It's getting harder to believe anything that's written by so-called "health" magazines that promote the daily use of toxic and carcinogenic sunscreen products on our children and families when substantial research has proven that they do NOT prevent skin cancer. These same sunscreen manufacturers own and control the Skin Cancer Foundation, the Sun Safety Alliance and influence many organizations with millions of dollars to advance their $35 billion dollar empire. Please, stop pitching for your advertisers and tell your readers the truth. God or Mother Nature created the sun and UV light to proliferate our species. Any organization that can suggest that UV exposure is only bad for us and has no value is either selling something or smoking something. Bottom line: Get moderate UV exposure without burning - the way nature intended it.

The JCTA is letting people know where Vitamin D comes from and how many Canadian are Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D researchers suggest that you get your Vitamin D blood levels tested and not rely on one recommendation like the CCS and CDC recommends. My Vitamin D bloods level was 112.5 nm/L, what’s yours? Optimum levels should be between 100 to 150 nm/L Some Vitamin D researchers recommend between 20 to 25 IU of Vitamin D for every pound you weigh. Using recommendation like “just a few minutes a day” has made Canadian Vitamin D deficient. This recommendation would depend on what Skin Type you are, time of day, latitude, time of year, UV Index, cloud cover.

I suggest you find out where the CCS gets there recommendation from, just so you know the CDC? Shannon I suggest you check out where the CDC get their funding from.

The Canadian Cancer Society has not spoke about vitamin D intake through moderate UV exposure because there are safer ways to get your vitamin D than by exposing yourself to UV in any form, which is a human carcinogen. Taking a vitamin D through a supplement presents no risk.

Generally, I tend not to believe people who are promoting a service as safe in order to make money. The Canadian Cancer Society gets no funding from sunscreen companies. You can check their financial records, they are public.

Indoor tanning beds are designed to mimic the sun. You get 10,000 to 20,000 IU of Vitamin D from one tanning session. As an indoor tanning consultant it is my job to make sure my tanners do not burn. After all it is repeated burning that causes damage to the skin no regular moderate controlled tanning in a reputable indoor tanning facility. It is the sunscare coalition that has poisoned the consumer's minds against the sun and it's many health benefits. Tan SMART, avoiding the sun isnt smart.

Recently I watched several broadcasts that were posted on UTube about the dangers of indoor tanning. The broadcast showed two doctors being interviewed on the dangers of indoor tanning. I was appauled to hear one of the doctors say that it was better to have our teens experience the pain and discomfort of sunburn obtained from outdoor exposure to deter them from wanting to tan or be out in the sun. The whole idea of using an indoor tanning bed is not only to get vitamin D but to build a base tan to protect yourself from burning outdoors. Do we really want to risk going to the beach, on a sun filled vacation or even daily use of our pools during summer with only the protection of sunscreen which may or may not wash off during swimming. Doesn't common sence tell us that we should use a combination of a smart gradually aquired base tan along with the use of sunscreen to protect our skin from burning. Burning is what causes skin cancer not tanning. Oh and consider this: sun sensative people with low vitamin D levels, with conditions such as osteoperosis, higher risks of internal cancer, and other conditions linked with vitamin D deficiency from the over use of sunscreen. ( Don't believe this statement?) I suggest you check the following websites: UVAdvantage.org VitaminDSociety.com VitaminDSociety.org TanningTruth.com
I wonder how many those people promoting the daily overuse of sunscreen have actually gone on their expensive vacations or out on their large yachts and aquired a sunburn from having no base tan to protect them.
My advice is to find a reputable tanning salon that is educated and can answer your questions about tanning and can gradually build your base tan the Smart way then use a sunscreen to suppliment your protection against sunburn. ( look for tanning salons that are Master Certified who can answer all your questions.

An article about adult acne in Best Health says hormones are typically to blame. The dermo quoted recommends salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide OTC creams, glycolic peels, tetracycline, oral contraceptives and more...

I'm glad that you are clarifying this. I've been tanning indoors for years--on and off; but I still can't find a replacement for the way it makes me feel, look and especially to clear my skin. I have serious pizza face if I don't hit the beds once a week (for about 12 mins)!
Any other suggestions for my problem?

Your research is definitely solid, Lisa. I've written extensively about this issue over the years and what you've reported is in synch with everything I've read from the types of credible sources you cite. Thanks for the update on how this issue is evolving.

I'm very fair and burn easily so I wear sunscreen religiously. But I've never gotten good results from any self-tanners I've tried. Invariably they come out streaky, unnaturally orange-y (I have pink undertones), and just ridiculous-looking. Do you have any good recommendations for self-tanning products that won't turn me the colour of bozo the clown?

Hi,
One of the best things about Skip indoor tanning beds is the wide variety of types and styles. You have many options when it comes to selecting which kind of skin indoor tanning beds you want, and finding a configuration that works for you and your living space will be easy.

Why hasn't the Cancer Society stodo up and told us about Vitamin D thru moderate uv exposure?

There is much recent research and reports that suggest the opposite of what you have been "lead" to believe, but it's never published in mainstream media, they don't wanna lose those $$ from advertisers like the sunscreen or cosmetics industries do they?

Again, I suggest you let go of the common thinking and explore the truth on sites such as www.uvtalk.com

Reliable? Have they told you how many internal cancer deaths can be spared with moderate UV exposure?

Many recent studies have shown that moderate exposure to UV rays for Vitamin D outweigh the potential risks.

While we can certainly appreciate the efforts of all Cancer "societies", it's time for them all to recognize the new research, admit that it is valid and start giving better advice.

Of course funding from the sunscreen industry will likely dwindle, so we will never see it happen will we?

Many of these studies are noted on sites such as www.uvtalk.com

I consider the Canadian Cancer Society and the World Health Organization pretty reliable sources. I don't think that makes me a victim.

Unfortunately you are another victim of the sunscare coalition comprised of the sunscreen industry and the cosmetics industry.
If you want to educate yourself regarding the facts regarding moderate uv exposure, tanning and Vitamin D you should visit sites like www.uvtalk.com.