Slathering on sunscreen protects us from the dangers of the sun. Right? Nope, say experts who insist protective clothing and hats are the best way to cover up against UV rays, prevent skin cancer, and minimize the aging effects of the sun.
Think about this:
Most of us rely on sunscreen for skin cancer prevention. But one doctor from Zurich who just finished reviewing sun protection strategies around the world says although the predominant mode of sun protection is sunscreen, this method can be abused in attempts to extend time spent in the sun.
Tightly-woven, thick garmets made of denim, wool, or polyester are most effective at shielding us from harmful rays, this doctor reports. Dry, loose fabrics that shrink after washing are better than wet or stretched clothing. And cotton, linen, acetate clothing and anything that has been bleached are not very effective.
It seems sunscreens are good for preventing less serious forms of skin cancer. But to protect against melanoma, the most serious from of the disease, a good cover-up is your best bet.
I'm in a full sweat -- I live in Florida where temps are already in the 90s -- just thinking about piling on all this clothing.
1. Thanks for posting this information. Other than helping a small percentage of rodents avoid basal cell skin cancers, sunscreen has not been conclusively shown to lower the risk of skin cancer. In 1935 before sunscreen was available, the risk of melanoma was one in 1500. The risk now with sunscreen available at every convenience store is one in 84. I still tell my children to use sunscreen, but question if that slight sign of redness was a sign to head indoors in times gone past. Some studies have actually suggested that using sunscreen increases the risk of skin cancer, by falsely letting people think they are safe indulging in more sunshine. Regardless of the studies, it appears "grandma new best", and her vastly lower risk of developing skin cancer despite lack of sunscreen was due to practicing common sense.
If you must disobey grandma, there is only one sunscreen available in the U.S. that offers decent UVA protection as well as UVB. Anthelios SX(r) was only approved by the FDA late last summer, but the compound in this formula which protects against UVA rays as well as UVB, has been used in Europe and Canada for some time without adverse effects.
Lynne Eldridge M.D.
Co-Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer"
http://www.avoidcancernow.com
Posted at 10:09PM on May 8th 2007 by Lynne Eldridge M.D.