a sun series somewhere

     There’s probably a sun series in this site somewhere. As promised, here’s some material on naturally occurring sunscreens: Some people swear by avocado combined with carrot seed oil which, they say, have an SPF of up to 40. I have not personally verified whether it does have that kind of sun protection. 

     Apparently, what you should do is: Before going out to run in the morning sun: Mash the  avocado and mix with the  carrot seed oil in a blender until the potion is consistent in texture. Apply liberally on the face, taking care it doesn’t drip on your clothes. Just pat the green curd-like substance on your face thirty minutes before sun exposure. Then you’re all set. If you see people with spoons….. RR-RUN!! run away from them – they think you’re a jogging yoghurt.

     I haven’t tried leaving fruit mixture on the face then running publicly, so… let me know if you have.

      The difference is that there are no clinical trials for naturally occurring balms, ointments, mixtures because only the big pharmaceuticals can afford to fund clinical trials required by the FDA. Sigh. Alas. Sniffles. (to mount a clinical trial, you have to select a thousand or so subjects or participants, of similar conditions, put them in a controlled environment: a  laboratory, equipped with beds, freezers, computers , for several months, then test the substance on them. You have to employ a medical staff to monitor them, gather data, document results. Then, you have to repeat the entire event several times. Then present results to the FDA. The entire series cost  millions and millions of dollars).

      All toiletries have chemicals. Luckily, we don’t ingest them. These elements and compounds have been the subject of much research. In the interest of balance and fairness, here’s an article on zinc oxide and other ingredients present in sunscreens.

From the Cancer Council of Western Australia, at http://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/sunscreen-cancer-myth/

“Cancer myth: Sunscreen and cancer

“Origin of the myth

       “Some companies have advertised that their sunscreen products do not contain the

carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances which other sunscreens contain. In particular,

manufacturers of holistic and all-natural sunscreen make this claim. The substances

suggested of being carcinogenic are titanium dioxides, zinc oxide, octyl methoxycimamate, oxybenzone and 4-methyl-benzylidene.

        “In addition, some people believe that reducing their exposure to sunlight can cause

Vitamin D deficiencies, which may also lead to cancer.

“Current evidence

“Sunscreen

      “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services produces The Report on Carcinogens, which is a list of known or reasonably anticipated human carcinogens (cancer causing substances). None of the suspect ingredients, listed above, are included in this list.[1]  The International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) also does not recognise these ingredients as carcinogenic.[2] None of these chemicals has been banned by the Food and Drug Administration in the US or by the European Union.

        “In response to claims that sunscreen causes skin cancer, a 2003 review examined the link between sunscreen use and melanoma. No evidence for increased risk of melanoma with sunscreen use was found. The research suggested that sun-sensitive people who have higher risk of melanoma are more likely to use sunscreens.[3]

(photo shot at 7am from a telephone yesterday: Like cats, we need the morning sun, but unlike cats, we don’t glisten in fine golden fur)

      “A study published in 1999 examined the incidence of two types of skin cancer in 1,621

residents of Nambour, in southeast Queensland. Participants were randomly assigned

to either apply SPF 15+ sunscreen daily or not for four and a half years. No harmful

effect of daily sunscreen use was reported. Participants who used sunscreen daily

experienced a significant decrease in squamous-cell carcinoma, and no change in

incidence of basal-cell carcinoma.[4]

      “The Department of Health and Ageing in Australia did a review of studies on the safety

of the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in sunscreen. The review found that these

substances remain on the surface of the skin and in the outer dead layer, and do not

penetrate into living skin cells. Hence, even if titanium dioxide and zinc oxide were

found to cause cancer (and there is no evidence for this) they are unlikely to reach and

damage living cells.[5]  In another review, IARC concluded that there is inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of titanium dioxide.[6]

Vitamin D

       “There has been some concern recently as reducing exposure to sunlight through measures such as using sunscreen may lower vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D is thought to prevent cancer is produced in response to UVB radiation, which is blocked from being absorbed by the skin when sunscreen is used. However, research indicates that a incidental protected exposure on the face and back of hands is enough to produce the required amounts of Vitamin D.[7, 8]

   “Summary

        “There is no evidence that use of sunscreens increases the risk of skin cancer or causes

Vitamin D deficiency.[9, 10]  Meanwhile, there is definite evidence that sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer. Solar radiation is classified as a known human carcinogen in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Report on Carcinogens.1 IARC also classifies solar radiation as carcinogenic to humans.[11]

“Further reading

“Choosing and using sunscreen

The Cancer Council WA

http://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/publications/prevention/#sun

Use of SPF30+ sunscreens

The Cancer Council Australia

http://www.cancer.org.au/Healthprofessionals/PositionStatements/sunsmart/useofsunscreens.htm

“References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11th Report on Carcinogens. 2005,

      Public Health Service – National Toxicology Program,.

2. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC Monographs on the

      Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of

      Carcinogenic Risks to Humans 2007 [cited 2008 02/01/2008]; Available from:

      http://monographs.iarc.fr/index.php.

3. Dennis, L.K., L.E. Beane Freeman, and M.J. VanBeek, Sunscreen use and the risk for

      melanoma: a quantitative review. Ann Intern Med, 2003. 139(12): p. 966-78.

4. Green, A., et al., Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in

      prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised

      controlled trial. Lancet, 1999. 354(9180): p. 723-9.

5. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Safety of sunscreens containing

      nanoparticles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. 2006, Australian Government –

      Department of Health and Ageing.

6. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide

      and Talc, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic

      Risks to Humans, IARC, Editor. 2010: Lyon, France.

7. Sinclair, C., Risks and benefits of sun exposure: implications for public health practice

      based on the Australian experience. Prog Biophys Mol Biol, 2006. 92(1): p. 173-8.

8. Sollitto, R.B., K.H. Kraemer, and J.J. DiGiovanna, Normal vitamin D levels can be

      maintained despite rigorous photoprotection: six years’ experience with xeroderma

      pigmentosum. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1997. 37(6): p. 942-7.

9. Berwick, M., Counterpoint: sunscreen use is a safe and effective approach to skin

      cancer prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2007. 16(10): p. 1923-4.

10. Green, A.C. and G.M. Williams, Point: sunscreen use is a safe and effective approach

      to skin cancer prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2007. 16(10): p.1921-2.

11. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Solar and ultraviolet radiation, in

      IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 1997, IARC:

      Lyon, France.

    *****

       If anyone in our neck of the woods has tried  wearing avocado and carrot seed oil on the face as sunscreen (outdoors, obviously),   let me know how that went (is it really an SPF40) – we’ll feature it here…