Getting Rid of Wetsuit Tan? (Or Preventing it)

[teenageape]

I have a really bad wetsuit neckline. I personally don't like it. I was just wondering is there a way to prevent it? I use tons of sunscreen, even used bullfrog. I still tan. Is the best solution to just go tan at the beach for a few hours for a couple days?

[surf patrol]

Hi teenageape, welcome to Surfing Waves!
There's not a lot that can be done about it. Use the highest factor waterproof sunscreen you can find. You could wear a turtleneck rashguard to give you a bit of extra neck cover. Avoid the middle of the day when the sun is strongest.
You could always use fake tan to even things out

[Katsura]

Or surf nekkid - but of course there's going to be wax rash hahahah

[teenageape]

I don't think I'd like surfing naked in 55 degree water.

[Roy Stewart]

Lack of vitamin d is a killer, you've all been sold a mickey with this skin cancer/sun BS.

Furthermore the so called sunblocks cause cancer, it is a double whammy.

Cancer rates have increased along with sunblock use.

The best cure for your problem is an all over tan!

[Roy Stewart]

By the way regarding the advice to avoid the sun in the middle of the day that is completely wrong the middle of the day is when one should be in the sun as that is when beneficial UVB is at the highest level... at other times of the day there is proportionally more UVA..

Generally speaking taking advice from doctors or the pharmaceutical industry will shorten your life, wake up to it. They are there to kill you slowly and expensively.

[Jimi]

Just gonna point out that there is a lot of scientific evidence to suggest sunburn and tanning will give you cancer in the long term.

Also gonna point out that the internet is filled with crackpot theories.

If you don't get much sun, then get your vit d levels checked, but unless you work in an office all week and don't get any outdoors time, you are likely to be normal.

I personally use a lot of screen because I feel the science is compelling.

[Roy Stewart]

The so called 'science' is not at all compelling, you need to look a bit deeper.

Here's a question for you: why are the vast majority of fatal melanomas found on parts of the body which receive no sun?

Here's another one: Why have cancer rates gone up as sunscreen use has gone up?

A third question: Why is there more skin cancer at higher latitudes i.e. closer to the poles?

The fact is that you've been sold a Mickey... cancer is big business and the establishment like to keep it going, the ideal way to do this is for them to cause the disease with the products advertised to prevent it.

Did you know that not only do sunblocks contain carcinogens but that the often contain bleach so that you think that they are working? They also screen out beneficial UVB while letting harmful UVA through.

It's a scam

[Roy Stewart]

If you don't get much sun, then get your vit d levels checked, but unless you work in an office all week and don't get any outdoors time, you are likely to be normal.

Unfortunately chronic vitamin D deficiency is normal.

I personally use a lot of screen because I feel the science is compelling.

A high risk habit based on a plethora of well marketed myths.


.

[Jimi]

Here's a question for you: why are the vast majority of fatal melanomas found on parts of the body which receive no sun?

Here's another one: Why have cancer rates gone up as sunscreen use has gone up?

A third question: Why is there more skin cancer at higher latitudes i.e. closer to the poles?

Ok. to answer the first question will require a bit of understanding:

Melanomas in general, are found anywhere on the skin, and don't exclusively occur in areas that receive high levels of sun. The hypothesis for this is that UV light (A, B and C) can act as a strong systemic immunosupressant (the whole body has reduced immune function for a period of hours post exposure). This is a fact, and has been proven in multiple published peer reviewed experiments. It is believed that this allows cells within the body to then progress though their respective cell cycles without immunosurveillance for mutations. In most cases, mutations that occur will not cause cancer, and are "normal" however in a very small percentage of cases the cell will mutate in a way that makes it rapidly divide and grow. This is essentially the cancer. Because the immunosuppressive effect of UV is systemic, the mutant 'cancer' cell could be anywhere on your body, even under a toenail!

A possible explanation for why people die from melanomas in parts of the body that receive no sun, is that people aren't aware of the risk, and therefore pay less attention to moles or freckles in these areas when self-checking for signs of cancers. I also would like to see your source for the data indicating the location of the "vast majority of fatal melanomas".

To answer your second question

Here's another one: Why have cancer rates gone up as sunscreen use has gone up?

It should be obvious! Using some basic logic, and looking at the population demographics you will find that the cancers are predominately occurring in people who grew up in the days when you didn't wear sunscreen, but used coconut oil instead to tan more! Plus, it coincides with the development of the hole in the ozone layer leading to far greater UV transmission through the atmosphere.

The people who grew up then have now had a life of sun exposure and are now at the age when cancers develop and need treatment. Because of this, and the awareness derived from the importance of covering up, people now wear hats and sunscreen to reduce the damage and thus long term risk of sun exposure. The people at risk of cancer in the current population are not the people using sunblock and wearing long sleeve rash shirts, but the people in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s who grew up in the sun.

The important question will be whether sunblock will significantly reduce the cancers developing later in life (i.e. 30 years from now). It looks promising, stops tumours in animal models, but is as yet unproven to reduce cancers in humans. For a very brief rundown, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet#Sunscreen_safety_debate

As for your third question:

A third question: Why is there more skin cancer at higher latitudes i.e. closer to the poles?

Show me the statistics source. I was under the impression that all published health data showed the highest incidence of skin cancers is at lower latitudes and the World Health Organisation supports this.
http://www.who.int/uv/health/uv_health2/en/index1.html

Unfortunately chronic vitamin D deficiency is normal.

Regarding Vit. D deficiency - it's common in office workers, shift workers, the elderly, and in northern Europeans in winter, but it's definitely not normal!! These people are receiving a significantly below average amount of sunlight because of their environmental circumstances. I agree that if these people, who are at risk of a vit D deficiency, wear sunscreen they are more likely to get a deficiency.

Chronic Vit D deficiency reduces the ability of your body to absorb calcium, leading to the most common manifestation of low bone mineral density (think Osteoporosis). It's not normal, and should be treated in at-risk populations by dietary supplementation and lifestyle modifications.

If you're spending a lot of time surfing in the sun and worried about your tan, you're clearly not "at risk" so I'd be wearing the sunscreen. As I said, if you're concerned you should get your doc to test your vit D levels.

[Roy Stewart]

Nonsense ^

[Rickyroughneck]

The so called 'science' is not at all compelling, you need to look a bit deeper.

Deeper than.. skin deep?

Here's a question for you: why are the vast majority of fatal melanomas found on parts of the body which receive no sun?

I think the key word here is fatal. People would be less likely to consult a doctor about a melanoma on an area of the body which is infrequently exposed to sun.

Besides, areas which don't often see the sun, aren't tanned and thus have less natural protection for when they are exposed.

A more appropriate statistic would be the number of observed skin melanomas.

What are your sources?

Here's another one: Why have cancer rates gone up as sunscreen use has gone up?

Just because two factors have a similar relationship does not mean that they are interlinked. They probably share a common factor, increasing migration to sunnier areas, more free time for sun exposure, increased diagnosis/ awareness etc.

A third question: Why is there more skin cancer at higher latitudes i.e. closer to the poles?

Because it is predominantly white people that get skin cancer, and that is where white people live.

Again a source would be desirable.

The fact is that you've been sold a Mickey... cancer is big business and the establishment like to keep it going, the ideal way to do this is for them to cause the disease with the products advertised to prevent it.

Tosh, how would any more money be made selling something harmful rather than simple snake oil? I hardly think the doctors are paying the sunscreen companies to provide extra patients.

Did you know that not only do sunblocks contain carcinogens but that the often contain bleach so that you think that they are working? They also screen out beneficial UVB while letting harmful UVA through.

I checked the ingredients of mine, no bleach, but I am not surprised.

It's a scam

Everything is a scam.

[Surf Hound]

poor ol' Roy..... He talks the same as some of the unfortunate homeless people I walk past everyday. I could not decipher if it was Roy or some of the B.S. I hear coming from some our local homeless people. Sorry Roy but you are just stupid.

[Roy Stewart]

No I'm not.

Those people probably know more than you do by the way, but don't worry you'll get your chance to experience their learning curve.