Sunscreen does not protect against skin cancer

Sunscreen does not protect sustainably from skin cancer.

(30/06/2010) Most people believe that generous application of sunscreen also protects against skin cancer. But this widespread assumption is wrong. Although sunscreen can protect against sunburn, it does not minimize the risk of getting cancer.

Summer, sun and sunbathing: Many people believe that sunscreen protects against skin cancer in the long term. But that's not true. The German Cancer Aid pointed out this connection. Many people want to prolong the sunbathing by applying sunscreen and endanger their health sustainably. Instead of applying sun creams and then celebrating extensive sunbathing, you should rather spend a lot of time in the shade, as the German Cancer Aid advises. Because avoiding the blazing sun is still the best protection against sunburn and skin cancer. Because the UV-related gene damage starts much earlier than the sunburn. Prof. Eckhard Breitbar from the Cancer Aid e.V .: "The gene damage caused by UV rays in the skin long before a sunburn begins". For this reason, sun creams should not be used to stay in the sun longer. Instead, one should rather stay in the shade and avoid the blazing sun.

The longer and more intense the sun is exposed, the higher the risk of developing skin cancer. It is therefore particularly important to use a meaningful sunscreen. A sensible sunscreen is light air-permeable clothing, which, however, consists of sun-tight fabric. It is important to have sufficient headgear, UV-resistant sunglasses to protect the eyes and shoes that cover the back of the foot. In those areas that are not covered by clothing, the cancer aid recommends sunscreen with a high protection factor. Heilpraxisnet.de, on the other hand, recommends suntan lotion from natural cosmetics, as conventional sun creams often contain fragrances that can trigger allergies. In addition, suntan contains nanoparticles whose effects on the body have not been sufficiently researched so far.

Young people who have spent much too much time in the sun already have an 80 percent UV radiation dose of their entire life at the age of 18. Therefore, according to the German Cancer Aid, sufficient sun protection is especially important for children and adolescents because young people spend more and longer outdoors. Children should, for example, only play in the shade on the beach and not spend the hot midday sun outdoors. Every year, 3000 people die from skin cancer in Germany. The incidence rate is 140,000 people per year. (Sb)

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First aid with sunburn
Nanoparticles in the sunscreen
Cancer therapy: breast milk as a cancer killer

Image: Manfred Walker.