Research suggests that sunscreen may not prevent melanoma, and may even contribute to the increase in melanoma rates because it gives a false sense of security and it allows people to stay out in the sun longer and be subjected to more damaging sun rays. In fact, melanoma rates have increased dramatically since sunscreens became popular.

Research also indicates that most people do not apply enough sunscreen to achieve the desired SPF, and in practical use often achieve an SPF protection equivalent to between 3 and 7. The average adult needs to apply more than one ounce per application and frequent reapplication is required. It is also quite easy to miss a spot and end up with sunburn anyway.

Sun Clothing is a Smart Alternative

1. It doesn't come in a bottle.
2. It doesn't smell bad.
3. It never expires.
4. It doesn't wash off.
5. You don't have to reapply it.

Sunscreen Effectiveness

Water, wind, heat, humidity, and altitude can decrease sunscreen's effectiveness and it rubs off, sweats off, rinses off and fades away making it necessary to reapply regularly. Studies also show that many people apply sunscreen after sun exposure begins and may take up to one hour to apply it to their children.

Since sunburn can occur within minutes, a large quantity of sunscreen must be applied to all family members before going outside. Besides the expense of trying to use sunscreen effectively, it is often a hassle; especially with small children.

Sunscreen requires certain chemicals to work, protective clothing does not; the tight weave of the material provides the sun protection. A small percentage of people may be sensitive or allergic to some of the active ingredients in sunscreens. Furthermore, experts recommend that parents refrain from using sunscreen on infants under 6 months old and instead rely on protective clothing and keep them out of direct sunlight.

Exposed skin is at risk from sunburn and skin cancer. Water reflection almost doubles the sun radiation. For all these reasons, it makes sense to wear protective clothing, the sunscreen that never wears off.

Many sunscreens block ultraviolet-B (UVB) but not the dangerous UVA

Sunscreen originally blocked only UVB rays, the ones that cause a tan or sunburn. UVA rays were thought to be safe, but a few years ago scientists learned that UVA rays are dangerous. Now most sunscreens block some UVA rays, but not all of them. Scientists still don't know whether the most dangerous UVA rays are being blocked.

Australian researchers say that ultraviolet-A (UVA), which is responsible for the sun's ageing effects, plays a bigger role in causing skin cancer than previously thought. It had been thought that the UVB light which causes sunburn, was what caused skin cancer. But recent research says the effect of UVA has been underestimated.

Widespread use of UVB-blocking sunscreens in Australia has led to an increase in human exposure to UVA and allowed the scientists to detect these changes now. They knew that UVA penetrated the skin more deeply than UVB, but thought that UVA photons were less likely to be absorbed by the DNA and cause critical mutations. So, UVA was thought to be less carcinogenic.

However, when the researchers looked at the effects of UVA and UVB on the DNA from two types of skin cancer cells, they found that UVA caused more mutations in a critical part of the skin than previously thought. Most of the UVA mutations were in cancerous cells found in the same part of the skin where stem cells occur, the basal keratinocytic layer. By contrast, most UVB mutations were found in cells from a more superficial layer of skin.

The researchers said their work would have profound implications on public health worldwide as researchers had so-far stressed UVB as the cancer-causing part of the spectrum. The research added to concerns that other parts of the UV spectrum could damage human skin. It showed that skin cancers really started in the deepest layers of the skin, where the longer wavelengths of UVA light penetrated.

A False Sense of Security

Old-fashioned sunscreens could lull people into a false sense of security, he said, particularly if they are using a sunscreen with poor protection against UVA. People might stay in the sun for longer, thinking they were protected.

Remember, even the best sunscreen doesn't give 100% protection. So even though you're not getting sunburned, you're still getting exposed to ultraviolet rays on cloudy days.