Sunscreens: Are they what you need?

[April 26, 2014]  We all need some sun exposure; it's our primary source of vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. But it doesn't take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need, and repeated unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression and skin cancer. Even people in their 20s can develop skin cancer.

The sun is still the center of confusion regarding its effects on the skin. The sun radiates visible light, which gives us the color we see; infrared light, which gives us the warmth we feel; and ultraviolet light, which we cannot see.

When ultraviolet radiation reaches the skin, some radiation is reflected away from the surface. Some radiation is also absorbed and scattered into the tissue just beneath the skin's surface. The skin’s living cells absorb a proportion of this radiation. UV radiation absorbed by living cells can result in damage to the skin, such as sunburn, aging of the skin and skin cancer. However, vitamin D synthesis relies on UV radiation and is essential for the body. Some scientists believe that vitamin D prevents skin cancer.

So, does sun cause or prevent skin cancer?

Compounded on the questionable effects of sun on the skin regarding skin cancer is the questionable safety of sunscreens. For example, the reflectors titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in nano particle size and almost all UV absorbers have been shown to have adverse effects on the body.

Most kids rack up a lot of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it's important that parents teach their children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. With the right precautions, you can greatly reduce your child's chance of developing skin cancer.

So what precautions should we take to prevent skin cancer?

The key to effectively protect the skin from skin cancer is to find a healthy balance between getting enough natural sunlight to maximize vitamin D production and obtain optimal health, while at the same time protecting the skin from damage that occurs from overexposure to the sun.

The following precautions are recommended:

• For infants under 6 months — Keep infants out of the sun and especially avoid exposure to the sun in the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when UV rays are most intense. Dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts and brimmed hats that shade the neck. The skin of babies is less mature compared with adults, and infants have a higher ratio of surface area to body weight than older children and adults. These factors mean that an infant’s exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens (as discussed above) may be much greater, increasing the risks of side effects from the sunscreen. So, infants should not use sunscreens that contain potentially toxic ingredients. Barrier sunscreen with titanium or zinc oxide that is not micronized can be considered only on areas prone to sun exposure. These sunscreens appear white on the skin when used.

• For infants 6 months or older — Avoid exposure to the sun during peak hours and dress with protective clothing, a hat with brim and sunglasses. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 15. Use a sunscreen that contains non-micronized zinc or titanium oxides. Avoid using products that combine sunscreen and the insect repellent DEET.

• Teenagers — Encouraging teenagers to use sunscreens is more effective by highlighting the effects of sunscreen usage on the prevention of premature wrinkling and aging rather than precaution of skin cancer. Highlighting consequences to appearance rather than health appears to be more effective with teenagers. The fact that teens are motivated by beauty to use sunscreens limits their use of non-micronized zinc and titanium oxides, as these sunscreens are visible as white when applied to the skin.

Children get 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18, so protection is important. Teens and people below 40 years should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 30-50 and use sun-smart protective clothing.

Generally skin cancers appear in adults over the age of 40. Additional care is required at this stage. Recently a treatment for skin cancers has been reported using natural BEC glycoalkaloids in a cream, CuradermBEC5. Various scientific publications have reported that when skin cancers were eliminated by this therapy, no recurrences were evident histologically by biopsies over five years of follow-up.

Subsequently it was reported that BEC glycoalkaloids, when added to a specific sunscreen formulation with a broad spectrum and SPF 30-plus, had many additional benefits and that this CurasolBEC sunscreen could eliminate very early precancerous and cancerous growths. Accordingly, CurasolBEC sunscreen as a preventive for skin cancers is recommended for people of all ages, especially those over 40 years.

[By BILL CHAM]

Bill E. Cham is an award-winning, distinguished scientist, worldwide dermatological lecturer and author of "Inspired by Nature, Proven by Science – The New Generation Cancer Treatment That Causes Cancer Cells to Commit Suicide." Cham holds degrees in chemistry (University of Delft, The Netherlands), biochemistry and a doctorate in the School of Medicine (Queensland University, Australia). The varieties of his chosen degrees have enabled him to have a wide approach to research in the development of the BEC anti-cancer technology. He has published over 100 articles. His first book, "The Eggplant Cancer Cure: A Treatment for Skin Cancer and New Hope for Other Cancers," from Nature’s Pharmacy (2007), received worldwide attention and acclaim. He is the founder of CuradermBEC5 and consults worldwide for Curaderm Global Ltd. He currently lives on the island of Vanuatu and lived for over 30 years in Australia, where he still conducts his ongoing research. "Inspired by Nature, Proven by Science" can be purchased at www.curadermbec5.com.