Skin cancer: It’s the biggest fear of summer beachgoers. More than sharks in the water or jellyfish on the beach, cancer has become a growing concern that’s keeping more people from enjoying the summer sun every year. It’s a fear that’s fair to have with worries about the amount of UV exposure growing every year and the lifetime risk of contracting melanoma. In a sunny state like Florida, where the beach is the place to be, people want to know that they’ll be safe when they enjoy their time outside in the fresh air.
Over time, people have developed many ways to reduce and avoid sun exposure to make life outside safer, including the ongoing development and improvement of topical sunscreens. Sunscreens have become a household staple for protection against the sun’s rays. Most people have clear memories of being nabbed by the wrist at the beach by mom to get slathered in a thick layer of sunscreen before being allowed out from under the beach umbrella to go play. For a long time, people in the US have trusted sunscreen as part of their defense against sunburns and the aging effects of the sun.
The Sunscreen Myth
A rumor about sunscreen picked up and brought out the question: Does sunscreen cause cancer? These rumors have multiplied and diversified over the past few years, making it harder and harder to discern the facts from the fiction. Luckily, scientific studies and assessments have been done to clear the air about some of these frightening myths.
When looking at the big names of the ingredients on sunscreen bottles, you might be convinced that there’s a chance of these rumors holding some truth. The fact of the matter is that most of the claims you see stem from what’s in it, what it does, and doesn’t do for your skin when you go outside.
As a country, the US has developed a healthy fear of ingredients in products that look like the alphabet soup. It’s easy for people to see something called 4-methyl-benzylidene and get skittish after reading misinformation online about what is and isn’t a carcinogen. Luckily, in recent reports from both the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the ingredients that have been accused of being potential carcinogens have been reviewed and found to have no link to cancer in humans. Currently, there are no scientific findings that connect any of the ingredients found in sunscreen to cancer by any international health and safety organizations.
Through comprehensive research, scientists have found no signs of sunscreen increasing risk of melanoma. In fact, studies done in 2011 by the the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that regular use of sunscreen can greatly reduce the percentage of melanoma incidence. As it stands, the only link found between sunscreen and cancer is the chance of it reducing the risk of certain types of skin cancer when applied as directed.
Sunscreen and Its Benefits
Broad spectrum sunscreen is an important part of your ongoing skin care. While it’s important to combine its use with habits like limited sun exposure and staying in the shade as much as possible, sunscreen is an essential part of saving your skin from the more harmful effects of accumulated sun exposure. By using sunscreen regularly, you can avoid premature aging, blotchy and dry skin, acne breakouts and, of course, damaging sunburns.
Choosing which sunscreen to use may be difficult when there are so many options available, but consulting your dermatologist can lead you towards the options that are right for you. A dermatologist can determine what your skin needs to keep it healthy and provide lifestyle, diet, current medications and other factors that might affect what kind of sunscreen best suits you.
Protecting Your Skin With CosMedical Technologies
CosMedical Technologies offers the best skin care options for skin care professionals and has created tested and approved medical-grade skin care products that protect, replenish and refresh your skin. CosMedical’s broad spectrum replenishing sunscreen hydrates and firms the skin while providing the protection you need while enjoying the beach or time in the garden. CosMedical’s replenishing sunscreen is suitable for all skin types and is paraben-free and non-comedogenic.
To find out more about carrying CosMedical Technologies sunscreen in your medical practice or spa, call 800-275-3627 to speak with an Account Executive. Give your patients the care they deserve with CosMedical Technologies skincare products.
