The dermatology and pharmaceutical industry\u2019s defense of potentially carcinogenic compounds in most over-the-counter sunscreen lotions contradicts the arguments the same groups make to suggest that UV exposure is harmful \u2014 one more indication that<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s Health and MSN.com reported this week in a story, \u201cDoes Sunscreen Cause Cancer?\u201d that increased attention to potentially harmful sunscreen chemicals has spawned from another delay in the implementation of new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules for sunscreen marketing.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch suggests retinyl palmitate \u2014 a form of vitamin A that fights skin aging \u2014 interacts with UVA rays to induce skin cancer in mice. Another concern is sun-blocking oxybenzone. In animal studies, it disrupts hormone balances, leading to weight gain and reproductive health problems. Oxybenzone can leach through your skin \u2014 in fact, it’s in the bloodstreams of 97 percent of Americans,\u201d the Men\u2019s Health article reports. \u201cHowever, no human research supports these harmful health effects, says Steven Wang, M.D., a dermatologist and researcher at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Last year, he published a review paper delving into the evidence, and the investigation convinced him these compounds are safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dermatology\u2019s arguments claiming that sun exposure is harmful is based on animal models \u2014 mice bred without immune systems \u2014 and survey question studies (epidemiology) which doesn\u2019t explore causation, only correlation. To condemn sun, they say the studies on immune-deprived mice are all they need. But to attack sunscreen they say that\u2019s not enough. So which is it?<\/p>\n