The CDC quietly scaled back a surveillance program for foodborne illnesses

Here’s a brilliant idea!

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-quietly-scaled-back-surveillance-program-foodborne-illnesses-rcna227089

Although the summer is almost over, it’s never too late to talk about sun protection.

Sun exposure is extremely important to our health. We evolved with the constant rising and setting of the sun. We spent most of our waking hours outside. The sun dictates the metabolic rhythms of our bodies, produces vitamin D which is essential for strong bones and a healthy immune system, and being in the sun clearly boosts mood. However, prudent sun exposure is also important, especially today since our atmosphere has been degraded through pollution and climate change and doesn’t protect us like it did in the past.

Covering up with clothing is the best way to protect yourself but sunscreen remains an important line of defence as well.

Because the rates of skin cancer, especially in young people, are on the rise at the same time that sunscreen use is going up, there is a growing and dangerous online dialogue about how sunscreens must not be useful and that we should stop using them. 

This is ridiculous, and another example of how internet influencers, without any medical or scientific credentials, can impact on our health in a very negative way. 

The same way head of the Health department Robert Kennedy, a former 20 year heroin addict with no medical or scientific background whatsoever, can spew lies and convince the public that vaccines are dangerous and not effective, all while the worst measles outbreak in over 30 years continues to spread with 96% of cases being unvaccinated.

We live in insane, Orwellian times.

There are many explanations as to why skin cancer rates are on the rise.

The skin cancer that is developing today, probably started many years ago. Just one episode of sunburning as a child significantly increases melanoma rates in adulthood.

That does not mean that it’s too late and skin cancer is inevitable if you burned as a kid. Cancer is also a result of cumulative damage over the years.

There has been a steady 2% per year increase in skin cancer rates for many years, especially with melanoma. 

Compared to rates in 1970, melanoma is 5x more common today in men and 10x more common in women. Melanoma is the second most common cancer in 15-19 year olds and the most common cancer in 25-29 year olds. 

Here are a few myths we need to dispel:

1. If it’s early or late in the day, you don’t have to worry about the sun. This is completely false. Although the sun is most intense at noon, it can still cause significant damage early and late.
   
2. Tanning beds are safe. Also false. They expose you to intense, concentrated damaging UV rays. Melanoma rates are 27% higher with tanning bed use. Tanning beds are considered a Class 1 carcinogen, just like smoking, processed meat and plutonium.
   
3. A little tan protects us. This is another complete falsehood. When your skin tans, what is happening is that your skin is producing the pigment melanin because it senses that there is too much sun exposure and it is trying to protect you. It’s our natural sunscreen. An interesting factoid is that people who regularly wear sunglasses first thing in the morning have higher melanoma rates. When our eyes are exposed to sunlight in the morning, in addition to resetting our internal melatonin clocks to help with proper sleep cycles, cells in the back of the eye produce the compound melanopsin which turns on production of melanin in the skin. If you don’t get sun exposure first thing in the morning, that protective reflex does not occur, exposing your skin to more damaging UV radiation, increasing cancer risk.
   
4. If it’s cloudy, you don’t have to worry. This is nonsense. Even with full cloudcover, up to 80% of UV rays still penetrate. Also, the sun’s rays bounce off of snow, water, glass and even concrete and sand so being under an umbrella is not 100% protective.
   
5. You only have to worry about too much sun in the summer. Another myth. You must be careful year round.

One other factor contributing to rising skin cancer rates is the low level of fruit and vegetable consumption in the US. 98% of Americans do not even reach the paltry RDA of fiber, which only comes from plants. The antioxidants plants provide, which are 64x higher than in animal products, protect you from sun damage and reduce burn risk. Plenty of studies show that the lowest skin cancer, and other cancer levels, is in those who consume the most plants and the least meat, dairy and eggs.

While the terms “sunscreen” and “sunblock” are often used interchangeably, there are key differences in how they protect your skin.

Sunscreens use chemical filters that absorb UV rays before they penetrate into the skin. They are cheaper, lighter, less visible and easier to apply, but contain harmful chemicals and must be applied 20 minutes before sun exposure for the chemicals to take effect. Common chemicals include oxybenzone, octinoxate and avobenzone. These chemicals do get absorbed into the body and some are known to cause other forms of cancer. The spray-on ones also get inhaled which is definitely NOT good for you or those around you.

Sunblock uses mineral ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a physical barrier that reflects UV rays. They work immediately and are much safer to use since they are not absorbed into the body. They are thicker, can make you a little white and take a little longer to apply however. They also are prone to rubbing off when you sweat or swim so you may need to reapply it more often.

The Environmental Working Group website is a great resource when looking for healthier brands of sunscreens. 

Safe or not, anything is better than nothing. 

But whatever you choose, you must reapply sunscreen or sunblock every 2 hours as both types lose their efficacy by that point.

Other key considerations include whether or not they cover both UVA and UVB rays. Both forms of UV radiation contribute to skin aging and cancer but UVB is more carcinogenic. In general, sunblock protects against both better than sunscreens do.

The SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, indicates the level of protection against UVB rays specifically. SPF measures the amount of time it takes for your skin to develop a minimal sunburn. Technically, it indicates the percentage of UVB rays that penetrate the skin. An SPF of 15, for example, means that it will allow about 1/15th of the UVBs to penetrate the skin. This amounts to roughly 7%. That means that 93% of the rays are blocked. Not bad. An SPF of 30 blocks 97% of the rays but an SPF of 50 only blocks 1% more, or 98%. In other words, any SPF is better than none, and 30 is about as much as you need. Anything above that is not significant and is a waste of money.

Just remember to reapply every 2 hours.

In summary, get out in the sun, especially early in the day. It’s good for you. Just be careful if you are out for more than 20 minutes, which is the cutoff for needing to consider some sun protection for most people.

Have a great weekend.