned of the dangers that come from exposure to the sun's rays, especially ultraviolet A and B. So today, drugstore shelves are crammed with sunscreens boasting SPFs of 30, 45, 80 or even higher.

However, the new report says those numbers are often meaningless and dangerous because products with high SPF ratings sell a false sense of security, encouraging people using them to stay out in the sun longer.

"People don't get the high SPF they pay for," the report says. "People apply about a quarter of the recommended amount. So in everyday practice, a product labeled SPF 100 really performs like SPF 3.2, an SPF 30 rating equates to a 2.3 and an SPF 15 translates to 2."

In 2007, the report says, the FDA published proposed regulations that would prohibit manufacturers from labeling sunscreens with an SPF higher than "SPF 50." The agency wrote that higher values would be "inherently misleading," given that "there is no assurance that the specific values themselves are in fact truthful."

This is being widely ignored by the sunscreen makers who are heavily advertising their 80, 90 and 100 SPF products.

"Flouting FDA's proposed regulation," companies substantially increased their high-SPF offerings in 2010 with one in six brands now listing SPF values higher than 50. "Neutrogena and Banana Boat stand out among the offenders, with six and four products labeled as 'SPF 100,' respectively," the new report says.

The full list of the best and worst sunscreens can be found on the EWG's searchable database. (Update: The database has been loading slowly today. You may want to try it again later.)
Filed under: Nation, Health, Top Stories

worth going to the original link for the graphs.
and to EWG's Sunscreen site

kind2creatures · � #41 � 05-30-2010, 08:28 AM

(forwarded message from another group with recipes)

Quote:

Natural Sunscreen

step 1 Materials

You'll need the following ingredients to make sunscreen:8oz carrier. oil -
olive, sunflower, jojoba, soybean - your choice1oz emulsifing wax
Sunblocking
agent - zinc oxide or titanium dioxide - available onlineEssential oils of your
choice (opt.) - I used geranium and sweet orangeThe following tools make the job
easier:Mixer - either handheld mixer, submersible blender, �

step 2 An Easier Recipe

If you want your sunscreen NOW, and you don't want to mess around with making
your own lotion, just buy your favorite lotion from the store, and add your zinc
oxide or titanium dioxide to that!

This means you can make sunscreen that's
sensitive enough to use on delicate skin, or is already your favorite scent or
creaminess.8oz lotionZinc oxide or titanium dioxide (see �

step 3 Mix oils and wax

Measure one ounce of wax into a microwave safe container. Melt on high heat
(approx 1 minute for me). Add 8oz. oil, and blend well.
Add a few drops of
essential oils for scent.The mixture may need to back in the microwave for a bit
if it starts to harden up again.

step 4 SPF Table

Use the following table to determine your measurements.For example, 8oz.
(weighed) of lotion + .8oz of titanium micronized dioxide (weighed) = SPF20+The
Micronized TD is 10% of the original amount of lotion used (not the finished
weight).
If you used 8oz of lotion + .8oz of Micronized ZO, the SPF would be
11-12.

step 5 Add dry ingredients

Wearing your gloves and mask, carefully measure zinc oxide or titanium oxide
into your blending container (see chart above). For this recipe, I weighed out
.9oz of Micronized TO to make an SPF 20.Add the wax/oil mixture to the
powder.
Blend thoroughly.Scrape the sides of your mixing bowl and blend some
more.Continue blending until the powder is thoroughly incorporated.

step 6 Transfer into container

Use a silicone spatula to transfer your mixture into a pastry bag or plastic
baggie with the corner snipped off.Squeeze the lotion into your new containers
and label.Apply liberally and frequently!!

step 7 Disclaimer

These recipes and instructions are for homemade use only. The concentration of
TD/ZO in the lotion is approximated for ease of use. The variations in
concentration will still fall within the SPF ranges set forth, and should not
cause concern in small batches (approx 8-12oz)If you want to make and sell a
skin care product, you must adhere to the regulations set forth by�

step 8 An Alternative

In response to a lot feedback I've been getting, I'd like to offer a TD/ZO
alternative.I haven't tested this out, but this is a recipe I found on Suite
101.
Natural Protection Cream Recipe
3 tbsp.
unrefined sesame oil1 tbsp. unrefined avocado oil1 tbsp. unrefined jojoba oil1
tbsp. walnut or almond oil1 tbsp. shea butter2 tbsp. cocoa butter.

A Good Aftersun is:

4 oz sweet almond oil
4 oz olive oil
1 oz beeswax
2 large tablespoons of honey
10 drops peppermint oil
10 drops tea tree
10 drops lavender
1 large table spoon aloe vera

Melt the beeswax in a double boiler and warm the olive/almond oil. Mix in with
the beeswax and take off the heat . Add the honey and aloe vera and mix well
with a hand blender.
Keep mixing as you add the essential oils then pour into a sterilised jar and
keep in the fridge.

Happy sunny days

Barbara

Ted_Hutchinson · � #42 � 05-31-2010, 02:06 AM

The best protection comes from the inside.
By removing the potential for inflammation and replacing it with the means to resolve inflammation you change the whole inflammatory environment.

The potential of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer.

Quote:

In toto, there is strong circumstantial evidence from both experimental and clinical studies to support a role for omega-3 FA in the prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

In experimental animal studies there is direct evidence that dietary omega-3 FA inhibits ultraviolet radiation (UVR) carcinogenic expression, with regard to both increased tumor latent period and reduced tumor multiplicity.

Equivalent levels of omega-6 FA increase UVR carcinogenic expression.
Dietary omega-6 FA increases prostaglandin E synthase type 2 (PGE(2)) level.

Dietary omega-3 FA significantly reduces the inflammatory response and sustains, or enhances, the delayed type hypersensitivity immune response in mice when compared to an equivalent dietary level of omega-6 FA.

Supplementary omega-3 FA significantly increases the UVR-mediated erythema threshold in humans.

Supplementary omega-3 FA significantly reduces the level of pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive PGE(2) levels in Ultraviolet B-irradiated human skin.

Dietary omega-3 FA dramatically reduces the plasma and cutaneous pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive PGE(2) levels in mice.

Ted_Hutchinson · � #43 � 05-31-2010, 02:24 AM

Melanoma growth is reduced in fat-1 transgenic mice: Impact of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids Full text online but similar story. Conclusion, this study, using fat-1 transgenic mice, has demonstrated an antimelanoma effect of n-3 fatty acids and identified a potential PGE3-PTEN pathway for their action.

As we know once omega 6 omega 3 ratio is above 5<> 1 extra omega 6 displaces omega 3 from it's position in the cells the only long term successful strategy is to REDUCE omega 6 intake. Increasing omega 3 intake will help change circulating levels and is required to ensure adequate omega 3 is available but the job of actually replacing the omega 6 in cells with omega 3 can only be accomplished if the ratio of omega 6 is brought down to below 5 omega 6<>1omega 3

Having pointed out the importance of reducing omega 6 intake by eliminating sources of industrially made soy, sunflower, safflower and corn oils and all commercially made foods that contain them I should perhaps also give an indication of the AMOUNT of omega 3 necessary to change the immediate potential for harm.
Effect of n-3 Oral Supplements on the n-6/n-3 Ratio in Young Adults

Quote:

Epidemiological studies show that n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios have risen dramatically in Western diets and are associated with numerous chronic inflammation-related diseases.

More balanced ratios are linked to less inflammation.

This study examines the effects of adding oral supplements containing n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to diets of healthy young adults on plasma n-6/n-3 ratios.

Thirty volunteers are randomly assigned to one of two groups: experimental group, EPA (1.6 g/day) and DHA (1.2 g/day); and the control group, mineral oil (2.4 ml/day).

Plasma fatty acids, nutrients from foods, and anthropometric measures are evaluated at baseline and at the Week 4 endpoint.

The mean (�SD) n-6/n-3 ratio for the experimental group is significantly lower (6.3 � 1.6) than the placebo group (16.8 � 3.5) by study completion.

The results suggest that more balanced n-6/n-3 ratios may be achieved efficiently in healthy, young adults with supplements containing EPA and DHA.

This study shows a measurable difference is found after 4 weeks. But it is likely that the improvement will continue for as long as there is a high ratio of omega 3 available. The rate of cell turnover, the natural renewal and replacement of cells is a slow process. Perhaps 2 yrs will see 50% of cells back to the kind of omega 6 <>omega 3 ratio humans evolved with and it could take 5 yrs of omega 6 avoidance and higher omega 3 availability to see the job finished.
~But the good news is the sooner you start the less likely you are to get sunburnt and it's sunburn that triggers the UV damage that leads to skin cancer development.
To provide the 1.6g/d EPA used in the above paper you will need a concentrated fish oil source such as Nature's Answer, Liquid Omega-3, Two teaspoons daily would provide 1.6g EPA but only 1g of DHA. but it's pretty close and reasonably cheap.
If you can't bear the taste of liquid fish oil then maybe These Natural Factors, RxOmega-3 Factors, EPA 400 mg/DHA 200 mg, would do the trick It would take 4 daily to obtain 1.6g EPA + 0.8g DHA. again a bit short on the DHA These would be better when back in stock at Iherb or maybe if you live in the USA you could find them on Amazon, Vitacost or Swansons or similar. Code WAB666 saves you $5 at IHERB.

kind2creatures · � #44 � 03-15-2011, 01:09 PM

Watch out for toxic ingredients in sunscreen

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) The majority of sunscreens are toxic, environmental groups have warned.

"You want to look out for sunscreens with oxybenzone," said Jane Houlihan of the Environmental Working Group.

Research has implicated oxybenzone as a likely carcinogen, as well as a chemical that is probably absorbed into the body.

Another concern is spray-on or powdered sunscreen.

"When you spray a sunscreen, or you're using a powder sunscreen, you're very likely inhaling small particles and that may or may not be safe," Houlihan said.

And while you can hold your breath while applying such sunscreens, it may be safer to forego them entirely.

A seal from the Skin Cancer Foundation does not mean that a sunscreen is safe either, EWG warns, as the foundation will place its seal on any sunscreen that has an SPF rating higher than 15, or on the product of any company that donates $10,000.

EWG recommends using sunscreens made with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which are believed to be less dangerous than newer chemicals.

Unfortunately, warns Friends of the Earth, the majority of such sunscreens are made with nanoparticles -- particles 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Because particles of this size behave in fundamentally different ways than they do on the more familiar, macro-scale, even a safe metal may be unsafe on the nanoscale.

Evidence suggests that nano-sunscreens are in fact dangerous. Friends of the Earth cites studies showing that nanoscale zinc oxide can kill colon cells and brain stem cells, as well as penetrate the skin and travel throughout the blood and urine. The group also cites studies linking nanoscale titanium dioxide to genetic changes, Alzheimer's disease, autism and epilepsy. Nanoparticles have even been observed to cross the placental barrier in pregnant mammals.

"These nanomaterials are being added without appropriate labeling or reliable safety information, so the public has no way of making informed purchasing choices," Ian Illuminato of Friends of the Earth said.

https://www.naturalnews.com/031692_su...chemicals.html

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