Sunblock or not?

Reader request: The harms of sunblock

2010 Eastern Wisconsin

My first thought was as with most issues, to weigh the facts and take the lesser of two evils. It's common knowledge the negative effects of sun exposure can cause painful burns, premature aging and even worse, cancer. It's hard to measure at what level is safe exposure. Some people can overdo it and never have a negative effect, while others can spend fifteen minutes outside and be sent running for some aloe relief or to the doctor getting a strange spot removed and biopsied. We know we do need some sun exposure to soak up that wonderful vitamin D, that helps with essential body functions, regulate our mood, and so on, and that only supplementing isn't always as effective at it. However it is believed you can still get your vitamin D with sunblock on. Unless you can avoid ever leaving the house during daylight hours, avoiding sun exposure completely is impossible, and why would you want to either.

A Take on "Tan Mom"

I'm sure everyone has heard about the New Jersey mom accused of bringing her five year old into a tanning booth. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that she may have brought her kid to the salon, but not into the booth. I have no reason to believe that the child didn't get burnt playing outside, and that what the little girl said at school was misinterpreted due to her mother's appearance. She may not be vigilant on putting sunblock on her child, but as far as I know that isn't illegal, or I know plenty of parents that should have spent a few days in jail, including my own.

Image from  Sunscreen: New Guidelines this Summer  

Sun exposure releases both melatonin and serotonin into our systems. Melatonin helps regulate our sleep patterns, and we all know regular sleep helps us function better, and serotonin is a feel good hormone. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize,  both of those things feel good and anything that makes us feel good can have addictive consequences. It's also not that uncommon for a doctor to recommend someone with depression, especially if it gets worse in the winter where less sun exposure occurs, to regularity sit under artificial UV light. Also there's that whole vitamin D thing, but not relevant for this post. The real issue that everyone is either overlooking, or going about the wrong way, is the harm she is doing to herself.