I am super confused!!!
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free skin care · Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:06 pm

OK, I have read all of the virtues and benefits of wearing sunscreen and I have also heard that sunscreen can give you cancer. I haven't been wearing it because of that, but also because it tends to irritate my face, make it break out and make my t-zone really shiny. I just don't know what to do! Of course I want to protect my skin, but does the end justify the means as far as cancer goes? I know this will probably inspire a lot of admonishment from the avid sunscreen wearers, but the cancer thing has really got me worried. My mother just passed last year from cancer and it is really on my mind. Thanks!

free skin care · Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:54 pm

Sunscreen always caused a problem with my skin ... but Mineral Makeup is a great solution.

Mineral Makeup has, by virtue of its nature, it's own sunscreen of about 15 SPF ... and according to Jane Iredale's blurb, the more layers of minerals you apply ... the greater the sun protection.

This might be a viable solution for you.

Mary

free skin care · Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:59 pm

I'm sorry about your mother. My father died of cancer a few years ago. It's a terrible disease.

There have been some studies that showed oxybenzone (sunscreen ingredient) could be absorbed through the skin and if in great enough amounts, MIGHT, have the potential to cause tumors. As is the usual with these things, it would take gallons of the stuff to be absorbed and you would have to bathe in it, and eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, etc. before a tumor formed. These studies are so irritating since they imply a result that is so unlikely to happen.

On the other hand, the number of cases of melanoma/skin carcinomas has shot up over the past few years. Most say due to lessened UV protection because of reduction of the ozone layer. You can't be sure that oxybenzone will cause a tumor but you CAN be sure that unprotected, chronically exposed skin will become sun-damaged, form hyperpigmentation, and have the potential to form melanomas. If you are worried about sunscreen ingredients that are chemical, the mineral makeup is a good idea. Also, you might think about titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as sunscreens.

Also, you could use a Vitamin C serum on your skin to protect it from free radical damage from UV light. This damage is often the precursor to changes/damage in the DNA of skin cells that eventually leads to cancer.

free skin care · Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:35 pm

I don't have an answer for you re sunscreen, but I'm writing just to say I'm sorry about your loss. My husband passed away in May, also of cancer. He was only 4 days short of his 38th birthday! He had cancer of the lungs which caused his left lung to collapse completely and all his other major organs to be severely inflamed or malfunction.

I am here on this site for therapy - if you can imagine that at all! I enjoy the time I spend here, and it helps me forget that I miss him terribly.

Take care.

free skin care · Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:26 pm

alilicious and pumpingmummy, I'm sorry for your loss. Cancer has caused so much suffering not only for the victims but for their family and friends as well.

Betterat40 hit the nail on the head! Its tough to find a good sunscreen particularly for oilier skin types, but it is sooo worth it. At another forum someone said if skin care products are ranked in increasing importance from 1 to 10, then sunscreen would rate 1000. It is alarming that while the incidence of skin cancer is on the rise sunscreen use keeps declining.

MMU will help to a limited extent, but IMHO is not sufficient. You would be relying on a physical block so you would need a rather thick layer to get UV protection which would then be cosmetically unappealing. But if you intend to use only MMU for sun protection then at least add Vit C to your routine. Just my 2 cents, HTH.

free skin care · Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:25 am

pumpingmummy,
I am so sorry for your loss as well and he was so young too. Yeah, it's been pretty hard as you well know. We were extremely close. She had non-hodgekins lymphoma which caused a tumor on her lungs and her lung collapsed as well. From 1st day at hospital to last was 6 weeks. I really miss her. I was her only child. My father died when I was 15 and I lost her at 27. I am here to tell you though that it does get easier, in time. One day it won't hurt all day like it does now. You'll always have the pain of the loss, but life will start to feel normal again. I promise.
This forum is really good to be a part of. The ladies here are so very kind and I think you'll find a nice group to be a part of.
If there is anything I can do for you please let me know. Just PM me if you need to talk. It is so much easier when you know someone knows how you feel. Thanks for letting me share my story.
Alison

free skin care · Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:29 am

betterat40,
I didn't want to exclude you. I am sorry about your loss as well. Yes cancer is a horrible disease and watching someone you love so much go through it is the worst. I think that was the worst part, watching her suffer knowing there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.
Wow, sorry for being so dark there. I have to watch myself... if I think about it too long it overwhelms me.
Thanks for your care.
Alison

free skin care · Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:31 pm

Alilicious
First, my condolences as well.
Second, you are absolutley correct in your question about sunscreen and the safety of the ingredients on your skin. The laboratory produced chemicals are not the only suspects, the very "safe" mineral sunblocks like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are lately in question.
Read:
http://www.organicmakeup.ca/TitaniumDioxide.htm
and also
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/zincoxide/recognition.html
scroll down and read "Effects on Animals" as they tested it by rubbing it into their skin
I wish there was a definite answer- I most surely do not have it, but it appears that, in this world, there is no guaranteed solution to preventing cancer (or aging).

Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:47 pm

Dear Alilicious,
I am an esthetician with 20 years in the beauty industry. I have not heard about sunscreens causing cancer and would question the source that provided this information. I prefer the most natural of the sun blocks which are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. All the others are considered to be chemical sunscreens and can cause irritation, especially if your skin is sensitive. There are many more instances of skin cancer these days and if you live in the southwest you are getting more sun than many others. Your chance of getting skin cancer - including melanoma - are much higher now and warrant the use of sun protection. I understand that you fear getting cancer - but your chances of getting skin cancer by not wearing sun protection far outweigh any possibility of getting it from the sun protection itself. It is up to you to weigh the choices. I say wear sun screen or mineral powders that use Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide.
*self-advertising material removed by Mabsy*
Best wishes,

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