The Case of the Sun Screen Killer

Bette Dowdell

Some years back, about thirty or so, the medicos labeled the sun an enemy agent. We all needed to slather on sun screen all day, every day, or risk dying of melanoma in slightly more than a trice.

If, like me, you’ve lost a loved one to melanoma, you reacted quickly and positively, making sun screen a regular part of your daily routine.

And melanoma rates skyrocketed.

Turns out what sun screen prevents is our ability to absorb our needed daily dose of Vitamin D that’s so amply provided by the sun. And our government in action set the RDA for Vitamin D in nutritional supplements so ridiculously low that we don’t get enough Vitamin D there, either.

And the really tragic news? Vitamin D prevents melanoma. It also keeps cancer and a long list of other diseases from our door.

And we’re all deficient in Vitamin D!

Have you heard an “oops” yet? Me either.

But wait, there’s more bad news. Now it turns out a common sun screen ingredient, oxybenzone, which absorbs through our skin remarkably well, disrupts our endocrine system–putting us in line for an additional gaggle of maladies.

Plus it causes allergic reactions in many, especially, it seems, children.

And it loads us up with free radicals, the better to rust out our bodies.

The FDA, which, of course, rubber-stamped oxybenzone into our lives, announced their intention to regulate sun screen ingredients. In 1978. No word yet on when they think they can work sun screen oversight into their schedule.

Gloryosky be! As if we needed more evidence to prove, for sure and for certain, that we’re on our own out here.

So here’s a suggestion for your consideration: Plan to spend time in the sun without sun screen each day. For pale skin, 15 to 30 minutes will do; the darker your skin, the longer the time it takes for the sun to do its magic. Then, for lengthier outdoor stays, lest you end up looking like a prune, use sun screen--without oxybenzone.

Or take Vitamin D3. My research suggests 4000 to 5000 iu a day, a modest dose as it turns out.

Bottom line: Whether by sun or by supplement, get adequate amounts of Vitamin D if you value your health.