More on Sunscreens

The New York Times, today, had an article about new sunscreen regulations.  If one is interested in this topic, it's a good starting point.

Image from Times article

"Experts are urging people to limit their time in the sun, especially at midday, and protect their skin with hats, shirts and cover-ups instead of relying exclusively on sunscreen" See NY Times "New Rules for Sunscreens."

Comment: Please keep in mind that there is controversy as to whether the rising incidence of melanoma referred to in the Times article is related to sun exposure or the result of diagnostic drift.  Pathologists now call lesions melanoma where years ago they would have labeled the same lesions dysplastic moles.  Also, screening tends to increase melanoma incidence (see work of Sam Shuster).  Melanoma incidence is rising, but death rate not nearly as much.  This is a complicated topic that needs to be be addressed. Researchers' conflicts of interests should be clearly noted.  The heavy funding of The Skin Cancer Foundation by "industry" and the grants given to researchers muddy the waters.  "No one should enter the Temple of Science with the soul of a money changer."  Sir Thomas Browne