Comments on: Skin Cancer and UVA Rays http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com My name is Emily. This blog chronicles my spending a year (and counting!) of buying 100% cruelty-free cosmetic/household products (I have a list there in the sidebar -- it's called "cruelty-free companies" -- go look!) I also write about boycotting inhumane factory farming (buy humanely-raised animal products!), my life in the San Francisco bay area, and my dog, who I cook food for. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:08:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Emily http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-48596 Emily Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:48:15 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-48596 Hey! Glad to be of service in keeping you melanoma-free :) Hey! Glad to be of service in keeping you melanoma-free :)

]]> By: jessica http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-48461 jessica Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:57:05 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-48461 Thank you so much for this post. I don't know how I missed it before. I'm definitely writing down those five ingredients and paying attention when I buy new sunscreens and moisturizers! Thank you so much for this post. I don’t know how I missed it before. I’m definitely writing down those five ingredients and paying attention when I buy new sunscreens and moisturizers!

]]> By: Emily http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-33774 Emily Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:55:53 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-33774 Um, a UVA ray is a . . . type of invisible ray of sunlight -- it's in the light we use our eyes to see with. You know how there's a rainbow of light? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet? Those are actually just the visible wavelengths of light we can see -- red has the longest wavelength of the rainbow colors, violet has the shortest. There are many wavelengths in sunlight that have longer wavelenths -- those are infrared rays, which we feel as heat, and there are wavelengths of light that have shorter wavelengths -- those are ultraviolet rays and X-rays and a bunch of other rays as well. We can't see infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, or X-rays. "UV" is a shortening of "ultraviolet light" and "A" is a subsector of ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet rays are called "ultra" violet because they have shorter wavelengths than the violet light we can see with our eyes -- hence they are "beyond" violet. Each wavelength of light has different properties -- the shorter the wavelength generally the more energy it has, which is why the shorter wavelength rays are usually so harmful -- X-rays and UV rays are known to cause cancer because they're so strong. (Though that's a serious generalization about a complex situation.) Let me check, the Wikipedia definition of ultraviolet light is: "Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. It is named because the spectrum consists of refrangible electromagnetic waves with frequencies higher than those that humans identify as the color violet." "UV light is typically found as part of the radiation received by the Earth from the Sun. Most humans are aware of the effects of UV through the painful condition of sunburn. The UV spectrum has many other effects, including both beneficial and damaging changes to human health." To my vague recollection, there are 3 types of ultraviolet light -- Ultraviolet A (UVA), Ultraviolet B (UVB), and Ultraviolet C (UVC). UVA, in particular, is "long wave" ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 400nanommeters–315nanometers." (Nanometers are tiny.) In comparison, Ultraviolet B is a "medium wave" and has a "wavelength of 315nm-280nm," and ultraviolet C has a "wavelength of 280nm – 100nm." I hope that helps! It was a bit of a refresher for me as well . . . Um, a UVA ray is a . . . type of invisible ray of sunlight — it’s in the light we use our eyes to see with. You know how there’s a rainbow of light? Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet? Those are actually just the visible wavelengths of light we can see — red has the longest wavelength of the rainbow colors, violet has the shortest. There are many wavelengths in sunlight that have longer wavelenths — those are infrared rays, which we feel as heat, and there are wavelengths of light that have shorter wavelengths — those are ultraviolet rays and X-rays and a bunch of other rays as well. We can’t see infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, or X-rays. “UV” is a shortening of “ultraviolet light” and “A” is a subsector of ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet rays are called “ultra” violet because they have shorter wavelengths than the violet light we can see with our eyes — hence they are “beyond” violet. Each wavelength of light has different properties — the shorter the wavelength generally the more energy it has, which is why the shorter wavelength rays are usually so harmful — X-rays and UV rays are known to cause cancer because they’re so strong. (Though that’s a serious generalization about a complex situation.)

Let me check, the Wikipedia definition of ultraviolet light is:

“Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. It is named because the spectrum consists of refrangible electromagnetic waves with frequencies higher than those that humans identify as the color violet.”

“UV light is typically found as part of the radiation received by the Earth from the Sun. Most humans are aware of the effects of UV through the painful condition of sunburn. The UV spectrum has many other effects, including both beneficial and damaging changes to human health.”

To my vague recollection, there are 3 types of ultraviolet light — Ultraviolet A (UVA), Ultraviolet B (UVB), and Ultraviolet C (UVC). UVA, in particular, is “long wave” ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 400nanommeters–315nanometers.” (Nanometers are tiny.) In comparison, Ultraviolet B is a “medium wave” and has a “wavelength of 315nm-280nm,” and ultraviolet C has a “wavelength of 280nm – 100nm.”

I hope that helps! It was a bit of a refresher for me as well . . .

]]> By: jessica http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-29281 jessica Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:15:30 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-29281 whats does uva ray mean whats does uva ray mean

]]> By: Emily http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6538 Emily Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:21:26 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6538 Hi Helen! Welcome to my blog! I'm intrigued to hear that you only need 10 minutes exposure to the sun to get enough vitamin D. Maybe I'm getting enough after all! Ooh -- I've been tempted by Naturopathica sunscreens before -- I shall definitely give them a try sometime in the near future now that you've recommended them to me! (I'm very excited by zinc containing sunscreens that don't streak.) Gosh, I have no idea if eating zinc rich foods would help protect from the sun. I haven't heard of any studies of that sort of thing. All the stuff I've read just suggested that zinc oxide has a sort of a sunhat effect, so ingesting it probably wouldn't allow it to work properly, but maybe it has some other benefits? I have no idea. Actually, you bring up a good point about topically applied zinc oxide. From a rational standpoint, smearing oneself with a metal can't be that healthy. (Not that smearing oneself with avobenzone or mexoryl can be that healthy either -- they haven't even been around long enough for people to study their long-term effects the way zinc has.) Though smearing oneself with zinc must be far healthier than ingesting too much zinc -- a lot less zinc can cross the barrier of your skin to get to your bloodstream than can get from your stomach to your bloodstream. (Unless, of course, you're using a sunscreen containing nanoparticles of zinc oxide -- nanoparticles have been shown to go between cells. To my very limited understanding.) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/17/MNGFHIT1161.DTL It's a fascinating area, isn't it? Regards, Emily Hi Helen!

Welcome to my blog! I’m intrigued to hear that you only need 10 minutes exposure to the sun to get enough vitamin D. Maybe I’m getting enough after all!

Ooh — I’ve been tempted by Naturopathica sunscreens before — I shall definitely give them a try sometime in the near future now that you’ve recommended them to me! (I’m very excited by zinc containing sunscreens that don’t streak.)

Gosh, I have no idea if eating zinc rich foods would help protect from the sun. I haven’t heard of any studies of that sort of thing. All the stuff I’ve read just suggested that zinc oxide has a sort of a sunhat effect, so ingesting it probably wouldn’t allow it to work properly, but maybe it has some other benefits? I have no idea.

Actually, you bring up a good point about topically applied zinc oxide. From a rational standpoint, smearing oneself with a metal can’t be that healthy. (Not that smearing oneself with avobenzone or mexoryl can be that healthy either — they haven’t even been around long enough for people to study their long-term effects the way zinc has.) Though smearing oneself with zinc must be far healthier than ingesting too much zinc — a lot less zinc can cross the barrier of your skin to get to your bloodstream than can get from your stomach to your bloodstream. (Unless, of course, you’re using a sunscreen containing nanoparticles of zinc oxide — nanoparticles have been shown to go between cells. To my very limited understanding.)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/17/MNGFHIT1161.DTL

It’s a fascinating area, isn’t it?

Regards,
Emily

]]> By: Helen http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6490 Helen Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:57:59 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6490 I've read that you only need 10 minutes exposure to the sun per day to be able to make plenty of vitamin D. Also, Naturopathica makes a lovely (though pricey) SPF 17 lavender moisturizer with zinc oxide. I use it on my face, and it doesn't streak. http://www.naturopathica.com/skincare-moisturizers.html#15002 This is random, but would eating zinc-rich foods help protect from the sun? And, I read taking zinc supplements isn't great because it's not good to have too much heavy metal in the body. Does this also apply to zinc oxide applied topically, I wonder? I’ve read that you only need 10 minutes exposure to the sun per day to be able to make plenty of vitamin D. Also, Naturopathica makes a lovely (though pricey) SPF 17 lavender moisturizer with zinc oxide. I use it on my face, and it doesn’t streak. http://www.naturopathica.com/skincare-moisturizers.html#15002
This is random, but would eating zinc-rich foods help protect from the sun?
And, I read taking zinc supplements isn’t great because it’s not good to have too much heavy metal in the body. Does this also apply to zinc oxide applied topically, I wonder?

]]> By: Emily http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6098 Emily Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:16:04 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6098 Well, I believe UVA protection is best against skin cancer, which is my main concern. The vitamin D thing is worrying though -- I've heard lack of vitamin D has been correlated to breast cancer, which makes me nervous (though I really haven't done any research on it, this is really just hearsay). Breast cancer, skin cancer, I hate making the trade off. Well, I believe UVA protection is best against skin cancer, which is my main concern. The vitamin D thing is worrying though — I’ve heard lack of vitamin D has been correlated to breast cancer, which makes me nervous (though I really haven’t done any research on it, this is really just hearsay). Breast cancer, skin cancer, I hate making the trade off.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6056 Andrea Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:34:34 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-6056 It is so difficult to know which sunscreen is best. All the conflictin information is so confusing. Add to that the growing problem of vitamin D deficiency. Argh!!! It is so difficult to know which sunscreen is best. All the conflictin information is so confusing. Add to that the growing problem of vitamin D deficiency. Argh!!!

]]> By: Emily http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-5644 Emily Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:29:46 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-5644 Hi Allison, Thanks for the tip! That's very interesting. Regards, Emily Hi Allison,

Thanks for the tip! That’s very interesting.

Regards,
Emily

]]> By: Allison http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-5622 Allison Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:58:09 +0000 http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/why-should-you-buy-a-sunscreen-with-avobenzone-in-it/#comment-5622 Very cool blog. One quick tip.... A family member is a melanoma specialist at one of the big cancer hospitals, MD Anderson, in Texas. She informed me that the only sunscreens that truly help protect against skin cancer are those that contain zinc. Zinc and only zinc. Thanks for all you do! I will bookmark you straight away!! Very cool blog. One quick tip…. A family member is a melanoma specialist at one of the big cancer hospitals, MD Anderson, in Texas. She informed me that the only sunscreens that truly help protect against skin cancer are those that contain zinc. Zinc and only zinc. Thanks for all you do! I will bookmark you straight away!!

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