Comments on: How to Sunbathe Safely http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html Science Blog from Freelance Science Writer David Bradley Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:41:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-633605 David Bradley Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:23:53 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-633605 Interesting follow-up on recent pronouncements about vitamin D (mathematical modelling) and cancer outcomes - http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/09September/Pages/Vitamin-D-and-cancer-prognosis.aspx Interesting follow-up on recent pronouncements about vitamin D (mathematical modelling) and cancer outcomes – http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/09September/Pages/Vitamin-D-and-cancer-prognosis.aspx

]]> By: ellie http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-630665 ellie Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:49:28 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-630665 UV ligtht is dangerous but if you dont get to much of it you are not likely to get burnt or get skin cancer, so just limit your times in the sun spread them out and you will be enjoying your holiday, all the time your there, UV ligtht is dangerous but if you dont get to much of it you are not likely to get burnt or get skin cancer,
so just limit your times in the sun spread them out and you will be enjoying your holiday, all the time your there,

]]> By: Connie http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-628993 Connie Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:04:17 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-628993 The sun is not bad but its how much you stay in the sun that is bad right? The sun is not bad but its how much you stay in the sun that is bad right?

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-589853 David Bradley Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:43:35 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-589853 William, isn't that what the Health Research Forum have been saying for years? William, isn’t that what the Health Research Forum have been saying for years?

]]> By: William http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-589066 William Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:26:19 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-589066 Actually sunlight can even protect from cancer, with particular regard to skin melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer. It looks like it's a matter of the way you expose yourself to the sunlight: if you expose gradually and do not get burned, then the sun will be gentle on your DNA, otherwise if you get burned then you'll be at higher risk of developing melanoma. I found a lot of information on this topic on a website dedicated to melanoma research (www.mmmp.org): I suggest everybody interested in this topic to have look at it ! Actually sunlight can even protect from cancer, with particular regard to skin melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer. It looks like it’s a matter of the way you expose yourself to the sunlight: if you expose gradually and do not get burned, then the sun will be gentle on your DNA, otherwise if you get burned then you’ll be at higher risk of developing melanoma. I found a lot of information on this topic on a website dedicated to melanoma research (www.mmmp.org): I suggest everybody interested in this topic to have look at it !

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-539391 David Bradley Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:17:53 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-539391 That's definitely one way of looking at it ;-) That’s definitely one way of looking at it ;-)

]]> By: Left Brain http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-539382 Left Brain Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:56:52 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-539382 The truth is everyone is going to die of something. Even if you could shield yourself from the sun and get all your vitamin D needs from supplements, would you still enjoy life? If tanning makes people feel good, then far be it from me to stop people from doing it. Just recognize that the best evidence to date as judged by the most qualified researchers suggests that you'll reduce your chances of getting cancer by avoiding UV exposure. How we personally feel about it doesn't change the science. You could make all kinds of logical, reasonable reasons why sun tanning isn't bad, but when you look at the scientifically controlled studies, the evidence is pretty compelling. UV causes skin cancer. But again, you have to die of something. If you like hanging out in the sun, feel free. At some point, living an enjoyable life has to trump living longer. Right? The truth is everyone is going to die of something. Even if you could shield yourself from the sun and get all your vitamin D needs from supplements, would you still enjoy life? If tanning makes people feel good, then far be it from me to stop people from doing it. Just recognize that the best evidence to date as judged by the most qualified researchers suggests that you’ll reduce your chances of getting cancer by avoiding UV exposure.

How we personally feel about it doesn’t change the science. You could make all kinds of logical, reasonable reasons why sun tanning isn’t bad, but when you look at the scientifically controlled studies, the evidence is pretty compelling. UV causes skin cancer.

But again, you have to die of something. If you like hanging out in the sun, feel free. At some point, living an enjoyable life has to trump living longer. Right?

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-539219 David Bradley Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:01:39 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-539219 Thanks for you input on the sunbathing issue. As I understand it the people at Health Research Forum are basing their research on published studies, but I do think one thing they perhaps don't emphasise adequately is that their recommendations don't really apply to those of pale skin heading to sunnier climes where the locals tend to have higher intrinsic protection. My other guy feeling about sun exposure though is that we evolved over the course of millions of years under the sun, we didn't suddenly emerge from under a rock and have to cope with a new threat. The same argument has been made about background, low-level radiation exposure, and that too usually receives little attention. Thanks for you input on the sunbathing issue.

As I understand it the people at Health Research Forum are basing their research on published studies, but I do think one thing they perhaps don’t emphasise adequately is that their recommendations don’t really apply to those of pale skin heading to sunnier climes where the locals tend to have higher intrinsic protection.

My other guy feeling about sun exposure though is that we evolved over the course of millions of years under the sun, we didn’t suddenly emerge from under a rock and have to cope with a new threat. The same argument has been made about background, low-level radiation exposure, and that too usually receives little attention.

]]> By: Left Brain http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-539214 Left Brain Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:51:37 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-539214 It's been demonstrated that UV exposure causes skin cancer. It also causes other undesirable skin conditions like wrinkling and spotting, etc. But UV exposure also helps stimulate vitamin D production which is good. Since I can't be an expert on all the scientific studies out there I have to defer to the people that are experts. So, you ask yourself who are you going to believe? Sunscreen manufacturers? Probably not because they are biased to encourage you to buy more sunscreen. Health Research Forum? The work of 1 or 2 individuals who don't actually do any research. Also doesn't seem like a good choice. Cancer research groups? Connecting all of the scientists who do the actual studies and report first-hand knowledge. Seems like the best option. So, if the Cancer Research groups are saying you'd be better off to avoid the sun than to bath in it daily you'd need some pretty compelling evidence to go against that recommendation. For the recommendation on how to sunbathe safely, the steps seem arbitrary and don't seem supported by any evidence. Where is the study that says sunlight exposure is more effective than the strategy of avoiding sunlight exposure and getting your required vitamin D from the food you eat? Where is the study that says reducing your exposure when traveling abroad is beneficial? I could go on but I won't. Generally, I remain skeptical of "experts". But in the case of UV exposure I've seen enough evidence that I'm convinced people should avoid sun exposure. It’s been demonstrated that UV exposure causes skin cancer. It also causes other undesirable skin conditions like wrinkling and spotting, etc. But UV exposure also helps stimulate vitamin D production which is good.

Since I can’t be an expert on all the scientific studies out there I have to defer to the people that are experts.

So, you ask yourself who are you going to believe?

Sunscreen manufacturers? Probably not because they are biased to encourage you to buy more sunscreen.

Health Research Forum? The work of 1 or 2 individuals who don’t actually do any research. Also doesn’t seem like a good choice.

Cancer research groups? Connecting all of the scientists who do the actual studies and report first-hand knowledge. Seems like the best option.

So, if the Cancer Research groups are saying you’d be better off to avoid the sun than to bath in it daily you’d need some pretty compelling evidence to go against that recommendation.

For the recommendation on how to sunbathe safely, the steps seem arbitrary and don’t seem supported by any evidence.

Where is the study that says sunlight exposure is more effective than the strategy of avoiding sunlight exposure and getting your required vitamin D from the food you eat?

Where is the study that says reducing your exposure when traveling abroad is beneficial?

I could go on but I won’t. Generally, I remain skeptical of “experts”. But in the case of UV exposure I’ve seen enough evidence that I’m convinced people should avoid sun exposure.

]]> By: Will http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html/comment-page-1#comment-94704 Will Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:31:44 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/how-to-sunbathe-safely.html#comment-94704 My mother got skin cancer and when she sees the doc he's always annoyed if she turns up with a tan! Isn't there a link between skin cancer and getting a tan? w My mother got skin cancer and when she sees the doc he’s always annoyed if she turns up with a tan! Isn’t there a link between skin cancer and getting a tan?

w

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