[Merciful_Friend]

Big mistake by the medical profession, but I don't think you'll be hearing any apologies.

[frithguild]

I’m not smart enough to do the math (and as far as I know no one else has done it yet) but it should be possible some day to roughly calculate how many people have died sooner than they otherwise would have due to cancers and other conditions which were spurred by low vitamin D, which in turn was spurred by their obedience to the monotonous drone of dermatologists and TV medical experts over the course of decades, saying: “Wear sunscreen. Wear long sleeves. Wear a hat. Avoid being out in the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.” And on and on.

I remember trying to convince my father, rest his soul, that he should eat hydrogenated oil margarine rather than butter...

[OneWingedShark]

Nice article.

[Uncle Miltie]

I go to the tanning booth in the winter for 5 minutes at a shot. The vitamin D increase has been shown to net fewer deaths.

[elc]

Pediatricians push Vit D supplements on breastfed babies from about 2 months of age. We started giving it to our first baby and it was the foulest tasting and smelling thing on earth.

So I did a little research.

We now opt for safe sun exposure and will for our new baby as well.

[sunny48]

Many call Dr Mercola a quack, but he’s been saying this a long time.

Also you need to check out what chemicals are in your sunscreen. I use zinc.

Some studies have even found a link between melanoma and the use of commercial sunscreen! Additionally, potentially harmful chemicals such as dioxybenzone and oxybenzone are some of the most powerful free radical generators known to man. And yet other studies have linked specific chemical UV filters with the transsexualization of male fish and coral reef degradation.
In light of that, I believe it’s imperative to do your homework, and to ONLY use a natural sunscreen with safe, non-toxic ingredients, so as to not add to your toxic load, and perhaps still not be protected from damaging UVA.
As you can see from this list, compiled from the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website, there are lots of potential dangers lurking in your sunscreens:
Octinoxate (Octyl Methoxycinnamate) The most widely used sunscreen ingredient, known for its low potential to sensitize skin or act as a phototallergen. Estrogenic effects are noted in laboratory animals as well as disruption of thyroid hormone and brain signaling. Has been found to kill mouse cells even at low doses when exposed to sunlight!
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) Associated with photoallergic reactions. This chemical absorbs through your skin in significant amounts. It contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to Centers for Disease Control research. Health concerns include hormone disruption and cancer.
Octisalate Octisalate is a weak UVB absorber with a generally good safety profile among sunscreen ingredients. It is a penetration enhancer, which may increase the amount of other ingredients passing through skin.
Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) Primarily a UVA-absorbing agent, sunlight causes this unstable ingredient to break down into unknown chemicals, especially in the presence of another active, Octinoxate.
Octocrylene Produces oxygen radicals when exposed to UV light.
Homosalate Research indicates it is a weak hormone disruptor, forms toxic metabolites, and can enhance the penetration of a toxic herbicide.
Micronized Titanium Dioxide Sunscreens with micronized titanium dioxide may contain nanoparticles. Micronized TiO2 offers greater sun protection than conventional (larger) particles. These small particles do not penetrate skin but may be more toxic to living cells and the environment. Inhalation of powders and sprays is a concern.
Micronized Zinc Oxide Same as Micronized Titanium Dioxide, above.
Titanium Dioxide Appears safe for use on skin, due to low penetration but inhalation is a concern.
Ensulizole (Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid) Known to produce free radicals when exposed to sunlight, leading to damage of DNA, this UVB protector may have the potential to cause cancer.
Nano Zinc Oxide Nano zinc oxide offers greater sun protection than larger zinc particles. Comparatively little is known regarding potential health effects of nanoparticles. They do not penetrate healthy skin, and thus appear to pose a low health risk in lotions. Inhalation of powders and sprays is a concern.
Nano Titanium Dioxide Same as Nano Zinc Oxide, above.
Zinc Oxide Zinc has a long history of use in sunscreen and other skin care products; little absorption and no adverse health effects are reported.
Padimate O (Octyl Dimethyl PABA / PABA Ester) A derivative of the once-popular PABA sunscreen ingredient, research shows this chemical releases free radicals, damages DNA, has estrogenic activity, and causes allergic reactions in some people.
Menthyl Anthranilate 1 study found that it produces damaging reactive oxygen species when exposed to sunlight.
Mexoryl SX 2 hours of sunlight can degrade as much as 40% of this active ingredient. Low skin penetration.
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol Not an approved active ingredient in the U.S. Few studies exist on this chemical. It is photostable and does not absorb through your skin.
Sulisobenzone (Benzophenone-4) Can cause skin and eye irritation. Does not penetrate your skin to a large degree, but enhances the ability of other chemicals to penetrate.
Benzophenone-2 Not approved for use in United States sunscreens. Concerns about hormone disruption.

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=sunscreen&k=sunscreen

[razorboy]

I never really heard much about the evils of the sun, I mean sure some warnings about skin cancer but that always revolved around not getting repeated sunburns. Of course I live in Tucson, it’s hard not to get a lot of sun here, and we all know that having a good base coat of tan is better protection than any sun tan lotion. I do wear a hat if I’ll be out a lot, but that’s for heat protection not sun.

[fso301]

It used to be that mothers would tell their children, "Go out and play in the sunshine, it's good for you." In more recent years, saying something like that too loudly might have gotten a poor mom arrested and her children taken away from her.

As a long term survivor of metastatic malignant melanoma, I can tell you that parents allowing their kids to go out and get sunburned are not responsible parents.