However, there are some studies which claim that what we eat can also have a drastic effect on our chances of developing the condition. On the other hand some studies say that our diet cannot affect the condition. So what are we supposed to believe? Can our diet really affect our chances of getting skin cancer? Or is it just a load of rubbish?
Skin Cancer and Our Diet
There is also some kind of research going on in order to find links between our lifestyle and cancer. We all know that our diet affects our skin, but did you know that your diet could also affect skin cancer?
The suns UV levels are apparently a good source of vitamin D for our bodies. Whilst that may be true, there are people that go off into the sun without adequate protection, thinking that Vitamin D will help them reduce the risk of skin cancer, as well as other cancers, and that they will not be harmed because Vitamin D is good for them.
However, whilst it is true that the sun does help our bodies to have a higher Vitamin D production, it is still well known for giving us skin cancer. This means that we need to get our Vitamin D from other sources, for example in our diets.
It is thought that fatty diets increase our risk of developing skin cancer. Studies have been done on mice, where scientists have underfed a group of them, exposed them to chemicals which promote skin cancer, and they have found that fewer underfed mice developed the condition compared to the other group of mice who did not have their calorie intake reduced.
So this showed that somehow, eating healthier and having a calorie restricted diet, somehow helped to promote a protective hormone, which stopped some of the mice developing skin cancer. However, the studies have not shown fully which gland produced the hormone, so those tests are currently incomplete.
There is no denying that the diet plays a big part in our skin condition, and it is more than likely that it does in fact affect our chances of developing skin cancer. So what foods should we be eating?
Oily fish is extremely good for the skin and fish such as salmon can really help to cut chances of skin cancer down. This is because the omega three fatty acids help to repair DNA damage caused by the cancer.
Eating oily fish three times a week has been proven to reduce a persons risk of burning in the sun right down after a month, and after three months, the risk of burning in the sun is further reduced by up to 33%.
However, whilst they may help to cut down the risk, they are still no match for fierce sun levels and sun protection should still be worn.
It is thought that a healthy diet is your best defense against all forms of cancer, and eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is definitely the way to go! Cutting down on salty and sugary foods is also definitely a good idea, as is increasing the amount of calcium you get daily.
Overall there is research to say that diet affects skin cancer, and research to suggest that it does not. If you are unsure your best bet is to simply eat healthier anyway. Eating healthy is good for the skin whether you are trying to prevent skin cancer or not.
Trying to get at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is what you should be aiming for, and also cutting down on really fatty foods. If you are unsure about anything you can always consult a doctor or nutritionist and they will be able to give you more advice.
Spotted, saggy, leathery skin. That's not exactly the image that a soothing day at the beach congers up. Yet that's precisely how ill-protected skin ends up after years of fun in the sun gone wrong. You can fend off unwanted solar lentigines (those pigmented spots and freckles resulting from sun exposure) and lose, wrinkled skin by avoiding the four most common suncare bloopers.
For starters, Dr. Ara DerMarderosian, professor of biological science at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia suggests using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) higher than 15 to shield the skin from UVA and UVB rays. DerMardersosian explains that, "UVB is what gives the burn. The UVA is more powerful and is what penetrates the skin. This can lead to more deep seeded problems such as cancer."
Regardless of how simple applying a sunscreen seems, a lot can go wrong with this simple act. It's these innocent mishaps that allow skin damage to sneak up on even the most devote sunscreen users.
1.Not applying sunscreen soon enough
One of the first foul ups with sunscreen is waiting too long before applying it. For instance, one summer, researchers recorded the sun protection activities of 352 families as they arrived at the beach. Ninety-eight percent of the families using sunscreen applied it after arrival at the beach. Moreover, the typical delay time for rubbing on sunscreen after arrival to the beach was 51 minutes.
For optimal protection, apply sunscreen at least twenty minutes prior to sun exposure, and reapply the agent every two hours or has directed by the label.
2.Not laying sunscreen on thick enough
The next sun care folly is not applying enough sunscreen to the skin. The United States Food and Drug Administration suggests applying 2 miligrams of sunscreen per each centimeter squared of skin. Yet, when forty-two volunteers applied sunscreen to their bodies while enjoying the sun, scientists observed that the bathers slathered on less than half of the recommended amount of sunscreen.
Don't be stingy with your sunscreen. Coat your body with a thick layer of sunscreen that the skin absorbs in about one to two minutes.
3.Deceived by clouds
Have you seen those red, confused beach goers duped by clouds? I happens all the time in during overcast San Diego days. And so DerMarderosian recommends using sunscreen even when it's cloudy. DerMarderosian notes, "Some people don't know that the sun's rays can penetrate through the clouds, and they may get a pretty good burn, even though it's a cloudy day."
4.Not using food to bolster sun protection
Who says sunscreen only comes in bottles? According the a report in Biomedical Papers, some foods contain agents called phenolics that may protect the skin from UV-induced free radical damage, photo-aging and skin cancer. Phenolic containing foods include: cherries, cocoa, berries, apples, citrus fruit, plums, tomatoes, olives, broccoli, lettuce, soybeans, artichokes and wild rice. Pack some of these solar protecting foods along on your next outing.
Years from now, as you glance over your family photos featuring your days at the beach, I hope you will be able to congratulate yourself for avoiding these four sun-fun-foul-ups, and instead enjoy your tight, lesion free skin.
Sources:
Bech-Thomsen N & Wulf H. Sunbathers' application of sunscreen is probably inadequate to obtain the sun protection factor assigned to the preparation. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine; December 1992-1993, vol 9, no 6, pp 242-4.
Bickers, D & Athar M. Novel approaches to chemoprevention of skin cancer. Journal of Dermatology; November 2000, vol 27, no 11, pp 691-695.
Mitani, Hiroaki1et al.Topical application of plant extracts containing xanthine derivatives can prevent UV-induced wrinkle formation in hairless mice. Photodermatology Photoimmunology & Photomedicine; April/June 2007, vol 23, no 2-3, pp 86-94.
Robinson, June & Alfred Rademaker. Sun protection by families at the beach. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine; May 1998, vol 152, no 5, pp 466-470.
Svobodov?, Alena; Jitka Psotov? & Daniela Walterov?. Natural phenolics in the prevention of UV-induced skin damage: A review. Biomedical Papers; 2003, vol 147, no2, pp 137-145.
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Protect Your Skin from the Sun. Newswise; June 28, 2007.
Both Louise Forrest & Naweko Nicole Dial are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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