Is Sunscreen a Con.....

[tommy.irene]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3082458/The-sun-creams-don-t-protection-promise-Two-Britain-... .....................The sun creams that DON'T give the protection they promise: Two of Britain's biggest brands 'offer only two-thirds of the level on the label' Boots Soltan and Hawaiian Tropic gave less protection than stated on label Failure suggests users are being put at risk of sunburn or even skin cancer Both brands strenuously contested the results of Which?'s lab tests Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3082458/The-sun-creams-don-t-protection-promise-Two-Britain-...

[tommy.irene]

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-05-15/two-leading-spf30-sun-creams-less-effective-than-cheaper-supermar...

[malacandran]

Doesn't the concept of "sun-cream", seem fundamentally unsound. More like a superstition, than a science.

Because it seems to imply this - that a mere wafer-thin coating of chemicals, applied to our skin, can successfully block solar radiation.

And nullify the harmful effects.

Is that scientifically credible?  

Most of our attempts to block solar radiation, involve wearing clothing,such as T-shirts and sun-hats, or desert robes, like in Arabia.

Such clothing certainly works, as is demonstrated by centuries of its use.  The thickness of the textile material, acts as an effective sun-screen.

But "sun-cream" looks like a kind of modern quack solution - don't bother with sensible clothing on the beach - just rub on our magic ointment, and you'll be OK!

[ilove2patch]

If I use SPF 50 cream on my face in the summer I don't burn. If I don't use it I do. So something must be working! 

[malacandran]

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@ilove2patch wrote:

If I use SPF 50 cream on my face in the summer I don't burn. If I don't use it I do. So something must be working! 

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That is true, lovepatch. I used to go on Brighton's Naturist Beach in the high summertime, when the Sun's rays shone down most fiercely.

At those times,  before disporting my fair-skinned body, I always applied a coating of High-Factor-50 cream.

This seemed to ward off excessive reddening and peeling of the skin.  At least for short periods of gratuitous naked exposure.

However, the idea of "sun-cream" might be an invention of the chemical-manufacturing companies. Isn't the cream only a remedy for not taking one's clothes off in the first place?

[stroppy*cow]

Even the ones labelled "total sun block" do absolutely nothing - I think that the meds make my skin extra sensitive.The only answer is to be totally covered up and to stay in the shade as much as possible.

I can get a sunburnt nose going out to buy a sandwich.

If I go for a trip round the car park to get some air, I have to keep to the shade.

[ginap.123]

I think a lit of the problem is people slap it on and then think they can stay out in the sun all day without knowing what the SPF actually means or does.

[malacandran]

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@stroppy*cow wrote:

Even the ones labelled "total sun block" do absolutely nothing - I think that the meds make my skin extra sensitive.The only answer is to be totally covered up and to stay in the shade as much as possible.

I can get a sunburnt nose going out to buy a sandwich.

If I go for a trip round the car park to get some air, I have to keep to the shade.

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Yes, I'm the same. My nose gets red on exposure to summer sun. To combat this,  I used to put on an improvised "nose-shield"., made of aluminium kitchen-foil.  But it made people stare at me, so I abandoned it.

As regards the total sun block creams, I think they do have some effect.  At least they stop the sun making skin so distressed, that it peels off in sheets.  Like old wall-paper.  I remember that experience from some years ago, in Florida.  45 minutes of exposure to the sun on Cocoa Beach. Skin red and peeling, legs painfully swelling and distended!  It was quite traumatic.

So generally, fair-skinned people should avoid sun-bathing.  We're not adapted to it.  We may need a modicum of sunlight, to create vitamin D in our northern bodies.  But no prolonged exposure.

This is a pity for fair-skinned  Naturists such as myself, who live in Brighton. Here we have the Naturist Beach. This is good, and it's where we ought to be able to go, to be ourselves.

But not during the summer days!  There is no shelter on the beach - or shade to take refuge in, to protect our bare skins.

[bitsnknots]

When I went to see the consultant over my skin cancer last year, he told me that if I was wearing a low necked top I had use factor 50 on that and factor 30 everywhere else.  I'm another one that if I don't use sunscreen, I burn as well.

[soppysofty]

Is Sunscreen a con?

Is Skin cancer a myth?

Do you want to play God with your life?

50% protection is better than no protection and common sense should tell you what to wear and when.

If you want to have an all over tan and look 'brown' then you can expect to pay for it later on in life.

In Australia - where they know a thing or two about the sun - the message from ALL the health people and the goverment is the same - 'White is nice, brown is dumb'.

Slap it on and use a little common sense and you should be OK.

[danlovesclubbing]

When you hear about cases of skin cancer, did you know that less than 3% are melanoma, the rest being less dangerous and non-fatal types?