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Sun Safety Issue
 In a recent article, ‘Always wear sunscreen? Maybe not,’ carried in The Globe and Mail on Friday, August 10, 2007, author Ms. Heidi Sopinka examined the potential health risks associated with wearing sunscreen. The issue received other press attention and was highlighted by some local news stations across Canada.
In her article, Ms. Sopinka quotes a study by the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, USA non-profit group that has conducted research into the potential side effects from using sunscreen. In their research findings, the Environmental Working Group learned:
- 84% of the 785 sunscreens tested were found to offer inadequate protection from the sun, while containing chemicals with "significant safety concerns"
- 1 in 2 Products on the market bear claims that are considered "unacceptable" or misleading under Health Canada's sunscreen safety standards. Claims such as "all-day protection," "mild as water" and "blocks all harmful rays" are not true, yet are found on bottles.
- 95% of girls tested by the study between the ages of 6 and 8 were found to have oxybenzone, a hormone disrupter absorbed by the skin (found in more than 400 of the sunscreen products), show up in their urine.
The article concludes, based on the findings from the Environmental Working Group that people might want to "ditch the 'block, grab a hat and follow the shade".
For many people with lupus, using sunscreen is a required product in order to be able to enjoy the sun, or even to manage being outdoors. In our July E-Newsletter, Lupus Canada promoted our new Sun Safety Fact Sheet and provided information about sun-safe clothing through Sunveil Sun Protective Clothing Company.
However, the dilemma as to whether to use sunscreen is very legitimate, and of concern to people with lupus. So Lupus Canada consulted with our Medical Advisor, Dr. Sasha Bernatsky, a rheumatologist and researcher from McGill University Health Complex and editor of "Lupus: The Disease with a Thousand Faces" (Key Porter Books, 2004) .
Dr. Bernatsky responded to Lupus Canada offering concrete reasons why wearing sunscreen is vitally important for people with lupus. Even though some products do promote all-day coverage or are waterproof, Dr. Bernatsky encourages patients to maintain proper and consistent coverage, recommending that sunscreen be applied regularly, frequently and liberally. Any sunscreen product used by someone with lupus should include both UVA and UVB protection. Regarding the concern about products containing oxybenzone, Dr. Bernatsky recommends reading ingredient labels and choosing products that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead.
Dr. Lisa Kellett, a dermatologist with the ‘DLC On Avenue’ in Toronto supports the wearing of sunscreen products for all her patients, including people with lupus. Dr. Kellett states there is a 1 in 5 risk of developing skin cancer due to sun exposure, and this risk would be much higher than the risks associated with sunscreen products. To help with selecting the best product to purchase, Dr. Kellett recommended using a sunscreen product that has a DIN (Drug Identification Number). The DIN indicates that Health Canada has studied the ingredients found in the product, and deemed the product to be safe. As well, Health Canada continues to conduct on-going research to ensure the products remain safe.
In summary, Dr. Bernatsky and Dr. Kellett recommend:
- Use Sunscreen - the benefits of using sunscreen outweigh the risks
- A golf ball size of sunscreen is about the right amount of sunscreen needed for proper and adequate coverage
- If you are wearing sunscreen and your skin does burn or become very hot, the protection you are using is likely not working. Consider a new product
- Re-apply sunscreen after contact with water, even if the product is waterproof.
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Lupus around the Country …
- The BC Lupus Society is planning events for this October–
"A Thirty Year History - A Thirty Year Leap" Education symposium designed for people with lupus, their family and friends on Saturday November 3, 2007. Music X’PO 2007
A fundraising event featuring Canadian entertainers performing a variety of musical styles on Saturday October 20, 2007 at the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody.
For more information, email info@bclupus.org or call 604-714-5564 or 1-866-58-LUPUS (toll free in BC & Yukon).
- The LE Society of Saskatchewan is holding their 2nd Annual Youth Symposium on October 27 & 28, 2007, at the Radisson Hotel, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The agenda includes a variety of sessions with expert speakers. For more information contact Irene Driedger at idriedger@sasktel.net or (306) 931-1063 (Clavet) or Marianne Weber at less@sasklupus.com or (306) 693-6368 (Moose Jaw)
- The Lupus Society of Nova Scotia is having their 2007 Annual General Meeting and Health Symposium "Living Well with Lupus" on Saturday, October 13, from 9am to 4:30pm at the Ramada Inn, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The Society is also selling tickets for their Quilt Raffle draw (3 great prizes this year). To learn more about the events or to buy tickets, contact the Society at lupussocietyns@ns.sympatico.ca or call 1-800-394-0125.
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Government resources help to promote better health
Many provinces offer a professionally staffed health line for callers seeking advice about health issues. This includes British Columbia (1-866-215-4700), Alberta (1-866-408-5465), Saskatchewan (1-877-800-0002), Manitoba (204-788-8200), Ontario (1-866-797-0000), New Brunswick (1-800-244-8353), and Newfoundland (1-888-709-2929). Some provinces have developed new services that might be helpful:
- Dial-A-Dietitian in British Columbia – providing brief nutrition consultation from registered dietitians (1-800-667-3438 or 604-732-9191)
- Alberta Medication and Herbal Advice Line providing information from experienced information specialists (1-888-944-1012)
- Eat Right Ontario provides easy-to-use nutrition information from a Registered Dietitian (1-877-510-5102)
- MedsCheck Ontario provides Ontarians who have a valid Health Card and are taking a minimum of three chronic prescription medications with up to a 30 minute consultation with a community pharmacist (call 1-866-255-6701 for more details)
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Walk A Block 2007
 Walkers, runners, team leaders and eager volunteers are all gearing up for this annual event, held on October 21, 2007. Many Walks are turning into truly creative community events, such as:
- The Surrey and Vancouver, BC groups are coming together for a full day of family activities, fundraising and fun. This year, for the first time in Canada, a 5km run is being sponsored by The Running Room.
- The New Brunswick Walk in Riverview, New Brunswick is featuring a kite flying contest for children and teens. Special prizes will go to the homemade kite that best represents lupus or a butterfly
- Young Melissa Alexander and her team "Spoons4Lupies" in Bradford, Ontario is holding her Walk near her high school. Melissa has worked all summer on her Walk and has already reached her fundraising goal – but she’d like to raise even more!
It’s not too late to join a team, start a team, or sponsor a walker. Together we can reach our fundraising goal of $300,000, promote awareness of lupus, and have a great time.
To learn more, call Lupus Canada at 1-800-661-1468 or visit www.lupuscanada.org
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October is Lupus Awareness Month… let’s spread the word about lupus!
Okay, with 50,000 people living with lupus in Canada, and hundreds of thousands who know all too well about lupus – being a family member, a care giver, a friend, a health professional, a physician or researcher - there are still possibly millions of people in Canada who haven’t even heard about lupus. How do we change that?
October is the month to increase awareness about lupus. In the past we’ve tried a variety of actions - contacting politician who have written letters of support, attended events, spoken to the media or made public proclamations. But this year, how about becoming a "Lupus Ambassador"?
- Each week during Lupus Awareness month, reach out to at least one new person and tell them about lupus. Talk about your experiences, the symptoms of lupus, and the work happening across Canada to better support people with lupus. This includes research into the causes and cure for lupus, direct support to people with lupus at the grass-roots level, educational forums and new national lupus "fact sheets". If we all start by telling four people, imagine how many we will reach by the end of October.
Awareness about lupus starts with one person telling another – that’s our goal this October.
Here are some helpful speaking points:
What is lupus? |
- Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease
- The immune system attacks the body’s own healthy cells causing tissue damage, organ failure and, in some cases, death
- Lupus can strike ANY tissue or organ in the body
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Who gets lupus? |
- It is estimated that more than 50,000 men, women, and children in Canada are affected by lupus.
- Lupus affects women 8 times more often than men.
- Lupus develops most often between the ages of 15 and 44.
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Cause & Symptoms: |
- The cause for lupus has not yet been discovered.
- The symptoms of lupus vary drastically from person to person and can mimic other illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose.
- Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening
- Common symptoms of lupus include skin rashes, sun sensitivity, joint pain, extreme fatigue, fever, chest pain and seizures.
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Other Facts: |
- Improving awareness of lupus will save lives!
- Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of lupus help to slow the debilitating effects of the disease.
- Effective treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve the overall quality of life.
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What you can do? |
- Get involved – learn more about this serious condition
- Contribute to lupus in honour of Lupus Awareness Month
- If you know someone with lupus, show your support – how about joining a local Walk A Block event?
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