Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Vadermort on 17/02/2006 14:47:49
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Being part of environmental chemistry i would like to ask opinions about the chemical PABA (Paraaminobenzoic acid)
Many people say they are good but it seems it is not good because it only absorbs UV radiation with apprx. 240-290nm wavelenghts(which is small). It doesnt stop maximum burning at 310nm. Some research has even said that is is carcinogenic.
IS THIS TRUE??
b.s
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A friend of mine thinks that the sharp increase in skin cancer is directly proportional to the incresed use of Suntan lotion but he is anti-medicine anyway. I think he may have a point here though and I would also be interested to see if anyone has any data on this.
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Try looking up this guy, Jeremy Davies, a biochemist at Queen's University, Belfast. He has conducted research into the chemical and says it does change DNA but is unsure if sunscreen with the chemical could cause cell penetration. He says it puts a small question mark next to sunscreen containing this chemical.
The other concern is that people wearing sunscreen get over confident and go out in the sun too much.
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My wife used to use this expensive chip-fat and always got prickly heat. Whereas I never got prickly heat on Holiday. One year she got it really bad and decided to listen to me and our doctor for once after she had an additional infection probably from a mozzy bite or some other insect. Anyway, Our doctor gave her some harsh words and ordered her to throw all of this crap in the bin and to try going in the sun in future “if she has to” without wearing any chip-fat.
Low an behold she gets a nice tan now with no adverse skin reactions. Amazing how the label doctor helps us to communicate with people :)