According to the AAD, exposure to UV radiation from sunlight or tanning beds can increase the risk of developing certain types of skin cancer, especially when a person has five or more blistering sunburns at an early age, from 15 to 20 years. This can increase melanoma risk by 80% and non-melanoma by 68%.
The annual cost of treating skin cancer was $8.1 billion for 4.9 million adults from 2007 to 2011. This was an increase in cost from 2002-2006, when the average annual treatment was $3.6 billion for 3.4 million adults treated each year. This represents a 44% increase in people with skin cancer and a 125% increase in the cost of treatment.
Data Show Melanoma Cancer Is Overdiagnosed
Researchers in the featured study10 wanted to know the perception of dermatopathologists as it related to the overdiagnosis of melanoma and other skin cancers. The researchers surveyed 115 dermatopathologists to evaluate their perception of overdiagnosis of melanoma as a public health issue. These are board-certified and/or fellowship-trained pathologists who specialize in diagnosing skin diseases from skin samples.“… about two-thirds of dermatopathologists thought that atypical nevi are overdiagnosed, half thought that melanoma in situ is overdiagnosed, and one-third thought that invasive melanoma is overdiagnosed. No statistically significant associations were found between perceptions about overdiagnosis and interpretive behavior when diagnosing skin biopsy cases.”Kathleen Kerr, Ph.D., lead researcher from the University of Washington, talked about the importance of these findings:14
“Melanoma diagnoses have been rising in the U.S. If there were truly an epidemic of melanoma, we would expect that deaths from melanoma to show a corresponding rise, since there hasn’t been a major breakthrough in treatment during this time. Yet melanoma deaths have been remarkably constant. This suggests that the rise in melanoma diagnoses is largely due to overdiagnosis.”Data from the National Cancer Institute15 also demonstrate that the rate of diagnosis of new cases from 1992 to 2019 rose dramatically from 14.6 cases per 100,000 persons to 23.9 per 100,000 persons. Yet, the death rate from melanoma remained steady from 1992 until 2013 at 2.7 deaths per 100,000 persons. By 2019 it had declined to 2.0 deaths per 100,000 persons.
Melanoma Linked to Linoleic Acid; Sun Isn’t the Primary Cause
To prove this point there was a study from 1987,19 during which samples of fat tissue were taken from 100 melanoma patients and 100 people without melanoma and analyzed for fatty acids.Linoleic acid is the primary fat found in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats, including vegetable/seed oils, and accounts for about 80% of the fat composition of vegetable oils. Omega-6 fats must be balanced with omega-3 fats in order to not be harmful, but most Americans don’t eat that way.
“Is it possible that increased linoleic acid consumption could be causing fragility to cell membranes and that could be leading to oxidative damage in the sun leading to DNA damage and then more melanocytic nevi precursor lesions or melanoma or could the same thing be happening with squamous and basal?
I would say yes. It’s not supported by literature yet because there haven’t been any studies looking at this. We need many more studies on linoleic acid … The linoleic acid found in seed oils is most likely one of the biggest drivers of chronic disease in humans.”
Many Sunscreen Ingredients Are Toxic
The AAD’s answer to a rising number of people diagnosed with melanoma and other skin cancers is sunscreen.22 They recommend a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher. Yet, sunscreen may be one of the worst things you can do to “protect” your skin.First, I should make it clear that I believe sunscreen is widely overused. There are circumstances where it’s wise and appropriate, but those cases are few and far between. For the most part, you should rely on sensible sun exposure and get out of the sun or wear clothing the minute your skin starts to turn a light pink.
- Avobenzone
- Homosalate
- Meradimate
- Octisalate (also known as octyl salicylate)
- Octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate)
- Octocrylene
- Oxybenzone (also called benzophenone-3)
- Padimate O
Ingredients Build Up to Unhealthy Levels
Data funded by the FDA published in JAMA in 201931 and 202032 showed that certain ingredients in sunscreen products may build up in the body at unhealthy levels. The chemicals studied were avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate. After the 2019 study, the researchers concluded the:33“... conditions resulted in plasma concentrations that exceeded the threshold established by the FDA for potentially waiving some nonclinical toxicology studies for sunscreens. The systemic absorption of sunscreen ingredients supports the need for further studies to determine the clinical significance of these findings.”At least one — oxybenzone, found in 70% of sunscreen products — can show up in breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine and blood.34 They also wrote that the ingredients were absorbed after only one day’s exposure, and some persisted in the body after use.
Your Body Requires Vitamin D for Optimal Health
Your body needs vitamin D, which it manufactures after exposure to the sun.35 Vitamin D is involved in the biology of most cells and tissues in your body,36 including your immune system.37 Currently, the U.S. The Preventive Services Task Force38 considers 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) sufficient.- Ongoing musculoskeletal pain and achy bones51
- Frequent infections or illnesses52,53
- Neurological symptoms, such as depression,54 cognitive impairment55 and migraines56
- Fatigue and daytime sleepiness57
Naturally Protect Your Skin From the Summer Sun
While most sunscreens contain toxic ingredients, the good news is that you can support your healthy skin and protect it from damage from the inside out. Scientists have identified several nutrients that can up UV protective activity that reduces your risk of sunburn and related skin damage.Sources and References
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- 2 American Academy of Dermatology, Skin Cancer
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- 4 JAMA Dermatology, 2020;156(9)
- 5 National Cancer Institute, April 12, 2022
- 6 Nature, September 26, 2017
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- 9 American Drug and Health Benefits, 2015;8 para 1 under pic 2
- 11 JAMA Dermatology, 2022; doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.0489 Abstract/Results
- 12 Up To Date, Atypical Dysplastic Nevi
- 14, 16, 17, 18 NewsWise, May 2, 2022
- 15 National Cancer Institute, Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin
- 19, 20 Nutr Cancer. 1987;9(4):219-26. doi: 10.1080/01635588709513930
- 21 YouTube June 13, 2020
- 22 American Academy of Dermatology, Sunscreen FAQs
- 23, 24 Valisure, May 25, 2021
- 25 CBS News, June 5, 2021
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- 28 C&EN March 22, 2012
- 29 Endocrine Connections January 2018; 7(1):16
- 31, 33 JAMA 2019;321(21):2082-2091
- 32 JAMA 2020;323(3):256
- 34 JAMA 2019;321(21):2082
- 35 Dermatology Endocrinology, 2013;5(1)
- 36 National Institutes of Health Vitamin D
- 37 Nutrients, 2013;5(7)
- 38 US Preventive Services Task Force, April 13, 2021;325(14):1436-1442. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.3069
- 39 GrassrootsHealth
- 40, 46 International Journal Epidemiology 1990;19(3):559
- 41, 48 PLOS|One, 2018; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199265
- 42 Anticancer Research 2011;31(2):607
- 43 National Institutes of Health, Vitamin D, Table 2
- 44 GrassrootsHealth, Research to Support FDA Petition
- 45 Diabetes Care 2004;27(12):2813
- 47 Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2019;11(2)
- 49 Chest 2005;128(6):3792
- 50 EurekAlert! June 20, 2018
- 51 US Pharmacist March 18, 2009
- 52 Science Daily, February 6, 2022
- 53 Inflammation and Drug Targets, 2013;12(4)
- 54 Journal of Affective Disorders, 2017;208
- 55 Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, 2012;243
- 56 Frontiers in Neurology, May 13, 2021
- 57 Global Journal of Health Science, 2015;8(6)
- 58 Frontiers in Plant Science, 2016; doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.00531
- 59, 60 Journal of Dermatological Science 2010;58(2):136
- 61 Acta Biochim Pol. 2012;59(1)
- 62 The Journal of Nutrition, 2001;131(5): 1449
- 63 Photochemistry and Photobiology 2008;84(2):284
- 64 Lancet, 2004: 363(9410);728 Context line 3
- 65 Oregon State University Micronutrient Information Center, Vitamin E and Skin Health