More on Safe Sun

July 15, 2019

I can't believe it's already mid-July and I haven't done a "safe sun" newsletter yet.  As discussed in last year's version, while I don't dispute the fact that we need to be careful when spending time outdoors, it has never made sense to me that we need to douse ourselves in sunscreen just because the sun is out (in October, for example).  But July is a time to be careful as the sun is strong and our chances of getting sunburned increase.  And burns can lead to skin cancer.  Tans, however, do not.

Rates of skin cancer, including melanoma, are increasing, it is true.  But there is a ton of evidence that shows that those who avoid the sun actually have a much higher risk of melanoma than those who spend a fair amount of time in it.  And the same is true for those who apply a daily dose of sunscreen, which often contains many harmful, toxic ingredients and may be one of the causes for the increase we've seen in melanoma. 

There are plenty of ways to get safe sun and to reduce your risk of skin cancer.  Here are a few:

1.  Take Vitamin D, or get 10 minutes of sun on your bare skin most days of the week (you get Vitamin D from sun exposure on your bare skin).  Adequate Vitamin D levels prevent skin cancer (Vitamin D kills melanoma cells).

2.  Build up a slow, natural tan.  Tan skin provides natural protection from the potentially damaging UV rays of the sun, but SLOW is the key word here.  It's not a great plan to spend all week in your office and then spend 8 hours sunning yourself on the weekend in July.  Try to get out for 10 minutes at lunch starting in the spring, so you can build up your tan when the sun isn't as strong.

3.  Avoid burns!  Burning is always bad -- it is your body's way of telling you you've gotten too much sun and it can absolutely cause skin cancer.  A healthy tan, however, can PREVENT you from getting burnt and, as such, it can protect you from skin cancer. 

4.  Do your sunning in the earlier part of the day, and after a good night's sleep is even better.  According to Mark Sisson, our body's natural defenses  against the sun are "strongest in the first half of the day. So you might not want to go tanning after an all-night bender, nor do you want to get too much UVA-rich sun in the late afternoon when your defenses are down."

5.  Check out this article for ways to build up your body's own sunburn-preventing abilities using diet and supplements.

Apps like D-Minder can tell you how much sun is safe for YOU, taking skin tone, location, time of day and time of year into account.  Or just check your skin after 10 minutes or so by moving your shorts or bathing suit to the side a bit -- if you see a change in color, it's time to head for the shade or apply a natural sunblock.  And annual skin cancer screenings are always a good idea.