There seems to be varying opinion on the subject of prevention of skin cancer. There is the camp that seems to advise staying out of the sun completely. Then there is the camp that says a little exposure is good to produce vit D and prevent other cancers).

If you want a 'healthy' tan everyone seems to recommend self tan lotions. Has anyone looked at the list of chemical ingredients in these? Are they really safe? I'm even concerned about the chemicals in sun blocks too. What do you all think about the safety of the lotions and self tanners themselves?

I do not propose to be expert in anything medical but I believe strongly that most people have an inherent capability to know instinctively what is good for them.

What my gut tells me is to use that age old term 'moderation'. Get a little sun but not too much. I'd even go as far to say get a bit of a tan. No, not baked, just a bit of colour. I know we are told that it's not just sunburn that damages skin but also a tan.

However, my 'innate animal wisdom' just seems to keep telling me that a light tan is my body's own protection against what, in my opinion, is a lot worse-sunburn.

I'm sure there are many of you who know a hell of a lot more on this than me-please let me know your thoughts.

hi

In my opinion, and you're right, everyone has their own opinion, the only safe tan is one that is sprayed on. But that also depends on your genetic make-up and predisposition to skin cancers.

I myself have been down the malignant melanoma road. I have a pre-disposition to burn, so now I either cover up completely or avoid the sun at all cost. I get the sun on my face from sunrise to about 7:30 or 8:00 AM. That is enough to avoid the blues that come from not seeing that bright yellow ball at all, and my vitamin-D comes from a bottle.

The way I see it, that inherent "animal instinct" to protect yourself from the sun would have obliterated the entire disease eons ago. Man is somewhat addicted to the sun. Maybe our bodies crave more vit-d than they need, or maybe we don't give it what it wants... either way, families that have the genetic markers for skin cancer (fair complexion, burn easily blah blah blah) should have bred them out like a 6th finger. Haha... makes you wonder if Hitler had been successful in his genetic warfare and made the "perfect blonde hair blue eye fair skin'd" race, melanoma and other skin cancer rates would have soared!

Lordy I probably stepped on some toesies there... my appologies to any I may have offended.

~Kaelie
in addition to melanoma and peripheral neuropathy, is now suffering foot&mouth disease :)

Good point about 'animal instinct' to stay out of the sun. I love the sun-but from a distance. My natural tendency is always to be in the shade.

You don't seem to confused. I believe that someone, such as myself, that has been diagnosed with melanoma should obviously prevent sunburns. But to stay out of the sun completely is absurd.
I am in the sun now as much as I was before the diagnoses. I am now just smart about it. Before I didn't use a drop of sunscreen. Now I lather it on. I have two small boys who are more educated in sun damage than most adults are. I wish me as a youngster, or my mom and dad had the knowledge they do. I probably wouldn't be in the boat I am now. You have to live your life.

I have cancer, cancer doesn't have me.

All I can tell you is that tanning beds (if not cause it) do indeed increase your risk of developing malignant melanoma by 50%....at least that's what they say here in Texas. Although I am somewhat fair complected,I have never burned and have always had the ability to tan very dark. Anyhow, I have used tanning beds for about 2 months a year (right before summer), for at least the last six years. Seeing as how there is no histoy of skin cancer in my family, I do believe that the tanning bed played a direct part in my developing melanoma.


I am in the sun just as much as I was before, but as others have said, you just have to be smart about it.

There is no history of melanoma anywhere in my family.
I spent the first 35 years of my life north of the 50th parallel (far north) where summer was only warm enough for shorts for a couple months.
I've never spent time under a tanning light
I never did have the "sun-bunny" type figure to ever go out with much skin exposed... haha i wish

But I did get some severe burns on my arms a couple times travelling with Drum Corps as a teen.

I've come to the conclusion that it takes very little to get melanoma. I believe that because my family "grew up" in the far north is perhaps why I am the first... As we all spread out though, who knows how prevailent it may become in our family tree.

They say melanoma rates are growing worldwide due to the ozone layer depletion. I believe other reasons that are more plausible. Rates are growing because of families like mine roving, tanning beds (early beds - the really bad ones -not the ones we now use) and most importantly better detection methods and education. You can't document what you never find.

bah, sorry for hijacking your thread :D

Since my melanoma diagnosis, I am not what I call "sun phobic" but I stay in the shade. If I know I am going to be In the sun then I used sun BLOCK and I DO NOT even think of tanning beds. I used to lay in them. I am a strawberry blonde..blue eyed fair complexion, that could only get a good tan in the tanning bed. Vanity almost took my life. Pale Skin is in for me! I always caution my teenage children as I have two who have my skin and one (the oldest who is 21) has his dad skin but has the moles that his dad has also (bad combination)...I am the first in my family to get melanoma. That I know of. We dont know what our ancestors died of. I mean...they will say Uncle Bob died of lung disease...well Uncle Bob couldof had melanoma and it got into the lung..Ya know? My grandpa died of a malignant brain tumor...Well whose to say it wasn't melanoma? I remember hearing these very words out of the dr's mouth "Fast growing not treatable malignancy"...what does that spell? Melanoma to me~ Yep!