Questions and Answers
Questions and AnswersDate: 8 Mar 2000 08:11:51 -0500
2 Allergic to sunscreens I have tried a number of sunscreens with no luck. I have tried PABA-free brands and brands for sensitive skin. They all cause redness, itching, swelling, and welts. I can't even use lotions with any sunsreen in them. I can't even put sunscreen on my children because if they grab on to me or touch me I break out. I was not always allergic to sunscreen. It started about seven years ago. First only the skin on my face would break out, but now I can't use it any where. What could be causing the allergic reaction? ANSWER BY A. Van Beveren, Ph.D.,CNS,CNC http://idt.net/~drv The problem is not the sunscreens. The problem is your lack of Vitamin D (progessive intermittent exposure to sunlight) which disallows ionic calcium to spatially arrange your skin cells in a protective mode. Without vitamin D (which is, ironically, reduced in people who use sunscreens and "shades"!) the mast cells are quicker to release histamines creating your symptoms. The most important variable in all this is not the sun (which hasn't changed in millions of years but is most often blamed) but the type, quality and freshness of the oils you take internally. Fat, or rather a thin layer of rancid fat under the skin is subject to free radical activity and causes lipofuscion (dark, age or "liver" spots) and is also one cause of skin cancer. Don't, please, blame the sun. Rather blame the dermatologist who neglects to warn you to leave the french fries frying and instead take a daily tea-to-tablespoon of Flaxseed or Evening Primrose Oil. Here are some common sense suggestions to slowly get the vitamin D you so desperately need. The "Vitamin D" in milk is not nearly the same as what sunlight can provide. You need at least 30 minutes of direct exposure per day. More in the winter. Typical summer clothing provides less sun protection than a good sunscreen. Most light weight cotton cloth increases the length of time one can remain in the sun without sunburn up to 5 to 9 times. When wet, a cotton T-shirt has a sun protective factor of 1 to 3. Silk and polished cotton will generally block the sun well. Normal skin can burn through polyester crepe. Dacron polyester generally provides good protection, while viscose rayon provides far less. A broader weave of fabric is less protective than a tighter weave. Irregular weaves have lower sun protective factors. Dark colors protect better than light colors because they absorb the ultraviolet light more completely. Sun protection is reduced when fabrics become wet, but how much depends on the weave and the color. Eighty percent of skin cancers occur on the head and neck and on the nose. A hat should be worn regularly and should have a brim that extends around the entire head or at least shades the face. Every inch of brim reduces lifetime skin cancer risk by 10%. The Mexicans were right after all. There are several companies that have designed clothes specifically for sun protection. They include Frogskin, Inc. (800)328-4440, Pearl Izumi Technical Wear (800)877-7080, Sol Lite Active Wear (800)552-9458, Solar Protective Factory, Inc. 800-SUN-BLOCK, Sun Precautions (800)882-7860. 22087 [can] "Summer Clothing May Not Provide Sun Protection You Expect", Sherman, Carl, Family Practice News, March 15, 1995. (Address: Family Practice News, 12230 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852, Hope this helps. !====================================== DISCLAIMER: The material contained here should not be considered a substitute for a physician. These are only general guidelines to help you think about the medical possibilities. You are encouraged to consult your own health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Ask the Doctors website is at http://www.flora.org/ask-doctor/.