Gisele's 'Poison' Sunscreen Comment Enrages Dermatologists, Supermodel Backpedals

Hear that? It's the sound of Brazilian bombshell Gisele Bundchen, backpedaling.

Last week, the world's highest-paid supermodel angered dermatologists around the world by declaring sunscreen a "poison."

"I cannot put this poison on my skin," Gisele said, according to The Daily Mail. "I do not use anything synthetic."

Now, she's taken to her blog to revise her controversial stance:

I would like to clarify the misunderstanding about the use of sunblock. I do use sunblock but also I try my best not to be exposed to the sun when it is too strong.

Gisele, who recently launched the all-natural skincare line, Sejaa, went on to say that she thinks we all need to pay more attention to what we put on our skin and included a list of what she sees as "more natural" sunscreen options.

Her publicist Amber Clapp told StyleList:

"Gisele would never say not to use sunscreen because she has had family members who have had skin cancer. She simply stated that her all-natural skin-care line does not have SPF because there is not an all natural SPF available....When using sunscreens, she selects ones that are free of parabens, oxybenzone, PABA and retinyl palmitate."

Gisele spent the last few days being blasted by the press and dermatologists alike for her outlandish comments. Dolival Loao, head of dermatology at the National Cancer Institute in Gisele's native Brazil, told The Daily Mail that her comments had the potential to cause real confusion. "Sunscreen prevents damage to the skin," he added, "and is of fundamental importance for the prevention of cancer."

At the very least, the lady deserves some credit for being consistent. Notably absent from Gisele's new skincare line? Sunscreen.

WATCH:

Comments

[Millie Lencioni]

08:25 AM on 02/10/2011

She may be at the top of her field in modeling, but, she often says stupid things that she has to try and retract. She may have been born with natural beauty, but she she might have been short changed with common sense.

[Thomas Flanagan]

01:31 PM on 03/01/2011

Actually, she is dead on when you read about the poisons in most sunscreens according to the DCD. Take a look....http://www.healyourbodynow.com/article1.htm

[farmilyman]

06:40 AM on 02/10/2011

Why backpedal when you are correct? Sun=good Sunscreen=bad Vitamin D by mouth is not nearly as effective.

[Lucille]

02:13 AM on 02/10/2011

I hate to admit it but she was probably right the first time, as putting a lot of toxic preservatives and other chemicals on our skin is not a good idea and people often develop rashes from sunscreen as well. During the summer just stay out of direct sunlight whenever possible and use cocoa butter and aloe vera to sooth the skin both day and night. I don’t know if that will prevent skin cancer yet I prefer cocoa butter and aloe vera over the chemicals in sunscreen.

[cynthiabaileymd]

07:23 PM on 02/09/2011

I see the benefits of sunscreen use in my dermatology practice every day. The appearance of people's skin improves and I find fewer skin cancers and precancerous growths on their skin once they start using mineral sunscreens regularly. Yes the mineral sunscreens have been nano-sized in order to go onto the skin invisibly, and yes there is conclusive evidence that they do not get absorbed into the skin. Vitamin D? Take it by mouth. Your skin breaks it down if you stay out in the sun. And yes, darker skinned people can tolerate more sun than fair skinned people before they get wrinkled, spotted and covered with precancerous and cancerous growths. Smart sun protection keeps you healthy and your skin looking fabulous forever http://www.drbaileyskincare.com/blog/category/sun-protection/

[Debbie338]

06:45 PM on 02/09/2011

Actually, she's inadvertently correct. Although it's not poison to us on our skin, it is becoming a well-documented fact that it is indeed poison to coral reefs. Up to 10% of our coral reefs are threatened by bleaching caused by massive human use of sunscreen.

[Gildersleeve]

07:01 PM on 02/09/2011

yes it is poison on our skin. Never put anything on your skin that you wouldn't eat.

[Debbie338]

01:49 PM on 02/10/2011

So, you don't use cologne, deodorant, baby oil, topical antiseptics, body lotion, shampoo, handsoap, makeup, nail polish, hair gel, etc? Nothing?

[cecebo]

11:58 AM on 02/09/2011

These comments are hard to read. I have to assume that the anti sunscreen people are all olive skinned folks who have never experienced a blistering sunburn they could see or feel. I hope they don't let their children fry in the sun. I am going to apply sunscreen on my redhead's face and hands before I leave my So Cal home this morning. And I never go anywhere without a hat.

[Balzac]

05:03 AM on 02/09/2011

The question is about the frequent use of sunscreen which has specific active "ingredients" for blocking ultraviolet radiation, and being non-water soluble. Additionally, any un-reacted chemical factors which may be left over from the manufacturing process should be accounted for.

Regular application of these new and ever-changing products, and then subsequent exposure of the skin to sunlight is not something which is really understood very well. Aside from the health of your skin, there is the question of chemicals absorbing into the body, perhaps accumulating in various tissues.

Just as with cosmetics which women apply to their faces, products which are absorbed into the skin, such as sunscreen, shampoo, lotion should all be more tightly regulated by the FDA, which has been notoriously negligent in protecting customers (*not "consumers"), from the effects of products which may not have been adequately tested.

The key deficiency in testing is the long term effects, which are not part of the quarterly profit time-scale of corporations.

Every consumer product which is applied to the body or consumed is suspect due to decades of bureaucratic sclerosis in the FDA.

All common fillers for supplements, pharmaceuticals, all food additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors, in addition to internally-implanted products are suspect and due for rigorous review, due to having been licensed for human consumption by the FDA during the past era of deregulation which has been overly permissive.

[Trittydi]

11:03 PM on 02/08/2011

I'm very sorry she did that - but she was probably under a lot of pressure. She's right - sunscreen is bad for you. It blocks production of Vitamin D3 in the skin and Vitamin D3 is a very powerful anti-cancer agent.

Vitamin D Plays Role in Melanocytic Lesions (D deficiency linked to their progression)
http://www.insidecosmeceuticals.com/news/2011/02/vitamin-d-plays-role-in-melanocytic-lesions.aspx

and .......

Vitamin D qualified cancer health claim submission being readied:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/Vitamin-D-qualified-cancer-health-claim-submission-being-readied

And of course you still need to be careful about sun exposure. 10--20 minutes a day is enough (at the right time of year for most latitudes.)
*

[vincealy]

07:46 PM on 02/08/2011

While the sales force for sunscreens [AKA } dermatologist howl . The real question is is she right. from a report by the ...."'Vitamin A Data Hits a Nerve in the Sunscreen Industry" In June 2010 the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published an analysis of new government data indicating that a form of vitamin A, retinyl palmitate, when applied to skin exposed to sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions (NTP 2009). EWG considered this evidence troubling because the sunscreen industry adds vitamin A to 41 percent of all sunscreens.......http://www.ewg.org/Vitamin-A-Data-Hits-Nerve-in-the-Sunscreen-Industry

' Oh and by the way how about sun exposure and melanoma..... ' The melanoma epidemic? Don't panic... it's all a terrible mistake"

By Professor Sam Shuster

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1301722/The-melanoma-epidemic-Dont-panic--terrible-mistake.html#ixzz1DPyIqB7V

[Trittydi]

11:05 PM on 02/08/2011

Another problem with Vitamin A is that while it is a co-factory for Vitamin D (it has to have some A present to work) -- it needs only a tiny bit.

Too much A interferes with VD3 and the benefits are impacted.
*

[silverhair01]

02:53 PM on 02/08/2011

Interesting to note that there was a recent study indicating those with lower vitamin D are at a greater risk of developing malignant melanoma.

[ddanimal]

05:41 PM on 02/08/2011

Exactly.

Since the 1950s, melanoma incidence has increased right along with sunscreen usage. There are MORE studies showing that melanoma is higher in people that use sunscreens. And still people believe that sunscreens prevent melanoma. Its a misunderstanding that the sunscreen industry is all to happy to spread.

[Lisa Shields]

06:11 PM on 02/08/2011

I grew up in the 60's...sunscreen didn't EXIST in tanning products back then.
Women used cocoa butter, baby oil...anything for that "deep glow".

They didn't come into common use til after the 70's...

[Trittydi]

11:20 PM on 02/08/2011

Incidence of Skin Cancer has increased since the sunscreen campaign of the '80's began.
http://graemethomasonline.com/blinded-by-the-light/
*

[Trittydi]

11:07 PM on 02/08/2011

http://www.insidecosmeceuticals.com/news/2011/02/vitamin-d-plays-role-in-melanocytic-lesions.aspx
*

[wuzupwidat]

01:35 PM on 02/08/2011

She's probably right. People who use that stuff are probably preventing skin cancers from uv light but causing lots of other cancers by exposing themselves to harmful carcinogenic chemicals.

...when supermodels speak, you really should listen

...especially when they comment on scientific issues and international relations

...not to mention nuclear physics

[reasonshouldrule]

09:52 PM on 02/08/2011

Now that's a great post! LOL. Fanned.

[Trittydi]

11:08 PM on 02/08/2011

She was right. Sunscreens block the production of vitamin D3 in the skin. VD3 is a very powerful anti-cancer agent.

http://www.insidecosmeceuticals.com/news/2011/02/vitamin-d-plays-role-in-melanocytic-lesions.aspx
*

[vincealy]

09:44 AM on 02/09/2011

And low vitamin d levels have been linked with increased rates of several cancer and infections and CLL leukemia and a very recent study suggest a link between sun exposure and MS..".Sun Exposure, Vitamin D May Lower MS Risk
Study Suggests Vitamin D Levels May Have Role in Protecting Against Multiple Sclerosis " http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20110207/sun-exposure-vitamin-d-may-lower-ms-risk

[deepthicket]

01:10 PM on 02/08/2011

Who is she?

[Trittydi]

11:08 PM on 02/08/2011

That's what I said.
*

[squat6971]

09:04 AM on 02/08/2011

I know I take ALL my medical advice from super-models!

[ddanimal]

05:39 PM on 02/08/2011

I would sooner take advice from Giselle than a bunch of dermatologists that work for the sunscreen/sun fear hysteria industry.

[Natoya Ebony]

07:38 AM on 02/08/2011

Cancer is poison, Giselle.
http://natoyaebony.blogspot.com/

[Lisa Shields]

07:11 AM on 02/08/2011

This is delusional.

She's a model.
They regularly apply chemicals of all kinds to her skin, most containing an array of chemicals she probably can't even spell...and many that are toxic. For her to ignore the numbers on the young people who are getting skin cancer at epic rates just to make some cash?

Nice job...I'm sure the teenagers who consider her a role model with thank her when the basal carcinomas start showing up in their mid 20's....

[ddanimal]

05:36 PM on 02/08/2011

Sunscreens CAUSE cancer.

There is no evidence that sunscreens protect against melanoma. There is evidence that vitamin D deficiency caused by sunscreens is a potent cause of cancer.

About 75% of the american public is badly deficient in vitamin D.

Also, you make sweeping assumptions about Giselle and the type of cosmetics she uses. You have no idea what types of cosmetics she uses.

The science supports Giselle, not the dermatologists, who have been brainwashed by sunscreen manufacturers.

[Lisa Shields]

06:09 PM on 02/08/2011

She uses what they TELL her to use...because that is how she makes money.

And my "brain washing" came from watching my older sister, who never used sunscreen battling skin cancer.

And I hardly think you're on a first name basis with a super model....

[reasonshouldrule]

09:59 PM on 02/08/2011

Do you have any sources for your claims here? They are interesting, but we need some data.

One thing to note: Although complete sunblocks keep out vitamin D you might get from the sun, most sunscreens do not. There's a whole range of sunblock strength in the various sunscreens.