Busting The Sunscreen Myth

Understanding the nitty gritty details of sun protection for your family

- Manda Aufochs Gillespie

It’s finally summer. Time to move parenting outside: to the beach, the field, the park, the garden, etc. This of course means glorious days basking in the warmth of the summer sun. However, as delightful as it feels, we must remember to protect our children and ourselves from the sun's harmful effects. Understanding fact versus fiction when it comes to sun protection will ensure everyone stays happy, healthy, and burn-free this season.

MYTH ONE: SUNSCREEN PROTECTS AGAINST CANCER

When it comes to cancer prevention, there is some research now suggesting that people may be better off skipping the sunscreen altogether and enjoying some daily sunshine. A 2007 meta-analysis of 17 (out of 18 known) studies on the subject concluded that “there was no statistically significant effect of use of sunscreens on the risk of melanoma.” The study, published in the Annals of Epidemiology, further found that in latitudes greater than 40 degrees (New York and north—i.e. the entirety of Canada) that “the use of common sunscreen formulations that absorb UVB almost completely, but transmit large quantities of UVA, may contribute to [the] risk of melanoma”.

We know one thing for sure: sunburns are bad news for skin cancer prevention, especially sunburns in childhood, which actually increase your risk for developing cancer later in life by almost 50%! Yet regular sun exposure (not resulting in burns) may actually be healthy and protective against melanoma according to an article in the Journal of American Family Physicians. This is thought to be either because of photo-adaptation (increase in the production of melanin in the skin that protects against the effects of ultra-violet radiation over time) and/or high Vitamin D levels.