Portland Direct Primary Care
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Beyond 7 minutes

I trained as a Family Doctor so that I would be ready to help patients with any challenge. The old school family doc used to take that skill set out into the community on house calls, sports sidelines, and town hall meetings. At some point the job description was boiled down into a job that started and ended with a 7 minute office visit. That setup is not good for patients, and it's not good for doctors. In this column I hope to start to push the boundary of where the doctor patient interaction takes place - onto the page, into the community, and beyond 7 minutes.

How to choose the right sun protection

In recent years concerns have been raised about the effect of sunscreen on both human health and environmental health. In the interim there has been a movement away from certain ingredients in sunscreen that may damage coral reefs and potentially harm humans. These risks are weighed against the known risks of sun damage which include higher risk of skin cancer. 

On May, 24 2021 an additional piece of evidence was added to the mix. Valisure, an independent quality assurance company, published data exposing high levels of benzene in certain sunscreen products(1). Benzene is a known carcinogen recognized by the FDA, which already sets maximum allowable limits in pharmaceutical products and drinking water. The independent research showed levels of benzene far in excess of safely allowable amounts in many common sunscreen products across different brands. 

The research was published as part of a “citizen petition” sent to the FDA to ask for a recall of sunscreen now known to contain benzene and to conduct a formal investigation to substantiate this evidence and correct the situation that allowed benzene containing products to enter the marketplace in the first place. 

In the coming months additional research is likely to shed light on the subject. Here are some simple steps you can take to limit harm from the sun, and from sun protection products. 

  • Use clothing and shade as the first line of defense from the sun. Not all clothing has UV blocking properties especially when wet. If prolonged sun exposure is expected choose a garment that has a UV protection rating. 

  • Avoid any product on the Valisure list of products known to contain benzene. The majority of the products are “spray on” so it may be prudent to avoid all spray on products until we have more safety info. 

  • At this time zinc oxide seems to be the safest active ingredient for humans and the environment. Read the labels of any sun care product to see what ingredients are used.

  • Seek medical advice for any concerning moles or other skin findings, especially in sun exposed areas, and especially in older individuals

  • Stay tuned for further guidance from the FDA as evidence is reviewed

  1. https://www.valisure.com/wp-content/uploads/Valisure-Citizen-Petition-on-Benzene-in-Sunscreen-and-After-sun-Care-Products-v9.7.pdf

Oren Gersten, MD