I'm putting this post in the conspiracy section because...well, it's cheaper, but also - it really does seem that there's a concerted propaganda effort to push skin cancer fears, and push yearly (or more!) skin checks by dermatologists, and heavy use of sunscreen.
Check out these articles:
New York Times article: Answers To All Your Burning Questions About Sunscreen https://archive.vn/IitH4
New York Times article: What Gen Z Gets Wrong About Sunscreen https://archive.vn/bwuDL
They're full of propaganda about sun exposure:
Young adults are often unaware of what sun damage looks like and how best to prevent it, Dr. Shive said. She said she recently saw a young patient who didn’t know tan skin and freckles were signs of sun damage.
The average adult needs about one ounce of sunscreen to cover all exposed skin. “We often say a shot glass of sunscreen for the whole body,” said Dr. Jenna Lester, an associate professor of dermatology at the U.C. San Francisco School of Medicine, “but I tell my patients to fill the shot glass up to the brim and use even more if needed so you don’t miss any spots.”
Really? Freckles are a sign of sun damage? The only places on my body that don't have freckles are those that never, ever see the sun.
The substack auther A Midwestern Doctor (https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/) has a great article on this topic, which goes in depth on the conspiracy aspects of it [Dermatology's Disastrous War Against The Sun] (https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/dermatologys-disastrous-war-against). Here's a few quotes from that article:
Skin cancers are by far the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, so to prevent them, the public is constantly told to avoid the sun. However, while the relatively benign skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, the ones responsible for most skin cancer deaths are due to a lack of sunlight.
This is unfortunate because sunlight is arguably the most important nutrient for the human body, as avoiding it doubles one’s rate of dying and significantly increases their risk of cancer.
A strong case can be made that this dynamic was a result of the dermatology profession (with the help of a top PR firm) rebranding themselves to skin cancer fighters, something which allowed them to become one of the highest paying medical specialities in existence. Unfortunately, despite the billions that is put into fighting it each year, there has been no substantial change in the number of skin cancer deaths
I don't use sunscreen anymore, and I haven't for a year or so now. It's part of my general skepticism towards the heavily advertised "it's for your health" and "but you'll get cancer" propaganda that we've been subject to.
Once you start being aware of it, you see what people are influenced to do by the propaganda. For instance - absolutely slathering themselves and their kids in sunscreen, to the point that they're these white masked creatures.
Also - I heard from a friend of mine that after a long, coast to coast bike ride, slathered in sunscreen every day, she got a very strong reaction from the sunscreen, and can't wear it without her skin getting raw and red.
So now, I sun myself regularly (when it's not too hot out). And in situations where I would have previously worn sunscreen, I skip it, or just wear a hat, and maybe a long-sleeved shirt. And if I'm out in the sun for a long time, say on a long hike, I'll use an umbrella, which incidentally can be very effective in preventing overheating.
I meant to include some photos in the original post. Sun therapy was WIDELY used all over the world, for all kinds of diseases, especially tuberculosis.
Some of them have been preserved. Look up "tuberculosis hut" on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuberculosis_hut
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Fresh air from the mountains or beach
Consumption
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I've read in Ayurveda that there's a form of therapy that goes by the name of 'Suryakiran Chikitsa' (color therepy). The thing that is life giver can't harm you. So, those who have problems with the sun, I suggest they follow ayurveda and understand their body types so as to find what's required to be corrected. Once corrected completely, your body will tolerate the Sun as easily as many people do. In my entire life, I've never ever used cosmetics. Even the day I got married, I prepared natural pastes or creams to be used on body.
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How does sun exposure reduce cancer risk?
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If you look at this section of the article:
...he lays out the evidence for this theory.
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Certain demographics are high risk for skin cancer.
Blacks? Very low risk
People who live near the equator? Are they most or least at risk?
The problem with these studies is that everyone examined must have been a red headed stepchild
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I hear if you cut out seed oils from your diet you can stay in the sun for as long as you like. Anyone come across this study before ?
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Yeah, there's actually a podcast called Carnivores Don't Get Sunburn. From my experience (I've been carnivore about 8 months, so no seed oils) I'd say - I have gotten a couple sunburns in this time, but I believe it's more mild, and not the "skin peels off" kind of sunburn. It's just red skin, that's gone the next day.
So - my sunburn haven't completely disappeared, but they're milder.
On the other hand - the sensitivity of my eyes towards the sun has much improved. I used to need sunglasses or a cap when doing things outdoors, like playing pickleball. Everybody wears either a cap or sunglasses when out in the sun.
Now I don't anymore, and that's actually a great thing, because you have better field of vision. The sun in my eyes just doesn't bother me like it did before. I haven't heard of this benefit from other carnivores, but for me it's a thing, and began a couple months after starting a carnivore diet.
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You play pickle ball?
You deserve to get sun ☀️ burned! lol
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luckily the courts I play at are often shady...
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Thanks for sharing. Will check out the Pod.
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The sun is healthy for you. Don't let them confuse you.
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Sun is good for you in moderation and supposedly you don't need sunscreen if you catch early morning sunlight -- it sorta tunes your body for the day. Sunscreen is basically scam and potentially harmful. I basically never use sunscreen and got burned once (I was mowing some grass shirtless mid day for a long time).
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💥 Spot on my friend
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I think most people are more afraid of ageing skin than cancer. Most of this (wrinkles) is caused by UV-A rays, because they penetrate the skin (they just age your skin, unlike UV-B, that causes sunburn). The worst thing is that UV-A passes through the atmosphere more easily and even passes through clouds and windows. (UV-A doesn't even contribute to vitamin D)
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of course, vanity always trumps health
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The good thing is that some actions that are done because of vanity contribute to health as a side effect (keeping a normal weight for example).
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Vanity is a great motivator for healthy living, a positive externality
Does plastic surgery count as healthy lol
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"It is the body's reaction to direct DNA damage from UVB light. This damage is mainly the formation of a thymine dimer. The damage is recognized by the body, which then triggers several defense mechanisms, including DNA repair to revert the damage, apoptosis and peeling to remove irreparably damaged skin cells, and increased melanin production to prevent future damage.
Melanin readily absorbs UV wavelength light, acting as a photoprotectant. By preventing UV photons from disrupting chemical bonds, melanin inhibits both the direct alteration of DNA, as well as the generation of free radicals, to prevent them from indirectly damaging DNA."
So... too much UV = DNA damage, sunscreen absorbs UV so it can't reach your skin.
My takeaway is: use sunscreen if you don't want literal radiation burns.
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21 sats \ 0 replies \ @OT 7 Aug
I'm in the use sunscreen only if you have to. If you know you'll be exposed for a long period of time in the middle of summer then I use sunscreen. However, being more conscious about amount of time exposed, time of day, strength of the sun, recent tolerance (are you already tanned?) you can pretty much go without sunscreen.
To the people who won't use sunscreen at all, I challenge you to go out to a mid summer, midday Australian beach for 4 hours and no sunscreen. Let me know how it works out for you.
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Im not so sure the sunscreen chemicals are good for you. I have heard those are what cause the cancer. I havent worn sun screen in years, but I am careful about how much sun I get. I think as we age, we become more aware of these things.
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BTW Midwestern Doctor has a lot of other interesting articles - here's one on bone health:
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sunlight makes you feel good, sunscreen keeps it from making you hurt
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Sunlight is important. Vitamin D and vanity.
I don’t like to get burned because it’s painful and uncomfortable.
If you go skiing on a sunny day you should put sunscreen on your ears and face because the bright reflection from the snow
Put on mild sunscreen if you go to the beach or go hiking. Altitude makes sun rays stronger
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