woodcraft

The white collar/endurance athlete article wasn't great,

But this one in Outside is informative and thought-provoking and reinforces my skepticism of sunscreen recommendations.

From one study in the article: “Avoidance of sun exposure is a risk factor of a similar magnitude as smoking, in terms of life expectancy.”

https://www.outsideonline.com/238075...cancer-science

79pmooney

Interesting article. My doc has me on 2000 units of D daily. I'll still use SPF 50 on my rides equinox to equinox, applying a lot in May, June and July. My mom was a life long sun worshipper. I have no desire to spend my last years in her skin. Mine is thin enough from the ample sun I've already seen.

I apply the SPD 50 but rarely put second coats on. I end up decenty dark by mid-summer and there are enough quick rides I do plus garden work and life that I am not concerned with getting enough. I've seen the effects of too much sun, up close and personal. I don't want it. (And I come from an active family with excellent heart health, both sun lovers and sun avoiders.)

Ben

fietsbob

and sunscreen effectiveness , has an expiration date , buy new every spring,, I recently learned this..

so you buying the smaller size is a good idea..

Korina

Well poop. Where I live is cold and overcast for large chunks of the year; think I need bigger vitamin D pills. ::worriedly remembers many youthful sunburns::

fietsbob

Had a melanoma removed from where, as a single guy, I could not reach to apply sunscreen .. un assisted..

Lemond1985

Two long posts in a row eaten by the board software. I give up.

Admins, please stop doing whatever it is you are doing. TYIA.

MEversbergII

You could try a liquid D3; from my understanding it absorbs better.

M.

Korina

@MEversbergII, good to know, thanks.

livedarklions

I stopped using the stuff last year because it's uncomfortable, and invariably finds its ways into my eyes when I'm riding. Despite long hours riding out in the sun, I was shocked at how little difference I noted. I just get a little tanned, and my skin feels way better without the greasy clamminess.

Only time will tell on the skin cancer chances, but my skin definitely looks healthier when I don't use it.

Cyclist0108

I try to use physical blocks instead of sunblock. I apply it now to my nose and ears and back of neck.

One of the other problems is that a subset of sunblocks might actually enhance the incidence of melanoma while preventing basal and squamous cell skin carcinomas.

john m flores 

Good article. This was the kicker for me, "We are always being told to replace something natural with some artificial pill or product that is going to improve our health, and it almost always turns out to be a mistake because we didn’t know enough. Multivitamins can’t replace fruits and vegetables, and vitamin D supplements are clearly no substitute for natural sunlight."

Cyclist0108

I think the likelihood that someone isn't getting enough vitamin D due to sunblock or protective clothing is very small.

Most people just spend far too much time indoors, (and during the time they are outdoors, they don't take proper precautions to prevent burning).

pdlamb

Let's see, Edinburgh's at 55 degrees, Stockholm at 59 degrees latitude. (Boston is about 42, and I live closer to 35 degrees). I'm going to be exposed to a lot more UV than the sun worshippers in northern Europe. Comparing fair-skinned to dark-skinned people, (i.e. Africans) seems to be mixing things up a bit like the classic apples to oranges comparison, although I know of two African Americans (two Kevin Bacon degrees of separation) who've developed melanoma.

For myself, it's too dang hot and humid in the summer to wear sunsleeves. I'll put on sunscreen for the skin damage protection, and call any difference between chemical and physical barriers a nod to dehydration protection.

livedarklions

The article suggests that the vitamin D is a marker that indicates sun exposure, and the thinking is that the body's other reactions to sunlight are what is actually causing the benefits.

Cyclist0108

I understand.

But it is the human tendency to spend most of the day indoors that is the problem, not sunscreen or protective clothing, per se.

Marcus_Ti

There's been back and forth on vitamin D over the years. Not only studies, but differing medical professional associations taking/changing stances:

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/?s=...&submit=Search

skidder

That settles it; I'm definately not trading my steel or aluminum framed bicycles for carbon fiber frames!

FWIW: Here's an unscientific test. My brother and myself both spent long hours at the beach in our youth. I used suncreens/sunblocks that were available back then, he used baby oil and other 'trendy' stuff all the girls he was trying to hit on would recommended to him. Fast forward 35 years and today he's had a skin cancer removed and goes into a dermatologist every three months to get odd skin discolorations lasered off, while I've got no problems with odd discolored skin patches. YMMV

Korina

John Muir called it the "house habit". I'm a lifelong habituate, trying to break it with my bike. ::looks at grey, drizzly sky:: Trying.

Cyclist0108

I was the cautious one in my family, but am the one with the skin cancer (removed). There is a random element to this.

Doug64

Two weeks ago I had 2 melanomas removed, one on my neck and one on near my collar bone. I start a twice daily topical chemo treatment lasting for 5 weeks on my scalp next week. Several more have been removed surgically in the past. I've worked outside most of my life, and just in the last ten years have spent a total of 2 years on bike tours riding most of those days, while also riding 4-5 days a week when home. I'll use my sunscreen, despite all the inconveniences!

jade408

I had a Vitamin D deficiency and had to take a supplement for 3 months.

A few things - the general recommendations for sunlight don't account for skin tone. When I found some other site to calculate, based on my geography and skin tone, how much sun I would need to get the recommended amount, it was like 6 hours or something. So basically impossible.

I put on some sunscreen, but I am pretty screwed no matter what. That face sunscreen isn't the difference.

CliffordK

Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinomas are an issue for the elderly population. Not necessarily dangerous, but a major annoyance.

Melanoma, of course, is far more rare, and more dangerous.

kaos joe

I have a friend whose grandmother grew up in a traditional setting in rural Afghanistan, wearing the full burka. She developed melanoma on the top of her foot, the only part of her that was ever exposed to sunlight besides her hands.

Cyclist0108

I got squamous at age 45. About 10% become metastatic.

wolfchild

Vitamin D deficiency is very common because majority of people don't get enough exposure to sun and they don't eat enough foods high in vitamin D. Wearing clothing and sunscreen further prevents your body from making vitamin D from suns rays.

That's just the reality of modern life.