Unfortunately, so-called “common knowledge” sometimes has nothing to do with the real situation and is not bolstered by truthful scientific research, but rather, by the corporations aggressively pushing consumers to buy their products (in this case - sunscreen products). There is a whole range of serious scientific research that DO NOT link a potentially lethal form of skin cancer, which is melanoma, to the sun exposure. Moreover, there is a link between an elevated incidence of melanoma and a REDUCED sun exposure. You can find a truthful and comprehensive information about the subject in, for example, the article of William Campbell Douglass, MD, titled “Sunlight and Melanoma - the Surprising Connection”. It is very unfortunate that majority of information that common people can find in mass media, especially concerning healthy nutrition and other health-related issues, is often both misleading and potentially dangerous.

An article published on a non-peer reviewed website! I am humbled by the credibility of your source. Find us something in Nature or The Lancet to bolster this ridiculous claim. (See ‘Efficacy of sunscreens in protection against skin cancer’ David Hill, The Lancet Volume 354, Issue 9180, 28 August 1999, Pages 699-700 as rebuttal; UV light found in sunlight is linked to skin cancer. This is not mass media, this is one of the most respected scientific journals in current publication.)

Peer review and reproducibility of results makes for good science. Random articles found via a Google search most certainly does not.

Please edit or remove this article. You are giving negligent and misleading advice in order to hawk ‘natural remedies’.

In fact, later articles quoting his initial article reaffirm that there is a casual link between melanoma and UV light. (See Bruce K. Armstrong and Anne Kricker ‘Sun Exposure and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma’ Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 16, 396-400, March 1, 2007.)

The mass media information in this case is supported by scientific evidence that is being misleadingly and/or erroneously understood.

You certainly have a right to express your point of view. Thank you for publishing your expert opinion on our website. I am sure that, upon getting acquainted with the scientific debate about the subject, our fabulous readers will decide themselves where the truth is.

I find all your articles informative. Thanks!

Too much exposure to the sun is certainly dangerous but the toxic ingredients in many sunscreens and lotions are equally as bad.

Your skin will absorb 60% of whatever you put on it and unless you learn to read the labels and recognise what exactly is in the products you may well find yourself literally “dying” to be beautiful.

There is an awful lot of hype in the beauty industry, which is in the main, profit orientated. Many synthetic ingredients are known to have health issues and yet poor regulation permits their use.

One good piece of advice is - If you can’t pronounce it, don’t use it!