Your Health
| SECRET MILLIONAIRE |  | | | VIEW FROM THE HILL | | | | YOUR HEALTH | | |
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D is for dilemma...
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| INTERNATIONAL star Leona Lewis has just been unveiled as the new face of the Teenage Cancer Trust's Shunburn campaign. |
NEVER mind the temperature outside - the hottest debate of the summer is whether to sunbathe or not.
While some of us will be baring all over in search of a golden glow, others will prefer to stay pale and interesting to avoid skin damage.
There are 100,000 new skin cancer cases diagnosed each year according to charity Cancer Research UK.
Around1,800 people a year die from malignant melanoma - the most aggressive skin cancer.
But recently other experts have begun to warn that taking sun protection to extremes may deprive us of vital vitamin D and damage our long term health.
Vitamin D is essential to help our bodies absorb enough calcium for healthy bone growth and it has been suggested that higher levels of vitamin D might also protect the body from colon, breast, prostate and other cancers.
Celebrities illustrate the growing divide on sun bathing. Some stars like Madonna rarely expose themselves to the sun, Nicole Kidman generally safeguards her porcelain complexion by covering up, but others like Jennifer Aniston, Coleen McLoughlin and Cat Deeley promote the sun-kissed look.
It's all about achieving a healthy balance in our relationship with the sun, says Mike Brown, Boots Suncare Scientific Advisor.
"I think it comes down to common sense. We are trying to get a message across to those who never protect their skin from the sun that they should definitely use sunscreen, but we don't want to scare those who are generally sensible about sun protection into becoming obsessive.
"Obviously, we don't want people to fry themselves lobster red in the sun and rely on the excuse that they're doing it to get vitamin D. The risks and dangers of that far outweigh any possible benefit - sunburn doubles the risk of skin cancer."
He adds: "I have never seen any evidence that people who use sunscreen are vitamin D deficient. Also, I think the dangers of too much sun are far greater in terms of the effects on the skin than the consequence of having too little and the effect on vitamin D levels."
But if you're going to enjoy this summer's sun, don't underestimate the power of those rays, even if you stay in Britain.
Last year, 60 per cent of sunburn cases were suffered by Brits who stayed in the UK.
SUN-SAFETY RULES
Spend time in the shade between 11 am and 3pm, make sure you never burn and aim to cover up with a hat, T-shirt and sunglasses.
Use cream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, apply 30 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply it regularly (around every two hours). Remember to take extra care with children and ensure they wear a hat and protective clothing.
It's a myth that getting pre-holiday colour - either fake or real - will provide more protection against harmful rays.
TOP TIP
To improve sunscreen effectiveness use a vitamin C cream under a normal sunscreen. This can increase its effect by between 50 to 100 per cent because it helps mop up' damaging free radicals caused by the UV radiation.
7:00pm Tuesday 17th June 2008
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CommentPosted by: 2Much, New Forest on 6:51am Thu 19 Jun 08
I don't use suncream, all those chemicals on your skin cannot be good for you.
The best way to avoid burning is sitting in the sun little by little, (20 minutes here and there) stay in the shade and wear something light to cover up if you are in direct sunlight.
http://www.second-op
inions.co.uk/sunligh
t.html
"Drs Cedric and Frank Garland of the University of California are the foremost opponents of the use of chemical sunscreens. They point out that the greatest rises in melanoma are in countries where chemical sunscreens have been heavily promoted"
I don't use suncream, all those chemicals on your skin cannot be good for you.
The best way to avoid burning is sitting in the sun little by little, (20 minutes here and there) stay in the shade and wear something light to cover up if you are in direct sunlight.
http://www.second-op
inions.co.uk/sunligh
t.html
"Drs Cedric and Frank Garland of the University of California are the foremost opponents of the use of chemical sunscreens. They point out that the greatest rises in melanoma are in countries where chemical sunscreens have been heavily promoted"
Posted by: alasdair, windsor/kosovo on 5:47pm Thu 19 Jun 08
must admit would not mind leona rubbing in the lotion lol
must admit would not mind leona rubbing in the lotion lol
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