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Excuse Busters! The Top 5 Reasons For Not Using Sunscreen

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Excuse Busters!

As Melanoma month comes to a close, I thought it would be appropriate to review the top five most common excuses for not using sunscreen.

1. “I just want to get a little color first”:

Keep in mind that any UV induced color changes in the skin. Both red skin and tan mean your skin has been damaged by UV radiation. No exceptions. This includes color changes created in tanning beds. UVA rays from both sun exposure and tanning beds will speed up your aging-process. Many of the patients at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center achieve “a little color” by using one of the following:

Glo Mineral Sun Kissed or Sunlight Mineral bronzer
Glo Mineral Luster Brick
Spray tan
Self-tanners

2. “I don’t need to use sunscreen because I have dark skin”:

Just because your skin is dark or does not “burn”, does not mean your skin is not damaged by the sun. It just means that the dark color of your skin conceals the visual signs of damage for a longer period of time than lighter skin types. Even though it is true that the number of Caucasians diagnosed with melanoma is higher, be aware that African Americans have a lower survival rate because dark skin shows signs of damage much later. By the time a dark skinned individual is diagnosed with melanoma, it is often in an advanced stage. It is common to see hyper-pigmentation or sometimes hypo-pigmentation in unprotected skin of color. Over the years, Dr. Castillo has seen a number of African American patients with dark brown blotches on their skin that could have been prevented by simply applying sunscreen on a daily basis.

3. “I want to make sure I get enough Vitamin D to avoid breast cancer and other diseases”:

Don’t be misled by the plethora of unclear information surrounding the studies regarding insufficient levels of vitamin D in relation to breast cancer and other diseases. Let’s be clear about a few known facts.

Yes, tanning beds were officially named as a carcinogen (causes cancer) in 2009.
Yes, UVA radiation is found in tanning beds.
Yes, UVA radiation produces Vitamin D.
Yes, UVA radiation causes cancer, speeds up your aging process, breaks down collagen and elastin, causes wrinkles, , brown spots and spider veins.
NO, using a tanning bed in hopes of preventing breast cancer is not a safe, effective or healthy choice.

Indeed, some research has indicated that in patients with breast cancer, a number of them were also vitamin D deficient. However, the study does not indicate that Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of breast cancer by any means. It just indicates that some individuals with breast cancer, diabetes, or heart disease are also Vitamin D deficient.

The tanning industry has inhumanly used these studies to instill fear into families whose members have been diagnosed with breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease for the benefit of their industry. Strangely, their “public service” message about preventing breast cancer by increasing your vitamin D production thru the use of a tanning bed never mentions that as of 2009, tanning beds are now officially listed as a carcinogen (causes cancer!) Surely it must have been as over site on their part, right?

I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t seem like exposing yourself to something we KNOW causes cancer in hopes of decreasing your chances for getting cancer would make a lot of sense. Observing as the tanning industry is trying to push this unproven, untrue message, makes me think that skin may not be the only thing getting fried in the tanning beds. The truth is that most of us get enough Vitamin D walking to and from our vehicles, walking the dog, just living life. And for those who need to increase your Vitamin D intake, Vitamin D from your diet is a SAFE, EFFECTIVE way to achieve that without exposing your body to a known carcinogen. Vitamin D supplements are also available to increase your vitamin D levels if directed to do so your physician.

4. “I’ll be inside all day”:

“Remember that a significant amount of UVA radiation penetrates clear glass and UVA rays are of a consistent strength year-round, rain or shine. UVA rays will penetrate both car and house windows. Some Fluorescent lights even emit low levels of UV rays. Single envelop, corkscrew shaped, compact bulbs emit the most UV radiation. If you select the double envelop bulbs, they will provide an extra layer of protection. Your UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sunscreen will protect you both outdoors and indoors and should be applied every day as part of your daily skincare routine.

5. “Sunscreens irritates my skin”:

Avoid using a chemical sun screen. Most often it is a chemical ingredient in the sunscreen that causes irritation. At Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Center, we recommend trying a UVA/UVB broad-spectrum physical sunscreen such as medical grade Physical Defense or Prime Defense by Castillo MD Skin Science as they are formulated with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. Both Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are physical sunscreen rather than chemical sunscreens.

If you would like to take a proactive role in your aging process and the prevention of skin cancer or would like more information on this topic, call our Savoy (Champaign-Urbana area) office at 217-359-7508.