Shining some light on the risks of sunscreen

Where were all those towering displays of sunscreen products a century ago? Look at old photos of a day at the beach and you’ll note the ladies wearing dresses with stockings. Men donned bathing suits that covered their torsos, a good part of their legs, and sometimes even their arms. (Wouldn’t our grandparents be shocked to see what passes for a bathing suit these days? More like a birthday suit!)

Yet the risk of melanoma in the 1930s was one out of 1,500. Now, it’s one out of 80.

What’s going on? I’ll give you a hint—it has nothing to do with the ozone layer.

As a doctor, I have a front-row seat from which to observe the bitter argument going on behind closed doors about whether sunscreen is more a risk than a reward. And now, I’m taking you to the show. You’ll see that mainstream doctors may be well-intentioned but their bickering and conflicting advice is a menace to your health and won’t matter at all if you’re diagnosed with a deadly cancer.

10 percent effective?

The development of sunscreen has led many folks to believe they can spend endless hours in the sun without any danger of skin damage. Banish that thought immediately. And, as I’ll explain, there are good reasons to avoid sunscreens altogether.

Of course, if you’ve stepped foot in a doctor’s office in the past decade, have access to television, radio, or the Internet, or are one of the dying breed that still read an actual newspaper, you’ve probably gotten the message that you should slather on the sunscreen. But most of these products do a lousy job of protecting against UVA rays, the longer ultraviolet wavelengths that cause melanoma—the most lethal form of skin cancer.

Why is this such a critical product flaw? Of all the UV radiation that the earth—and you—get from the sun, UVA makes up a whopping 95 percent. These rays can penetrate your skin down to its lowest levels, which is what makes them so dangerous.

Most sunscreens do a fair job of protecting against UVB sunlight, which can cause basal and squamous-cell cancers, as well as premature skin aging, but they’re not effective in blocking UVA light. In fact, they only absorb around 10 percent of it. Imagine if we tried to put cops into bullet proof vests that only blocked 10 percent of bullets. You can bet those vests wouldn’t be the media darlings that sunscreens have become.

Forget everything you thought you knew about a sun/cancer link

As shocking as it sounds, there’s even recent evidence to suggest that more sun exposure protects you from melanoma. Research has shown that people with more sun exposure, sunburns and evidence of skin damage from the sun (called solar elastosis) are less likely to die from melanoma. Also, up to one in five melanomas occur on skin sites that receive minimal exposure to the sun, such as the trunk or feet. However, I don’t advise that you try the extreme sun approach as a cancer prevention strategy. Remember: Moderation in all things.

A million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year, but only about 60,000 are melanomas. However, melanomas are responsible for 8,000 deaths a year. About 2,000 die from basal-cell carcinoma or squamous-cell carcinoma, the other two skin cancers that are caused by UV (but in these two cases UVB) rays. Left untreated, both will grow but less quickly. Most are picked up on routine skin exams in plenty of time to remove them during a minimally invasive, outpatient surgery. They’re a major nuisance and sometimes disfiguring, but—unlike melanoma —rarely fatal. They account for only about one out of every thousand deaths.

Melanoma, however, can quickly spread to your internal organs and kill in a matter of weeks. Caught before it spreads beyond the skin, melanoma is 99 percent curable. Once it reaches your internal organs, it’s almost impossible to stop.

A witch’s brew of untested chemicals

Given the risks posed by melanoma and other types of skin cancer, it’s no wonder that you’ve probably covered yourself with some coconut-smelling concoction at one time or another. But sunscreens are part of a larger problem that often occurs with products that are supposed to be safeguarding our health: They were unleashed onto the market with no concern about testing or the potential harm they could pose to you and your loved ones.

The truth—and you won’t find this on a bottle of sunscreen—is that many sunscreens contain a disturbing mix of ingredients that may actually damage your skin—the very thing they’re supposed to protect.

How is this happening? It all comes down to the almighty dollar. Many sunscreens are marketed without the proper testing because of cost considerations. But, as you well know, when corners are cut, there’s always a price to be paid. Unfortunately, the burden has been shifted to us—and some of us will pay with our lives.

One common ingredient of sunscreens is benzophenone. It can cause allergic reactions and irritation to your skin. That’s the same problem that PABA presented, which has since been removed from most sunscreens. But what’s even more worrisome about benzophenone is its ability to mimic estrogen. Estrogen-sensitive breast-cancer cells were found to multiply when exposed to benzophenone in a test tube. This is especially troubling, since benzophenone is absorbed through the skin much more easily than other sunscreen ingredients. One study showed benzophenone present in 97 percent of people tested, and other research results turned up traces of the chemical in urine samples five days after its last use. In short, benzophenone is dangerous and it tends to linger.

Here are more chemicals to avoid:

• Homosalate: Test-tube experiments revealed that it acts like estrogen—making it an unacceptable option, as it can wreak havoc on your body.
• Octinoxate (or octyl methoxycinnamate): Different name, but presents the same problem—it acts like estrogen in your body.
• Padimate-O: This UVB-blocker, a derivative of PABA, has been linked to DNA damage. This has the potential to lead to cancer.

Even aluminum is present in certain sunscreens—and the makers don’t always include it on their ingredient labels. Aluminum is able to permeate your skin, and it causes oxidative stress wherever it goes. That’s why it has been linked to the formation of amyloid plaque—the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. (I wrote about this extensively in the April 2007 issue. You can read it in the archives at www.healthrevelations.com.)

There are a slew of chemicals to avoid—some with ridiculously unpronounceable names. I’m going to place a “Sun-Smarts” card on my Web site for you to download, clip, and take with you to the store. While I think it would be a terrific brain challenge to try to memorize all of those 25-cent words, I think a cheat sheet would be more effective.

But if you don’t have Internet access or forget to bring the list with you, the rule from the old Breyer’s ice cream commercial is a good rule of thumb: If you can’t pronounce something that’s on a label, it shouldn’t be in there.

Bickering docs

As I mentioned earlier, there is a bona fide war going on in the medical community over sunscreens. In one corner we have the dermatologists. Battling them are the endocrinologists, who treat hormone problems. The controversy swirls around the “new” vitamin D findings. I’m sure you’ve heard about them, since the mainstream media has glommed onto it as if it were the medical find of the century.

I’ve been talking for years about the importance of getting enough vitamin D and sun. And now statistics show that about 50 percent of Americans appear to be vitamin D deficient—and you may very well be one of them. Your body depends on this key multitasker to support a healthy immune system, strong bones, and mood maintenance and to protect against most cancers. And while it’s called a “vitamin,” it’s actually a hormone made from cholesterol.

The endocrinologists, who are doing the real research, are suggesting that you “get a few minutes of direct sunlight before slathering on the sunscreen.”

But dermatologists counter with, “Do as we say and put the sunscreen on immediately, and then again every two hours.” I think they’re feeling a little touchy for overlooking the vitamin D story and making recommendations that may have contributed to deficiencies—which would explain the stubborn, digging-in of their collective heels. Stubbornness doesn’t make them right, though. Because while they’re bickering, you’re left holding a plastic bottle of goop—when all you really want to do is enjoy your day on the beach.

This dangerous, corporate-driven, dogmatic mentality has affected our safety for too long. The problem is this: Consumers mistakenly assume that companies have done their due diligence before bringing products to market, as if those chemical companies are going to actually fund a well-designed, long-term study that has the potential to quash their newborn brew. Please!

Closer examination usually reveals inadequate or shoddy research. A sunscreen company, for example, may tout research or an endorsement from an “expert” who may be a prominent professor at a medical school—but also just happens to be on a particular corporate party’s payroll.

Have those experts ask their lawyers for a strict definition of “conflict of interest.” In the meantime, I want you to skip the sunscreen.

Common-sense medicine

You may be stunned by my last recommendation. After all, it goes against everything you’ve probably been told up to now. “No sunscreen?!” you say. “But I’ll burn to a crisp.” But no sunscreen doesn’t mean you go with nothing. You will need to invest in a good sunblock.

Here’s the difference: UV light is absorbed by sunscreens. That’s not good, as you’ve seen. But UV light will bounce off of sunblocks— which is exactly what you want in your protection. Titanium oxide and zinc oxide are effective sunblocks, because they sit on the skin without being absorbed. But that’s also a sticking point, because some of these products, when applied, look like greasepaint. Still, they look better than a tumor—so this is one time to let vanity slide.

When it comes to protecting yourself, the benefits of skin products run a distant second to those of rational sun-moderation strategies, such as long clothes and large, wide-brimmed hats and spending time in the shade. Avoid sunburns, plain and simple. A sunburn is not only uncomfortable but has been associated with increased risk of all three of the skin cancers. And if matters of vanity are the things that move you, be aware that sun damage accounts for up to 90 percent of all visible skin aging (translation: wrinkles).

Having a history of skin cancer in your family, having numerous skin moles, and being a light-skinned blonde or redhead all increase your risk of skin cancer. So if you fit into any of those categories, you’ll need to be especially careful to get less sun. (Multiple skin moles alone can make your risk of cancer six times greater.) People of English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish or Scandinavian ancestry tend to be at greater risk as well.

Clearly, as is the case with most health matters, your sun strategy will need to be individualized. But for most people, I recommend at least 10 minutes of sun exposure—without even sunblock—every day.

Protect your skin from within

It’s not just what you’re slathering on the outside that counts. You want to be conscious of what you’re doing to protect your skin from the inside as well. Healthy omega-3 fats support good skin health. One study was done with people who have photodermatitis, a type of allergy to the sun that causes greater sensitivity to UV rays. They were given fish-oil supplements, and their sensitivity decreased.

Good food sources of natural omega-3s include deep-sea, cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines. Plant sources include flaxseed, hemp, Salba, walnuts and purslane. Purslane has been considered a weed by many a gardener but has recently been found to contain more omega-3 content than any other plant. You can now grow your own source of omega-3, with many seed suppliers offering this “weed’s” seeds for sale. I recommend you contain them in pots, though, so they won’t take over your garden.

If you elect to take a fish-oil supplement, take a total of 1,000 to 2,000 mg EPA+DHA. If you’re also eating fish, you won’t need as much. A good alternative is cod liver oil, which, though still fish-based, contains vitamins D and A. Vitamins D and A confer a variety of general health benefits, including protection against skin cancer that will give you a safer day in the sun. Unless you spend a lot of your time outdoors, you can use cod liver oil in place of the regular fish oil.

Recommended sun products for a safer day in the sun

• Burt’s Bees: This company offers chemical-free sun products that contain titanium oxide. I use it myself and like it. It goes on white but blends into your skin a few minutes after application. (www.BurtsBees.com)
• Dr. Hauschka: I especially like its Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 (which contains micronized titanium dioxide). (www.drhauschka.com)
• JASON Naturals: The product I like is Earth’s Best Organic Sunblock, Chemical Free SPF 30+ (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). (www.drugstore.com)

Your brain can be what it used to be

Most of the people I know over the age of 50 start noticing their memories aren’t what they used to be. They’re sensitive to even the tiniest reduction in brainpower. The worrying about it alone can create more memory hiccups, and next thing you know, you’re on a merry-go-round of fear.

The good news is that reduced brain function does not have to be an inescapable part of aging. In fact, scientists recently proved that your brain has the ability to retain the flexibility of your youth. Neuro- scientists call this ability “plasticity,” and the way to trigger it is to use your brain for positive mental tasks and to give it the nutrients it needs— so it can mold in the right direction.

And I’m going to show you how.

Here are nine successful brain-boosting nutraceuticals—plus one mind-body therapy—that are critical for preserving your brain’s youthfulness:

Brain cell booster

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a key component of your brain-cell membrane and is necessary for effective cell-to-cell communication. It also ensures normal memory and brain function. There have been well-designed studies that have shown an improvement in cognitive performance for folks with mild cognitive impairment—and even those with Alzheimer’s disease. I recommend you take 100 mg per day of phosphatidyl-serine to promote optimal brain function. If you have some degree of cognitive impairment, I recommend you take up to 300 mg per day. You can find it in vitamin shops, and even your local grocer should stock it.

Oxidative stress-busters

Proline-rich polypeptides (PRPs) are crucial, because they reduce oxidative stress in your brain. They also slow the accumulation of beta-amyloid, that neurotoxic bedfellow of Alzheimer’s disease. PRPs can be extracted from bovine colostrums, which contain an immune-boosting component that’s normally passed from mother to baby immediately following birth. Taking proline-rich polypeptides helps your body to respond optimally when dealing with an assault of stressors. I recommend CogniSure™ from Metagenics. Check out www.metagenics.com to find an authorized provider.

Traditional Chinese moss for memory expansion

There’s currently a study under- way at Massachusetts General Hospital that is analyzing Chinese club moss for its powerful memory-enhancing properties. The researchers are finding that taking 400 micrograms per day is about three times as effective in improving memory as is taking Aricept, the commonly prescribed drug for Alzheimer’s. Aricept is expensive and, frankly, feeble compared with Chinese club moss, a long-revered treatment used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for memory problems and fever. Its success with fever points to an anti-inflammatory effect. I recommend a Metagenics product called Ceriva.™ Take 100 to 200 micrograms per day. If your memory just has a little bit of rust on it, you can expect to see a benefit.

A key nutrient for your neurotransmitters

Choline is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which you require for memory and learning. It’s considered an essential nutrient, as it increases acetylcholine levels and supports healthy functioning of the important fatty membrane within your brain cells. Research is discovering that choline can improve memory in people with Alzheimer’s. Japan and Germany have approved it for use in treating stroke and Parkinson’s disease. It’s available through numerous companies as citicholine or CDP choline. I recommend 250 to 500 mg per day.

A fungus that repairs nerve cells

Medicinal mushrooms are the focus of increasing interest by medical researchers in this country. Lion’s Mane has been prized for its digestive-system support and brain-tonic properties. It promotes the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which plays a key role in nerve-cell repair and survival—in the brain and the rest of the body. New Chapter offers a product called Mental Clarity that provides it along with a combination of cordyceps, reishi and pearl oyster.

The king of antioxidants

Known as the “king of anti-oxidants,” alpha lipoic acid supports the brain’s energy-producing mitochondria. It also protects against oxidative stress and age-related deterioration that can lead to loss of brain function. It’s a valuable multitasker in your body, supporting liver health and improving insulin signaling and glucose metabolism. For general support, take 100 to 200 mg per day. Find it together with acetyl-l-carnitine, another brain-energy preserver and memory-protector, in a formula called Juvenon. Call (800) JUVENON. (Translation: 1-800-588-3666.)

A spicy number for fighting brain plaque

Curcumin is found in turmeric, popularly used in curry dishes throughout the world. Medical researchers grew excited over it when they noticed that in countries where curry is a mainstay, Alzheimer’s disease is almost as uncommon as scurvy is in the United States. Curcumin is a neuroprotective antioxidant that also appears to stimulate the immune system’s capacity to scrub the Alzheimer’s brain of beta-amyloid plaque. Turmeric is a golden-yellow spice that can be added to many dishes, such as soups, chili, and rice-based recipes. There are also several good products on the market. New Chapter offers Turmericforce,™ and Nature’s Way offers Standardized Turmeric —both sound, widely available products.

An aquatic plant with a 3,000-year history

Bacopa is a long-revered herb of the Indian Ayurvedic tradition (an ancient system of health care). It’s used to balance and calm the mind, improving memory and learning. I’ll bet you’ve noticed that when you’re frazzled, nothing stays in the memory bank for long. Studies show that bacopa reduces anxiety as well as drugs like Valium, but without their potential side effects, which can include confusion and memory loss. Scientists are working to unlock bacopa’s secrets, but there’s evidence that it may protect the hippocampus (the brain area associated with memory) from the damaging effects of cortisol. Most studies successfully used a daily dose of 300 mg, and benefit was seen after a couple of weeks’ use. You can get it teamed up with ginkgo from Planetary Herbals (www.planetaryherbals.com) or in a smart-combination product like Neurozyme from New Chapter.

An antioxidant for protecting your brain cells

Carnosine is an effective anti-oxidant that helps clear out damaged proteins from brain cells. It also protects against the damaging effects of beta-amyloid, that destructive protein which gunks up the brain in Alzhei-mer’s sufferers. I’m especially interested in its ability to oppose glycation, which is the process where sugar molecules glom onto cells, causing inflammation and loss of function. Glycation is associated with diabetes, but it also accelerates the aging process. Take 100 to 200 mg per day of carnosine (also packaged as l-carnosine).

A workout for your brain

Here’s the only non-nutraceutical therapy on our list. Think of EEG biofeedback as a way to train your brain to do a better job of managing all its functions. As with physical training, your object is to challenge your brain to adapt to a higher level of fitness. It’s useful for depression, anxiety and poor sleep and also improves concentration and focus. It does take a commitment—20-session programs are common, and insurance may not cover it. But I’ll tell you that your brain is well worth it. EEG biofeedback can literally show where the brain isn’t functioning properly. You can go to www.eegspectrum.com to locate a professional who offers it.

Premature brain aging is evident when you have short-term memory loss or are unable to learn new information. Some memory complaints that are more serious include the following:

• Regularly forgetting recently learned material
• Misplacing things in the most unlikely places (putting the coffee can in the dryer, for example)
• Having problems with language, such as your ability to read and write
• Experiencing difficulty in performing once-familiar household chores
• Losing track of time or your physical location
• Noticing dramatic changes in your mood

These potentially signal Alzhei-mer’s disease. The prime suspects leading to Alzheimer’s, and even brain-tissue degeneration and an eroded memory, are the twin demons of rampant inflammation and oxidative stress. You need a strong plan in place. It’ll help you to combat the multiple, random prongs of aging instigators so that your brain can continue to form vibrant connections well into old age.

Dr. Inglis recommends…

You’ll achieve your best success by working under the supervision of an experienced practitioner who can custom tailor/ individualize an approach suited to your specific needs. Begin your search by going to www.functionalmedicine.org

Forgotten cures
A versatile remedy from yesterday’s medicine cabinet

You may get a sour-pickle look on your face at the very mention of castor oil. Who can forget that loving spoonful of viscous oil our mothers forced between our pursed lips?

Well, as with many things in life, mom knew best. So, please hear me out and give this remedy the revisiting it deserves.

Castor oil is a classic example of a safe, effective cure right at our fingertips that gets overlooked because of its reputation, and also because it just seems outdated and too good to be true.

But I guarantee you that if drug companies could patent it, they’d put a gazillion dollars into advertising castor oil and it would be the next blockbuster for every ache, pain and superficial skin infection. Lucky for you and me, they can’t touch it—so it’ll remain one of the most reasonably priced remedies around.

Despite its reputation as a laxative, I frankly don’t favor it for that use. Most people suffering from constipation are much better off making sure they get enough fiber in their diet from fruits, vegetables and cooked whole grains (except rice, which binds you up).

I have my patients use castor oil as a topical pain reliever for abdominal cramps, headaches, bursitis-related inflammation, muscle pains and injured joints. Women can use it for breast inflammation as well.

Castor oil can also be used to treat sinusitis, as it soothes the associated inflammation while providing significant antibacterial action to remedy the underlying problem.

It can also boost immune-system response in order to promote healing, so is useful in treating infections.

For the topical applications I mentioned above, you’ll want to use cold-pressed castor oil. Soak a piece of flannel cloth in it and then apply the cloth to the affected area. Keep it there for 30 to 60 minutes. You can place a hot water bottle or a heating pad on top. The heat, besides having a soothing effect, improves absorption of the oil into your tissue. To get the maximum immune-system impact, continue the treatment once or twice daily for three to seven days.

There’s not a lot to it, but it sure is effective. This is the charm of old-style remedies—you won’t find a lot of fuss involved with their use, and no side effects when they’re used topically.

I checked around my community and found that most nurses I spoke with were well aware of the healing powers of castor oil. A recent study actually showed that castor oil works better than Vaseline in reducing pain in a procedure called extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (used to treat kidney stones). A shock wave is applied to the abdomen in order to break up kidney stones so you can pass them. If you’ve ever been through this procedure, you know it feels similar to being jabbed hard with a finger constantly for about 45 minutes to an hour. If castor oil can take the sting out of that, I’ll bite.

In fact, when it comes to pain relief, castor oil is one of the safest options out there. When you place castor oil up against the usual risky alternatives—drugs like Tylenol, Bufferin, Advil and Aleve—castor oil is hands-down the common-sense choice. These drugs are risky because they can cause stomach trouble, from upset stomach to bleeding, and in some severe cases, liver damage.

Your Questions Answered
Bring tears to your eyes—without a prescription

Q. I developed hot flashes and mood changes after menopause a couple of years ago. I’m 55 now, and while that initial problem cleared up, I ended up developing a dry, gritty feeling in my eyes a few months later. I buy an artificial-tear preparation from my local drugstore, but sometimes I need to apply it five to six times a day! What is the best—and safest—way to fix this problem? ––B. Rainey, Minneapolis, MN

A.You have dry eyes (kerato-conjunctivitis sicca), which can result in symptoms ranging from severe pain, itching, redness and blurred vision to that gritty sensation you described. It affects women more than men, with the common cause being the decreased estrogen levels of menopause.

Other causes include such auto-immune diseases as Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and thyroid disease. A less-common cause is the presence of structural defects in tissue surrounding the eye, resulting in physical blockage.

Many common drugs can also cause the problem: diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide (used to treat high blood pressure), tricyclic antidepressants (i.e. Elavil), opioid pain medications, and osteoporosis drugs (i.e. Actonel and Fosamax) are all potential culprits. Believe it or not, over-the-counter eye drops such as Visine can cause dry eyes, as can LASIK surgery.

And as many postmenopausal women have learned the hard way, estrogen hormone replacement therapy can be the underlying cause of dry eyes. If you’ve been on Premarin or another conjugated estrogen (those chemical soups made from the urine of pregnant horses), find a doctor who will take you off it (without giving you a hard time) and switch you over to bio-identical HRT. Check with your nearest pharmacist. (Go to www.iacprx.org to find a local practitioner.)

If left untreated, dry eyes can cause permanent scarring of your cornea which can ultimately impair your vision. Fortunately, most people treat it, because it’s too uncomfortable to ignore.

Breathing trouble in exchange for eye relief?

Conventional treatment for dry eyes is limited to adding tears (the artificial tears) or conserving tears, in which tear ducts are surgically blocked (either temporarily or permanently) with a procedure called punctual occlusion. It sounds as if you’re not getting the results you want from over-the-counter artificial-tear preparations, and I’m not surprised. These products contain preservatives that can irritate your already sensitive eyes, so it’s best to stay away from them.

There’s also a new drug on the market called Restasis that eye doctors like to use, which is an eye-drop version of a 35-year-old drug called cyclosporine. Don’t expect this drug to solve the problem either.

When Allergan first tried to get Restasis approved in 1999, it was turned down when a study involving 877 patients showed no benefit. Then, additional company-sponsored studies came along showing benefit, and it’s now widely used by doctors. The trouble is, nearly one in five people who use Restasis experience eye burning. Other side effects include rashes, itching, swelling, dizziness and difficulty in breathing. Imagine going to get a dry-eye condition treated and leaving with a breathing problem instead. That’s a trade most of us wouldn’t make.

Moisten bone-dry peepers––naturally

Try this before you end up on a drug: Take 1 to 3 teaspoons of cod liver oil. Cod liver oil has vitamin A, which supports and helps heal the eyes. You can pick up Carlson’s brand or Nordic Naturals’ brand. For topical care, I recommend a product called Tears Again® Advanced™ Liposome Eyelid Spray (which contains vitamins A, C and E in a highly penetrating form you apply to your closed eyelids) and another one called Tears Again® Liquid Gel Drops (which contains a common eye lubricant, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, in long-lasting gel form without preservatives). You can get these products at www.ocusoft.com. Go to the patient catalog and click on “dry eye therapy.”

Additional supports should include a whole-food diet with a wide variety of deeply colored fruits and vegetables, a room humidifier, and protective eyewear for the outdoors and for swimming. Also, if you find yourself glued in front of your computer, blink. People blink on an average of 14 times per minute, but this tends to slow down when you’re concentrating on a monitor. Other environmental triggers include sun, dry, windy air and heat, so be mindful of putting yourself in situations for too long that could make your symptoms worse.