I. Is Trump About To Get ‘His Own Iraq’ Drago Bosnic
Potential for Escalation due to Iran's Multipolar World Affiliations.
There’s a massive potential for escalation because Iran is a key member of several organizations of the rapidly growing multipolar world, including BRICS+ and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization).
Neither Russia nor China want to see Iran defeated or destabilized by a potential color revolution that could dissolve the country or turn it into yet another Western vassal.
US on the Verge of Attacking Iran, dismissing Intelligence Reports.
The United States is on the verge of attacking Iran, as evidenced by the increasingly harsh rhetoric of American President Donald Trump.
He has gone as far as to dismiss reports of his own intelligence services regarding the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Intelligence Assessments Contradict Trump's Claims on Iran's Nuclear Program.
In its latest assessment, even the infamous CIA confirmed that Tehran isn’t pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
Gabbard, who coordinates all US intelligence services, stated before the Senate Intelligence Committee that “the US intelligence community continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003”.
US Military Buildup in the Middle East amidst Escalating Rhetoric.
The US military is now sending an unprecedented number of strategic assets to the Middle East, including a second supercarrier, the USS Nimitz.
Trump didn’t really specify what exactly he meant by that, but his tone alone was still quite ominous and threatening.
Trump's Warning to Tehran and Mixed Signals on De-escalation.
Trump issued an unprecedented warning to nearly ten million inhabitants of Tehran to “immediately evacuate” the capital city.
He stressed that “it depends what happens when I get back”.
Iran's Refusal to Capitulate and Threat of Retaliation.
For its part, Tehran is refusing to do so and is now saying it will retaliate against US military bases across the Middle East.
Considering the size of the Iranian missile arsenal, American occupation forces in the region are certainly at great risk.
Bipartisan Support for US Aggression and Pre-planned Attack on Iran.
There’s very strong bipartisan support for continued US aggression against the entire world.
Evidence suggests that the attack on Iran was planned before Trump took office.
America's Obsession with War as a Threat to Civilization.
America’s obsession with war, death and destruction is the deadliest threat not only to world peace, but also to the very existence of human civilization.
Worse yet, the political West is entirely on board with this, as evidenced by the actions of the most powerful NATO member states, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, etc.
II. Israel’s attack on Iran: The Violent New World Being Born Is Going To Horrify You Jonathan Cook
1. **Israel's Attack on Iran as Unprovoked Aggression.**
* Western politicians and media are tying themselves up in knots trying to spin the impossible: presenting Israel’s unmistakable war of aggression against Iran as some kind of “defensive” move.
* Rather, Iran was deep in negotiations with the United States on its nuclear enrichment programme when Israel launched its unprovoked attack last Friday.
2. **Dismissal of Evidence Regarding Iran's Nuclear Program.**
* The West has happily regurgitated claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel was forced to act because Iran was on the cusp of producing a nuclear bomb – an entirely evidence-free claim he has been making since 1992.
* In late March Trump’s head of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had expressly stated as part of the US intelligence community’s annual assessment: “Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ali] Khameini has not authorised a nuclear weapons programme he suspended in 2003”.
3. **Trump's Alignment with Israel's Aggressive Stance.**
* Nonetheless, by Tuesday this week Trump appeared to be readying to join Israel’s attack.
* He publicly rebuked his own intelligence chief’s verdict, sent US warplanes to the Middle East via the UK and Spain, demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” and made barely veiled threats to kill Khameini.
4. **Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and Refusal to International Treaties.**
* Israel, by contrast, has been allowed to maintain a nuclear arsenal of at least 100 warheads, while refusing – unlike Iran – to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and – again unlike Iran – denying access to monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
* The West’s collusion in the pretence that Israel’s nuclear weapons are secret – a policy formally known in Israel as “ambiguity” – has been necessary only because the US is not allowed to provide military aid to a state with undeclared nuclear weapons.
5. **Strategic Justification for Israel's Nuclear Monopoly.**
* The double standards are enforced to keep Israel as the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East so that it can project unrestrained military power across an oil-rich region the West is determined to control.
* Israel’s bomb has left it untouchable and unaccountable, and ready to intimidate its neighbours with the “Samson option” – the threat that Israel will use its nuclear arsenal rather than risk an existential threat.
6. **Violation of International Law and Hypocrisy of Western Powers.**
* The claim that Israel is “defending itself” in attacking Iran – promoted by France, Germany, Britain, the European Union, the G7 and the US – should be understood as a further assault on the foundational principles of international law.
* Israel’s attack on Iran is even more flagrantly in violation of international law.
7. **Regime Change as the True Objective of Israel's Attack.**
* What Israel is effectively demanding is that Iran be turned into a larger equivalent of the Palestinian Authority – a compliant, lightly armed regime completely under Israel’s thumb.
* It is about instituting regime change in Tehran.
8. **Western Media's Role in War Propaganda and Historical Revisionism.**
* Not that one would know any of this from listening to western politicians or the billionaire-owned media.
* Extraordinarily, TV politics shows such as the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg invited on as a guest Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Iranian shah ousted by the ayatollahs in 1979 to create an Islamic republic.
9. **Iran's "Axis of Resistance" Strategy and Support for Palestinians.**
* Iran developed the best alternative military strategy it could muster to protect itself from Israeli and western belligerence.
* Infuriatingly for Israel, Iran and the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasarallah became the main flagbearers of popular support for the Palestinians – among Muslims across the board.
10. **The Pentagon's 20-Year Plan for Global Dominance.**
* Israel seized the opportunity to complete two related tasks: destroying the Palestinians as a people once and for all, and with it their ambitions for a state in their homeland; and rolling back the Shia crescent, just as the Pentagon had planned more than 20 years earlier.
* This is a key moment in the Pentagon’s 20-year plan for “global full-spectrum dominance”: a unipolar world in which the US is unconstrained by military rivals or the imposition of international law.
III. Leading Jews Attack Netanyahu’s Wars Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.
1. **Ehud Olmert's Condemnation of Israeli Actions in Gaza.**
* On May 27, Ehud Olmert, a former Prime Minister of Israel, published a column in which he wrote: “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians…Yes, Israel is committing war crimes”.
* He added: “Recent operations in the Gaza Strip have nothing to do with legitimate war goals. This is now a private political war”.
2. **Rabbis and Jewish Columnists Criticize Israeli Violence.**
* Rabbi Linda Holtzman said “we cannot allow one tragedy to justify another” and wrote that she was joining “thousands of American Jews who were calling on the United States government to end the Israeli military’s destruction of Gaza”.
* Peter Beinart, a leading Jewish columnist and author who describes himself as an observant Jew, became so upset he wrote a book called “Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza”.
3. **Growing Opposition to Netanyahu's Policies within Israel and Abroad.**
* Over 1,000 members of the Israeli Defense Force signed letters in early May “calling on Netanyahu to stop the war”.
* On April 19, the 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews sent out a letter which said “silence is seen as support for policies that run contrary to our Jewish values”.
4. **Jeffrey Sachs and Dave Smith's Strong Condemnations.**
* Jeffrey Sachs, a Jewish Columbia professor and renowned foreign policy expert, said in an interview that Netanyahu is “one of the most violent and dangerous people in the world” and “is leading Israel into the greatest insecurity of its modern history—complete diplomatic isolation”.
* Dave Smith, a very well-respected Jewish comedian and podcaster, said on one of his podcasts: “I think Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is horrific and inexcusable” and “to watch us flirt with another war in the Middle East is just insane to me”.
5. **Netanyahu's Expansion of Conflict and Control over US Policy.**
* Now, the indicted war criminal Netanyahu has expanded his killing rampage from Gaza to the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
* Now, though, because of massive campaign contributions for members of Congress, or fear of campaign contributions against them, directed by the Israel Lobby, both the U.S. Congress and our policy in the Middle East are totally controlled by Netanyahu.
6. **US Support for Israel as a Cause of Terrorism.**
* As the late syndicated columnist Charley Reese wrote in 2005, almost all the terrorism against the U.S. has been because of our “one-sided support” for Israel’s bombing and killing throughout the Middle East.
* The Bible tells us in both the Old and New Testaments to “Seek peace and pursue it”.
IV. Slave Labor Won’t Save America J.B. Shurk
1. **Democrats' Argument for Illegal Alien Labor.**
* Compromised communist and current Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass, recently told paid propagandist Dana Bash on the Communist News Network that there are “entire sectors of our economy that cannot function without immigrant labor”.
* If President Trump is successful in deporting millions of illegal immigrants, these Democrats argue, there will be no-one left to pick crops, work in factories, build homes, cut grass, clean pools, dust furniture, or look after the children.
2. **Illegal Immigration and Associated Crimes.**
* To be sure, employing illegal aliens means that crimes are being committed.
* If a business knowingly hires an illegal alien, then it is violating numerous federal laws and Internal Revenue Service regulations.
3. **America's Economy Resting on a "Rotten Shadow Economy."**
* In absolute dollar terms, the U.S. supports the second largest shadow economy in the world.
* When prominent Democrats tell network news hosts that “entire sectors” of the American economy will crumble unless they are allowed to continue breaking the law, government officials are essentially claiming that the whole economic system rests atop a rotten shadow economy whose elimination would collapse everything.
4. **Government Agencies' Role in Enabling the Black Market.**
* When state and federal agencies ignore identity fraud (under the Obama and Biden administrations, the IRS did not notify citizens when there was reason to believe that illegal aliens were using their social security numbers), aid and abet illegal immigration, and willfully manipulate crime and residency statistics to hide the real size of the foreign population living inside the U.S., it is reasonable to assume that America’s black market is substantially larger than current estimates.
* Her admission won’t shock most Americans, but *it should*.
5. **Democrats' Stance on "Dirty Jobs" as Racist.**
* Democrats routinely express some belief that only illegal immigrants will do the “dirty jobs” of the nation.
* To the ears of Republicans and other non-leftists, this kind of reasoning sounds horrifically racist.
6. **Availability of American Citizens for Physical Labor.**
* The truth is that tens of millions of American citizens — *of all races* — would be happy to be gainfully employed doing physical labor.
* One of the persistent lies propagated over the last century is that people with brains avoid skilled trades and that people with so-called “professional careers” know what’s best for everyone else.
V. The Presidents of Russia and China Announce the Cardinal Points of the Obvious John Helmer
Putin's Ambiguous Stance on Russia's Strategic Treaty with Iran.
“With regard to the Strategic Treaty,” Putin has announced for the “Treaty on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation” he signed on January 17, 2025 — “there are no articles related to the defence sphere”.
Moscow knows this is false.
Putin's Discussion with Netanyahu about Israeli Attack Plans.
Putin revealed at his meeting with international news agencies after midnight on June 18 that some time earlier, he had discussed with Israeli Prime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the Israeli plan of attack on Iran’s nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel plants.
Instead, Putin told the press, “more than 200” Russians are working at the Bushehr reactor in southern Iran, and that with Netanyahu “we have agreed with the leadership of Israel which will ensure their security”.
Russia's Apparent Lack of Direct Military Assistance to Iran.
According to the Reuters report, “asked if Russia was ready to provide Iran with modern weapons to defend itself against Israeli strikes, Putin said a strategic partnership treaty signed with Tehran in January did not envisage military cooperation and that Iran had not made any formal request for assistance”.
If Putin’s statements on Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu in the press conference may be interpreted as Article 3(4) “assistance to the aggressor”, Moscow sources say they wish to avoid discussing in public what Putin has said.
Perceived US-Russian Alignment over Sino-Russian Alignment.
“So what you see is obvious,” says a well-informed Moscow source.
“This is not a Sino-Russian alignment but a US-Russian alignment with the Chinese claiming to join the troika”.
Sino-Russian Coordination and Delegation of Cooperation.
Instead, according to Ushakov, Putin “informed his colleague about his latest international contacts with a focus on his telephone conversations with the key actors in the context of the confrontation between Israel and Iran”.
This means Putin has delegated to the Defense Ministry, General Staff, the intelligence services, and the Foreign Ministry the job of “cooperation” with the Chinese which he also says the Iranians haven’t requested and which isn’t required by the treaty if they do.
Iran's View on Negotiations and Truces.
“They said that if we negotiate, there will be no war. Negotiations were conducted, and the war began”.
“Now, if we conclude a truce, in two months Israel will attack again”.
Skepticism from Commenters on Russian and Chinese Support for Iran.
I’ll play devils advocate here. Ukraine, Syria, and now Iran begs the question, does Putin ever fight back?.
Iran still waiting for BRICS to condemn Israeli aggression.
Critique of Putin's Actions and Perceived Subservience.
Russia was aware of the Israeli attacks but chose to betray Iran by refusing to share any intelligence with them.
I reiterate, Putin is a delusional oligarch who would do anything for a crumb from the US.
VI. Trump Attack on Iran Would Be a Disaster John Seiler
1. **The Current Conflict as a Quad Power Era War.**
* What President Trump needs to do is get on the Hot Line with President Putin and President Xi and solve the Israel-Iran War crisis.
* Because it’s really the U.S.-Israel-NATO vs. Iran-Russia-China War.
2. **Ineffectiveness of US-Israel Anti-Missile Technology.**
* The recent heavy missile attacks on Israel by Iran show U.S.-Israel anti-missile technology isn’t working well, nor is Israel’s Iron Dome.
* The missiles are getting through.
3. **Iran's Enhanced Military Capabilities due to Russian Assistance.**
* Despite sanctions, Iran today has a strong, mid-level economy producing ample weapons, including thousands of missiles that would rain down on U.S. troops already in the region, as well as on Israel.
* Thanks to the stupid Harris-Biden war with Russia over Ukraine, Iran also is getting vast technical assistance from Russia on weapons production.
4. **US Military Preparedness and Industrial Capacity Concerns.**
* And the U.S. depleted even more of its stock of Patriot and other anti-missile systems in the Ukraine War.
* If that’s even possible, it will take at least a decade.
5. **Loss of Control in Initiating a War.**
* The last time you have control of a war is just before you start it.
* If Trump attacks Iran, he might not even be able to destroy the Fordow nuclear site or overthrow the Mullah regime in Tehran.
6. **Risk to Gulf Monarchies and US Troops.**
* “Gulf monarchies hold rival Iran close as Israel conflict rages: Saudi Arabia, UAE and other states in region fear becoming targets for retaliation if US strikes Iran”.
* If Trump attacks Iran, then it will be up to Iran if it, in turn, attacks the U.S. bases throughout the area, including in Iraq, sending your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, home in body bags.
VII. Trump Getting Deep in Some Weird Satan Shit as He Prepares for Big Time War for Israel Andrew Anglin
1. **Trump's Embrace of "Satanic" Christian Zionism.**
* Donald Trump, the Israeli-owned “American President,” has posted some weird Satan shit from Mike Huckabee.
* It is impossible to have a form of Christianity that supports the mass murder of children.
2. **Criticism of Politicians' Professed Beliefs for Israel.**
* I understand that a lot of politicians profess this satanic form of “Christianity,” but they do that because AIPAC tells them to.
* It’s very profitable to have this belief system.
3. **Trump's Perceived Weakness and Manipulation.**
* I am really starting to feel bad for Trump.
* But here he is, a helpless little creature in the hands of the Beast without the will or strength of character to stand up and risk anything to push back on this.
4. **The Imminent Entry into War and its Consequences.**
* Whatever hopes and dreams you had for Trump 2.0 are officially crushed.
* And with that, any hopes for a future for America as it is currently composed.
5. **Irreversibility of Damage to Israel's Image.**
* Just like Trump can’t come back from this, neither can Israel.
* They are never again going to have any kind of major support from the American people, and instead, there is going to be massive hostility, and mobs of people following around pro-Israel politicians and jeering at them.
VIII. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Miles Mathis
1. **Mainstream Physics' Inability to Explain NMR with Real Mechanics.**
* In current theory, the cause of magnetic resonance is given to nuclear spins, but since these spins are said to be intrinsic—that is, not real—it has never been clear what is resonating with what.
* Basically you are expected to just accept whatever modern particle physicists tell you, without asking questions or expecting any of it to make sense.
2. **Proposed True Cause of NMR: Electron Resonance.**
* I will show you here that NMR is not caused by nuclear spin.
* The resonance is with electrons.
3. **Critique of Mainstream "Intrinsic Spin" and Lack of Physicality.**
* You cannot resonate an applied wavelength, which is real, with an intrinsic spin, which is not.
* Math is an abstraction, and abstractions don't resonate with real things.
4. **Real Spin and Charge Channeling by Nuclei.**
* I have shown that the nucleus is channeling photons: that is what charge is.
* That's right, but the spinning charge has to actually be spinning.
5. **Location of Resonance with Outermost Electrons.**
* It is normally resonating with the outermost or valence electron, which is orbiting the hole of the proton (or protons) on the south pole of the nucleus.
* This electron is caught in the eddy where the charge goes into the nucleus, so it is just outside the nucleus.
6. **Explanation for Oxygen Isotopes in NMR.**
* But the bottom electron is still free to orbit, and is thereby to express its wavelength and resonate.
* But of course O18 won't be a candidate for NMR, since the neutrons are silencing the electrons on both ends.
7. **Rejection of Larmor Frequency Equation and Gyromagnetic Ratio as Fudge Factors.**
* Unfortunately, any cursory analysis shows the equation [Larmor frequency equation] was back-engineered from data and then massively fudged.
* So you can immediately see that g is one of the many fudge-factors here, since it can take any value they need to match the measured value of ω.
8. **Reinterpretation of Electron Wavelength Calculation.**
* I just found a wavelength of 1.0098m, using nothing but the equation rec2/2.
* I encourage you to notice how that has the same form as E = mv2/2.
9. **Fundamental Errors in Historical Physics Equations.**
* The problem started long ago with bad equations inherited from previous centuries, the worst of which was the angular velocity problem.
* In correcting the NMR theory, I was forced to completely throw out most of the variables and manipulations, since they were all compromised at the ground level.
Here are 20 key takeaway points from the provided source:
I. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The New York Times recently published an op-ed expressing confusion and lament over the perceived disappearance of men in romantic contexts.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Yesterday, the mystified Grey Lady ran a poignant, but querulous, story headlined, “Men, Where Have You Gone? Please Come Back”.
Supporting Sentence 2: "Rather than producing any self-reflection, Rachel’s experiences led her to wonder: what is wrong with men?".
II. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The author of the New York Times piece, Rachel Drucker, views her own assertive communication in dating as "emotional leadership" and attributes men's lack of reciprocation to their failure or "directionless orbiting."
Supporting Sentence 1: "In Rachel’s frame, her pushy texts weren’t controlling— they were a sign of emotional leadership".
Supporting Sentence 2: "When ‘James’ didn’t reciprocate, his silence became further proof of male failure, passivity, and avoidance, which Rachel contemptuously called “directionless orbiting”".
III. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Men's perceived "disappearance" might not be a sign of dysfunction but rather an exercise of their agency, choosing a different path or politely refusing engagement.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Instead of assuming male absence was proof of dysfunction, the former Playboy records custodian might instead have considered the possibility that, by vanishing, men are exercising agency".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Not disappearing so much as choosing something different".
IV. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Rachel Drucker's article serves as an elegy for "Affluent, White, Female Liberals" (AWFLs) who, despite following progressive ideals and building careers, often find themselves alone.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Beyond its superficial lament for missing male companionship, Rachel Drucker’s piece was a quiet, stylish elegy for the AWFLs themselves".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Beneath the carefully curated pathos arose a more subtle grief: the mourning of a cohort of lonely liberal women who followed the progressive script, built their careers, kept themselves radiant and emotionally literate, and yet somehow wound up alone at the restaurant, surrounded by others just like them".
V. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Feminism 2.0 and prestige media promised AWFLs that independence and empowerment would lead to fulfilling relationships, a promise that is now viewed as an "empty promise" and "bigger falsehood."
Supporting Sentence 1: "AWFL women were promised —by feminism 2.0, by culture, by prestige media like the Times— that if they became independent, confident, discerning, self-aware, and empowered, the rest would follow".
Supporting Sentence 2: "But beyond that empty promise lies an even bigger falsehood".
VI. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The feminist slogan "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" is ironically highlighted as the reason women are now lonely, as men have withdrawn after being told they weren't needed.
Supporting Sentence 1: "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle".
Supporting Sentence 2: "But now the bicycle’s gone missing, and the fish are writing op-eds wondering why the ocean feels so empty".
VII. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The consistent message that men's services were no longer needed and their masculinity was "toxic" has directly led to men withdrawing from various societal roles and interactions.
Supporting Sentence 1: "You told men their services were no longer needed! You sneered that their masculinity was toxic in the workplace".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Then they stopped showing up for work. Surprise! Consequences, meet cause".
VIII. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: AWFLs are seen as having created a "zero-sum game" where men are always disadvantaged, regardless of their behavior or actions.
Supporting Sentence 1: "AWFLs created a zero-sum game where they always win, and wonder why men don't want to play".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Heads, she’s empowered. Tails, he’s inadequate".
IX. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The MAGA ethos appeals to men, especially young men, by offering "respect for masculinity," valuing traditional virtues like strength, protection, and family provision.
Supporting Sentence 1: "The broader MAGA ethos offers men something feminized liberalism never has: respect for masculinity".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Strength, protection, risk-taking, family provision— under MAGA, those are not patriarchal threats; they are cherished virtues".
X. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Democrats face a fundamental contradiction stemming from their post-feminist message that women don't need men, which inadvertently implies that men are broadly unnecessary.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Democrats originally recruited women with a seductive, post-feminist message: you don’t need men".
Supporting Sentence 2: "In other words, if women don’t need men, why does anybody?".
XI. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Democrats are criticized for failing to complement their post-feminist narrative with a message that honored male worth, instead effectively dismissing men.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Democrats never filled in the masculine blank".
Supporting Sentence 2: "They just told liberal men, “thanks for everything, fellas. Your services are no longer required. Here’s a podcast and a prescription”".
XII. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: As men were increasingly "pathologized" by progressive culture, they began to withdraw from relationships, institutions, and political engagement.
Supporting Sentence 1: "And men, increasingly pathologized, began to opt out of relationships, institutions, and even political engagement, in droves … until Trump lit the bat signal".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Young men aren’t just defecting from Democrat politics".
XIII. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The rise of "TradWife Influencers" on social media represents a significant cultural countercurrent where young women embrace and celebrate traditional gender roles as a cheerful rebuke of fourth-wave feminism.
Supporting Sentence 1: "The most terrifying development, which gives Democrats sleepless nights in bafflement and confusion, is the organically growing social media army of TradWife Influencers".
Supporting Sentence 2: "It’s not a political party, but a lifestyle posture, a social media aesthetic, and a rebuke of fourth-wave feminism, all cheerfully wrapped in a homemade dress".
XIV. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: TradWifery is presented as an "existential threat" to feminism because it doesn't engage in debate but rather demonstrates an alternative, appealing lifestyle.
Supporting Sentence 1: "To say TradWives annoy feminists and progressives is like saying the odd Iranian missile tends to stir up the Israelis".
Supporting Sentence 2: "In other words, TradWifery is not just opposition to feminism. It’s an existential threat".
XV. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: The MAGA movement offers young men a clear script for life, promising admiration, feminine warmth, loyalty, and a romantic vision of family and purpose in exchange for being strong, competent, and a provider.
Supporting Sentence 1: "MAGA (decorated with attractive promises like TradWives) offers young men a clear script".
Supporting Sentence 2: "It offers them an attractive, romantic vision: Wife, kids, hearths, hearts, legacy, respect, and love. Purpose and pleasure".
XVI. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: In contrast to MAGA, progressive culture offers men only "ambiguity," reducing manhood to physical traits and providing muddled, ineffective advice for modern liberal dating.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Meanwhile, Democrats and their faltering progressive culture offer only ambiguity".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Democrat advice to liberal men is equally muddled and frankly, doesn’t work".
XVII. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Young men are not only defecting from Democratic politics but also from "secular modernity" itself, changing their values, aesthetics, goals, and even their religious affiliations towards more traditional denominations.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Young men aren’t just defecting from Democrat politics. They’re defecting from secular modernity".
Supporting Sentence 2: "They’re not just changing their votes— they’re changing their values, aesthetics, goals, and gods".
XVIII. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Publications like Daily Kos fundamentally misunderstand the issue by framing men as "the problem" for Democrats, failing to see how such an assumption alienates young men.
Supporting Sentence 1: "Yesterday, the Daily Chaos (Kos) ran a bleak, blamey story headlined, “Why men are a problem for Democrats—and what we can do about it”".
Supporting Sentence 2: "But … how do they possibly expect to win back young men while starting from the assumption that their very existence is the problem?".
XIX. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: There is a significant and growing trend, even acknowledged by critics like Daily Kos, of men believing that a man should have the final say in a relationship.
Supporting Sentence 1: "In 2017,” Kos dolefully reported, “just 34% of men believed that a man should have the final say in a relationship".
Supporting Sentence 2: "Now it’s up to 42%".
XX. ☕️ BICYCLES AND MAN PROBLEMS ☙ Saturday, June 21, 2025 ☙ C&C NEWS 🦠, Jeff Childers
Key Takeaway Point: Democrats consistently err by prioritizing politics above all else, forgetting the fundamental principle that "politics is downstream from culture."
Supporting Sentence 1: "The mistake Democrats continue making, like dogs returning to their vomit, is their unshakeable obsession that politics always comes first, before anything else".
Supporting Sentence 2: "But they forgot rule number one: politics is downstream from culture".
Dietary Fat, Sunscreen & Skin Photosensitivity: Can Seed Oils Promote Sunburn? The body's sensitivity to the world depends on what you feed it. RELATED MP3'S
https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/dietary-fat-sunscreen-and-skin-photosensitivity
This briefing document summarizes key themes and facts from the source "Dietary Fat, Sunscreen & Skin Photosensitivity: Can Seed Oils Promote Sunburn?" by Nick Jikomes. The central premise explored is the intricate relationship between oxidative stress, sunlight exposure, and skin photosensitivity, with a particular focus on how dietary fats (especially PUFAs) and common sunscreens might influence this dynamic.
The document highlights:
Oxidative Stress as the Root of Sunburn: Sunburn is presented as a manifestation of oxidative stress in dermal tissue, where reactive oxygen species (ROS) production overwhelms antioxidant capacity, leading to cell damage, inflammation, and cell death.
The Role of PUFAs in Photosensitivity: The article strongly suggests that higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in cell membranes, particularly in skin cells, can increase sensitivity to sunburn due to their inherent susceptibility to oxidation.
Critique of Commercial Sunscreens: A significant argument is made that widely used commercial sunscreens, by primarily blocking UV light and allowing users to stay in the sun longer, might paradoxically lead to more overall oxidative stress from unblocked non-UV wavelengths.
Melanin as a Natural Photoprotectant: Melanin's role as a natural sunscreen is detailed, emphasizing how eumelanin absorbs UV and scavenges ROS, while pheomelanin can actually increase ROS production, explaining varying sun tolerance among individuals.
Melanoma Disconnection from Sun Exposure: The document challenges the common belief that melanoma is directly linked to sunlight exposure, presenting evidence that suggests otherwise and noting rising melanoma rates despite increased sunscreen use and reduced overall sun exposure.
Importance of Sensory Feedback: The author advocates for relying on natural sensory feedback (skin getting hot, turning red) and traditional sun management strategies over prolonged sunscreen-aided exposure.
II. Main Themes and Key Ideas/Facts
A. Oxidative Stress and Sunburn Biology
Sunburn as Oxidative Stress: "Sunburn is a manifestation of oxidative stress in your dermal tissue. The redness, burning sensations, and skin peeling are symptoms arising from 'too much' oxidative stress, which eventually drives cell death and inflammation."
ROS Production and Antioxidant Capacity: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a natural byproduct of oxygen-based metabolism, primarily from mitochondria. Cells have antioxidant systems to neutralize ROS. Damage occurs when "ROS production exceeds antioxidant capacity."
Consequences of Oxidative Damage: Excessive ROS "break stuff," causing damage to "nucleic acids, proteins, or lipids." Minor breaks can be repaired, but major or persistent damage leads to functional compromise, aging, and senescence of cells.
Dual Nature of ROS: ROS are not entirely bad; cells use them for "useful work" when contained and regulated, similar to how humans use fire.
Sources of ROS: ROS can be generated internally (endogenously) by cellular metabolism or externally (exogenously) by factors like "UV light, toxic chemicals, etc." Skin and gut lining are particularly exposed.
Skin's Adaptation to Stress: Skin cells regenerate quickly and can adapt. Melanogenesis (melanin production) is a natural adaptation to increased sunlight, acting as an internal sunscreen.
B. Dietary PUFAs and Skin Photosensitivity
PUFAs' Susceptibility to Oxidation: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are inherently "easier to oxidize than monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids, which makes them more sensitive to ROS. More carbon-carbon double bonds means higher ROS sensitivity."
PUFAs in Cell Membranes: Skin cells have phospholipid bilayer membranes containing fatty acids. The dietary fat intake "is an important factor influencing the specific fatty acid profile that membranes have."
Hypothesis: Higher PUFAs Increase Sunburn Sensitivity: The core idea is that "higher PUFA concentrations in your skin cell membranes make you more sensitive to sunburn." Less PUFA (less "dry kindling") means cells "will be able to tolerate more 'small fires' ignited by UV light before the house burns down (skin cells die)."
Impact on Cell Death: High PUFA concentration and ROS can ultimately drive forms of cell death, such as ferroptosis.
Controversial Nature: The idea that "changing the fat you put into your body actually affect your sensitivity and tolerance to sunburn" is presented as a subject of debate, with some finding it "preposterous."
C. Melanin Biology and Natural Photoprotection
Melanin as a Natural Sunscreen: Melanin is a "light-absorbing pigment that acts as a natural sunscreen."
Types of Melanin:Eumelanin: "A brown-black pigment, highly effective at absorbing UV radiation, providing photoprotection." Dominant in darker skin tones.
Pheomelanin: "A reddish-yellow pigment, less effective at UV absorption, found in higher proportions in lighter skin and red hair." It "may contribute to UV-induced damage due to its photochemical properties" and "can actually elevate ROS production."
Mechanism of Melanin Protection: Melanin protects by "dissipating UV energy as heat, reducing DNA damage" and "scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UV."
Adaptation through Melanin: "Getting intermittent sunlight exposure such that eumelanin is boosted results in greater sun tolerance." This highlights skin's plasticity in response to environmental conditions.
D. Critique of Artificial Sunscreens and Oxidative Stress
Limited Spectrum Blockage: Most popular chemical sunscreens "only block a narrow band of sunlight from your skin, mostly just UV."
Non-UV Light and Oxidative Stress: A critical point is that "non-UV light can also induce oxidative stress." Longer wavelengths (visible and near-infrared) penetrate deeper into the skin.
Paradoxical Effect of Sunscreen: According to Scott Zimmerman's commentary, "most sunscreens actually make it easier for people to expose themselves to more overall oxidative stress because they can stay out in the sun for longer." He cites Zastrow's work showing "equal amounts of free radicals being generated from the visible light" as from the UV portion.
Zastrow et al. Quote: "In the absence of sunburn as an unmistakable warning, applicants use to over-exposing themselves to solar radiation, sometimes up to 10 times longer. As the standard commercial sunscreens, however, provide no protection in the VIS/IR spectral region, the free radicals being formed in this spectral region can easily overcome the critical radical concentration (FRTV)."
Sunscreen and Skin Cancer Rates: The source argues that "widespread sunscreen use has not reduced skin cancer rates," and points out that melanoma incidence is "still rising although the use of sunscreens exhibiting high SPF values has become increasingly popular."
Consumer Preferences Drive Sunscreen Design: The industry is geared towards chemical sunscreens that are invisible, as consumers are turned off by visible residues or colors (e.g., "covering yourself in mud works, for example, but nobody wants to do that").
E. Melanoma and Sunlight Exposure
Challenging the Conventional Wisdom: The document states, "melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is not actually linked to sunlight exposure."
Evidence Against Link:"Patients with solar elastosis, a sign of sun exposure, were 60% less likely to die from melanoma."
"Melanoma predominantly occurs in areas of the body with minimal sunlight exposure*, unlike SCC and BCC, which are linked to sun-exposed regions.*"
"Outdoor workers, despite significantly higher UV exposure, have lower rates of melanoma compared to indoor workers*."
Rising Melanoma Rates: Data from Norway's cancer registry shows "melanoma deaths have been either flat or increasing for decades," despite people spending more time indoors and increased sunscreen use. This trend "argues against sunlight being the primary issue."
F. Traditional Sun Management and Sensory Feedback
Evolutionary Adaptation: Humans have managed sun exposure for much longer than commercial sunscreens have existed, relying on "natural sensory feedback and intermittent sun-shade-seeking."
Traditional Strategies: Under pre-industrial conditions, strategies included "make intermittent use of shade when your senses tell you to (skin gets hot, starts to turn red)" or "cover yourself in mud or something, or wear breathable sun-blocking garments."
Scrambled Sensory System: Modern sunscreen use is seen as having "scrambled our ability to use this exquisite sensory system by covering it up with chemicals."
Risk of Overexposure with Sunscreen: If sunscreen use leads to "far longer stretches of time than you would otherwise," it may result in "more overall oxidative stress within your tissues over time."
III. Conclusion
The provided source argues that our understanding of sun exposure and skin health is incomplete and potentially misguided, particularly concerning the roles of dietary fats and commercial sunscreens. It posits that a diet high in PUFAs may increase skin's susceptibility to oxidative damage from sunlight, making individuals more prone to sunburn. Simultaneously, it critically examines commercial sunscreens, suggesting that their limited spectrum blocking, coupled with extended sun exposure they enable, could lead to greater overall oxidative stress and does not correlate with reduced melanoma rates. The document advocates for a re-evaluation of how humans interact with sunlight, emphasizing natural sensory feedback and the body's inherent adaptive mechanisms like melanin production, rather than relying solely on external chemical interventions.
convert_to_textConvert to source
1. What is oxidative stress and how does it relate to sunburns?
Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells overwhelms the body's antioxidant capacity. ROS are a natural byproduct of oxygen-based metabolism, primarily generated by mitochondria. However, excessive ROS can damage cellular components like nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Sunburn is a direct manifestation of oxidative stress in dermal tissue, where too much ROS leads to cell death and inflammation, resulting in redness, burning, and peeling of the skin. While cells have repair mechanisms and can rejuvenate, persistent or overwhelming oxidative stress can lead to functional compromise and aging.
2. How do internal and external factors influence skin's ability to handle light?
Skin's ability to handle light, and thus its propensity to sunburn, is influenced by both internal and external factors. Internally, the skin's natural capacity to absorb UV and its antioxidant capacity play a crucial role. Melanin, a light-absorbing pigment, is a key internal factor; higher levels, particularly eumelanin, provide greater photoprotection by absorbing UV energy and scavenging ROS. The fatty acid composition of cell membranes can also influence sensitivity, with a higher concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) potentially making membranes more susceptible to oxidative damage. Externally, exposure to UV light is a major driver of oxidative stress. Additionally, certain medications and food components can affect skin photosensitivity.
3. What is the role of melanin in sun protection and skin plasticity?
Melanin is a natural pigment in human skin and hair that serves as a primary defense against UV radiation. It primarily exists in two forms: eumelanin (brown-black, highly effective at UV absorption) and pheomelanin (reddish-yellow, less effective and potentially contributing to UV-induced damage). Melanin works by absorbing photons across UV, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths, dissipating UV energy as heat, and scavenging ROS. The concentration of eumelanin in the skin directly relates to "UV tolerance," meaning higher eumelanin levels reduce oxidative stress from sunlight. Skin exhibits plasticity by increasing melanin production in response to sunlight exposure, allowing for adaptation and increased sun tolerance over time.
4. How do commercial sunscreens work, and what are their potential downsides regarding oxidative stress?
Commercial sunscreens come in two types: chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV photons, and physical sunscreens, which reflect them. Many popular chemical sunscreens primarily block a narrow band of UV light (UVA, UVB, UVC). While this prevents immediate sunburn, it can have a significant downside: non-UV light (visible and near-infrared wavelengths) also induces oxidative stress and penetrates deeper into the skin. By blocking the UV wavelengths that cause noticeable sunburn and signal the need to seek shade, sunscreens can lead individuals to stay in direct sunlight for much longer. This extended exposure to non-UV wavelengths can result in as much, or even more, overall oxidative stress in the skin, despite the absence of a sunburn. This may explain why, despite increased sunscreen use, rates of melanoma (a deadly form of skin cancer) have not decreased and are even increasing in some demographics.
5. Is melanoma linked to sunlight exposure?
Contrary to popular belief, melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is generally not directly linked to sunlight exposure in the same way as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), which is correlated with UV exposure. Evidence suggests that patients with signs of significant sun exposure (solar elastosis) are less likely to die from melanoma. Melanoma also tends to occur in body areas with minimal sun exposure, and outdoor workers, despite higher UV exposure, often have lower rates of melanoma than indoor workers. Additionally, widespread sunscreen use has not reduced melanoma rates, and data from regions like Norway show melanoma deaths have been flat or increasing for decades, despite increased sunscreen use and generally less outdoor time.
6. What is the proposed link between dietary PUFAs and skin photosensitivity?
The hypothesis is that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can influence skin photosensitivity and sunburn potential. Skin cell membranes contain fatty acids, and PUFAs, due to their chemical structure (more carbon-carbon double bonds), are inherently easier to oxidize than monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids. Therefore, a higher concentration of PUFAs in skin cell membranes might make them more susceptible to "lighting on fire" (oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation) when ROS levels exceed antioxidant capacity, thereby increasing sensitivity to sunburn. The idea suggests that minimizing seed oil consumption, which are high in PUFAs, could decrease skin sensitivity and allow for greater sun tolerance before burning.
7. Beyond dietary fat, what other substances can affect skin photosensitivity?
Beyond dietary fat, various substances can impact skin photosensitivity. Natural "sunscreens" like melanin, produced within the body, directly influence how much UV the skin can tolerate. Topical commercial sunscreens, applied to the skin surface, alter light absorption and can paradoxically increase overall oxidative stress by allowing longer exposure to non-UV wavelengths. Furthermore, certain prescription drugs are known to change skin photosensitivity, making individuals more susceptible to sun-induced reactions. Even some food components can have an impact on how the skin reacts to light.
8. How did humans historically manage sun exposure before commercial sunscreens?
Before the advent of commercial sunscreens, humans in traditional societies managed intense daytime sun using common-sense strategies. These included making intermittent use of shade, seeking shelter when sensory feedback from the skin (like heat or early redness) indicated a need to do so. Additionally, people would cover themselves with natural materials like mud or wear breathable, sun-blocking garments. The text suggests that humans evolved with sensitive skin to provide sensory feedback about sun exposure, a system that modern reliance on sunscreens may have "scrambled," potentially leading to longer, more damaging sun exposure.
convert_to_textConvert to source
Summary
The provided text explores the intricate relationship between dietary fat, particularly seed oils, and skin photosensitivity, emphasizing how what we consume can influence our susceptibility to sunburn. It introduces the concept of oxidative stress as the underlying mechanism for sunburn, explaining that reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced naturally within cells and by external factors like UV light, can damage cellular components if they overwhelm the body's antioxidant defenses. The author posits that a higher concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in cell membranes, often influenced by diet, may make skin more vulnerable to oxidative damage from sunlight, effectively acting as "dry kindling." The discussion also delves into the role of melanin as a natural sunscreen and critically examines commercial sunscreens, suggesting they might enable greater overall oxidative stress by blocking only UV light and encouraging prolonged sun exposure to other damaging wavelengths.
Sunburn is a manifestation of oxidative stress in your dermal tissue, leading to symptoms like redness, burning sensations, and skin peeling.
Here's a breakdown of sunburn biology:
1. Basic Biology of Oxidative Stress & Sunburns
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): These are an inevitable consequence of oxygen-based metabolism. Mitochondria within cells are the primary site of oxygen-based energy and ROS production.
Antioxidant Systems: Cells are equipped with antioxidant systems that can sense ROS production and neutralize them before they cause damage. As long as ROS production does not exceed this antioxidant capacity, there is generally no concern.
Oxidative Damage: Sunburn occurs when ROS production overwhelms the cell's antioxidant capacity. When this happens, highly reactive molecules like ROS can "break stuff," causing oxidative damage to nucleic acids, proteins, or lipids within cells. This damage can range from minor breaks that are easily repaired to major damage requiring substantial repairs and higher energy costs.
Cellular Energy Budget: All cells operate with a finite energy budget. The greater the oxidative stress or the lesser the cell's ability to cope with it, the more likely the damage is to exceed the energetic needs for repair and housekeeping. If repair mechanisms themselves are damaged, it can lead to cellular functional compromise, aging, and senescence.
Exogenous ROS Sources: While cells naturally produce ROS, external physical stimuli such as UV light and toxic chemicals can also ignite "small fires" of ROS. Skin and gut lining, being highly exposed, have evolved to deal with these stressors up to a point.
Inflammatory Response: If oxidative stress in skin cells becomes too high, it triggers an inflammatory response. Pro-inflammatory signals are secreted to attract other cells that clean up debris and tissue damage, leading to vasodilation (redness) and swelling.
Repair and Rejuvenation: Skin cells have a form of "insurance" where dead cells from sunburn are quickly replaced, and inflammation gives way to rejuvenation. Melanogenesis, the increased production of melanin, can also be stimulated.
2. Ultraviolet, Non-UV Light & Oxidative Stress
UV Light: UV light is a primary driver of sunburn. The paler your skin, the lower its capacity to absorb UV, and the more readily oxidative stress is induced.
Other Wavelengths: Longer wavelengths of light, including visible light, also contribute to oxidative stress and can penetrate the skin more deeply than UV.
Sun Tolerance: While everyone has a different tolerance level based on factors like melanin content, no one is completely immune to tissue damage from arbitrary amounts of intense sunlight. The pattern and frequency of sunlight exposure can modulate biological adaptations, such as melanin production, which alter the skin's propensity to sunburn.
3. Melanin Biology & Skin Plasticity
Melanin's Role: Melanin is a light-absorbing pigment that acts as a natural sunscreen, enabling increased tolerance to sunlight exposure. The concentration of melanin in skin effectively determines "UV tolerance," meaning how much UV can be handled before oxidative damage overflows.
Mechanism: Melanin absorbs UV radiation, dissipating its energy as heat and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UV, thereby reducing DNA damage.
Types of Melanin:
Eumelanin: A brown-black pigment, it is highly effective at absorbing UV radiation and provides photoprotection, being the primary contributor to darker skin tones. Intermittent sunlight exposure can boost eumelanin, resulting in greater sun tolerance.
Pheomelanin: A reddish-yellow pigment, it is less effective at UV absorption and is found in higher proportions in lighter skin and red hair. Pheomelanin can actually elevate ROS production, triggering lipid peroxidation or DNA damage, which explains why red-headed individuals are very sensitive to light-induced oxidative skin damage.
4. Dietary Factors and Skin Photosensitivity
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Skin cell membranes contain fatty acids, and their specific profile is influenced by diet. PUFAs are inherently easier to oxidize than monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids due to their higher number of carbon-carbon double bonds, making them more sensitive to ROS.
Increased Sensitivity: The idea is that higher PUFA concentrations in skin cell membranes could make individuals more sensitive to sunburn because they act as "dry kindling," making cells more likely to "light on fire" if ROS levels exceed antioxidant capacity. This could ultimately drive forms of cell death.
5. Other Factors Influencing Skin Photosensitivity
Topical Commercial Sunscreens: These can modulate photosensitivity. While chemical sunscreens block UV wavelengths, allowing prolonged sun exposure, they often don't block non-UV light, which also induces oxidative stress. This means that staying in the sun for longer while wearing sunscreen might still lead to as much or more overall oxidative stress despite blocking UV.
Prescription Drugs and Food Components: Certain medications and food components can also affect skin photosensitivity when ingested.
Dietary seed oils are discussed in the context of their potential influence on skin photosensitivity and sunburn. The central idea explored is whether the type of fat consumed, specifically polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in seed oils, can affect the skin's sensitivity to sunlight and its propensity to sunburn.
Here's a breakdown of the discussion:
PUFAs and Oxidative Stress: Like other cells, skin cells have phospholipid bilayer membranes containing various fatty acids. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are inherently easier to oxidize than monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids, making them more sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS). This is because more carbon-carbon double bonds in PUFAs mean higher ROS sensitivity.
Impact on Skin Photosensitivity: The theory is that a higher concentration of PUFAs in skin cell membranes makes individuals more sensitive to sunburn. If there's less "dry kindling" (i.e., fewer easily oxidizable PUFAs) in the cell membranes, cells might be able to tolerate more "small fires" ignited by UV light before sustaining significant damage or cell death, such as ferroptosis. The author posits that if there is lower PUFA density in cell membranes, fewer toxins can be produced from lipid peroxidation, meaning less "flammable material" is available for ROS to react with.
The Question of Noticeable Change: While the hypothesis suggests that higher PUFA concentrations increase sunburn sensitivity, the article raises the question of whether this is true in practice and if a dietary shift away from seed oils would lead to a noticeable change in sunburn propensity.
Contrasting Viewpoints: Some individuals suggest that minimizing seed oil consumption can decrease sensitivity to sunburn and increase sun tolerance. However, others find this idea "preposterous".
Context for Discussion: To assess whether dietary PUFAs from seed oils can affect dermal photosensitivity, the article plans to first examine how other substances—including natural sunscreens like melanin, topical commercial sunscreens, prescription drugs, food components, and topical cholesterol—impact skin photosensitivity. This broader understanding aims to provide a basis for reasoning about the potential impact of dietary fat intake on skin's light sensitivity.
The article notes that a podcast episode titled "M&M 220: Cell Death, Oxidative Stress, PUFAs & Antioxidants | Pamela Maher" and an article titled "PUFAs & The Palisades: Lipid Peroxidation, Oxidative Stress & Cell Death" further explore the topics of PUFAs, lipid peroxidation, and cell death.
Melanin is a key pigment in human skin and hair that plays a crucial role in photoprotection and influencing skin photosensitivity.
Here's a discussion of melanin's function:
UV Absorption and Photoprotection Melanin effectively absorbs photons across a broad spectrum, including UV, visible, and near-infrared light, with stronger absorption at shorter wavelengths. This absorption capability, due to its chemical structure containing conjugated rings with multiple double-bonds, allows it to capture light. By absorbing external UV light, melanin protects the skin by dissipating UV energy as heat, which reduces DNA damage. The melanin concentration in the skin directly determines "UV tolerance," indicating how much UV the skin can handle before oxidative damage exceeds the capacity of antioxidant systems.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Scavenging In addition to absorbing UV energy, melanin also functions as a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UV exposure. This scavenging action helps prevent ROS from causing damage or triggering lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, which would otherwise produce more toxic molecules.
Types of Melanin Melanin in human skin primarily exists in two forms:
Eumelanin: This is a brown-black pigment that is highly effective at absorbing UV radiation and provides significant photoprotection. It is the main contributor to darker skin tones. Increased levels of eumelanin, often stimulated by intermittent sunlight exposure, lead to greater sun tolerance.
Pheomelanin: This is a reddish-yellow pigment that is less effective at UV absorption. It is found in higher proportions in lighter skin and red hair. Unlike eumelanin, pheomelanin can actually increase ROS production, potentially triggering lipid peroxidation or DNA damage. This is why individuals with red hair, who produce higher levels of pheomelanin, are very sensitive to light-induced oxidative skin damage.
Melanin Synthesis and Distribution Melanin is synthesized by melanocytes in the epidermis from amino acid precursors. It is then stored in melanosomes, which are transferred to surrounding keratinocytes. The size, number, and distribution of these melanosomes impact skin pigmentation. The synthesis pathways are complex and are linked to UV exposure and DNA damage, as well as ROS production.
Skin Plasticity and Adaptation The skin's ability to adjust melanin levels in response to sunlight exposure allows its sunlight sensitivity and sunburn propensity to change according to environmental conditions. Melanin acts as a natural sunscreen produced within the skin, enabling the skin to adapt to light conditions up to a certain point. A given amount of direct sun exposure results in less overall oxidative stress for individuals with higher eumelanin levels compared to those with lower levels, assuming all other factors are equal.
Sunscreen plays a significant role in modulating skin photosensitivity and sun tolerance, but its effects are complex and go beyond simply preventing sunburn.
Here's a discussion of sunscreen effects:
1. Types and Mechanism of Action
Chemical Sunscreens: These contain molecules, such as oxybenzone, that absorb UV photons due to their chemical structure, often involving multiple aromatic ring structures.
Physical Sunscreens: These contain minerals that primarily reflect photons.
Melanin vs. Artificial Sunscreens: Natural biomolecules like melanin also absorb photons across various wavelengths to protect the skin. Artificial sunscreens function similarly by absorbing photons within a certain range of wavelengths.
2. Limited Spectrum Blocking and Oxidative Stress
Narrow Band Protection: Most popular commercial chemical sunscreens primarily block only a narrow band of sunlight, specifically UV wavelengths (UVA, UVB, UVC), while visible and near-infrared light are generally not blocked.
Deep Penetration of Non-UV Light: Longer wavelengths of light, including visible light, penetrate the skin more deeply than UV.
Induction of Oxidative Stress: While UV light is a major driver of sunburn and oxidative stress, non-UV light, particularly visible light, can also induce oxidative stress. Research has shown that exposing skin to visible light can generate an equal amount of free radicals as exposure to the UV portion of the spectrum.
Increased Overall Oxidative Stress: By blocking UV wavelengths, which are the primary cause of sunburn and the body's natural warning signal to seek shade, sunscreens enable individuals to stay in direct sunlight for longer periods. This extended exposure to unblocked non-UV wavelengths can lead to as much or even more overall oxidative stress in the skin, despite preventing UV-induced sunburns.
3. Impact on Skin Cancer Rates and Toxicity
Melanoma Link: Contrary to common belief, melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is not strongly linked to sunlight exposure. It predominantly occurs in areas of the body with minimal sunlight exposure, and studies have shown outdoor workers, despite higher UV exposure, have lower rates of melanoma compared to indoor workers. Data from Norway indicates that melanoma deaths have been flat or increasing for decades, despite increased sunscreen use and more time spent indoors since the mid-1900s.
Other Skin Cancers: Basal cell carcinoma, a less deadly form of skin cancer, is correlated with UV/sunlight exposure.
Ineffectiveness in Reducing Cancer Rates: Existing research indicates that widespread sunscreen use has not reduced overall skin cancer rates.
Toxicity: Many sunscreens contain toxic carcinogens, leading some regions, like Hawaii, to ban them to protect coral reefs.
4. Disruption of Natural Sensory Feedback
Scrambling Sensory System: Humans have evolved a sophisticated sensory system, particularly in their largely hairless skin, to manage sun exposure. This system provides feedback (e.g., skin getting hot or turning red) to indicate when to seek shade.
Overriding Natural Warnings: Commercial sunscreens, by preventing UV-induced sunburn, can override these natural sensory warnings. This can lead individuals to over-expose themselves to solar radiation, sometimes up to 10 times longer than they would without sunscreen.
Consumer Preferences: The multibillion-dollar sunscreen industry is geared towards producing chemical sunscreens that block narrow bands of sunlight and are not visible on the skin (unlike mud or mineral sunscreens that leave a residue), driven by consumer preferences.
In summary, while sunscreens prevent UV-induced sunburns, they may inadvertently increase overall oxidative stress in the skin due to prolonged exposure to unblocked non-UV wavelengths. Furthermore, their widespread use has not been shown to reduce rates of melanoma, and they can contain toxic chemicals, while also disrupting the body's natural sensory feedback for sun exposure.
Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells exceeds their capacity to neutralize these harmful molecules. This imbalance can lead to significant cellular damage and is a fundamental aspect of various biological processes, including sunburn.
Here's a detailed discussion of oxidative stress:
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Production
ROS are an inevitable byproduct of oxygen-based metabolism.
Within cells, mitochondria are the primary site of oxygen-based energy production and, consequently, ROS generation. ROS are continually produced at some rate as a natural consequence of this metabolism.
ROS are not inherently bad; cells use them for useful work, similar to how humans use fire for cooking or heating. However, this "burning" must be contained and regulated.
In addition to endogenous (internally produced) ROS, external physical stimuli can also ignite "small fires" of ROS. These exogenous sources include UV light, ionizing radiation, pollutants, certain foods, medications, and drugs like alcohol and tobacco. The skin and gut lining, being highly exposed to the external environment, have evolved to deal with these stressors up to a point.
Antioxidant Systems and Balance
Cells are equipped with antioxidant systems designed to sense ROS production and neutralize them before they cause significant damage.
As long as ROS production does not exceed this antioxidant capacity, there is generally no concern.
Oxidative stress occurs when ROS production overwhelms the cell's antioxidant capacity.
Oxidative Damage
When antioxidant defenses are overwhelmed, highly reactive molecules like ROS "break stuff". This includes causing oxidative damage to nucleic acids (DNA), proteins, or lipids within cells.
Damage can range from minor breaks that are easily repaired to major damage requiring substantial repairs and higher energy costs. For example, hydroxyl radicals can oxidize purines and pyrimidines in DNA, leading to mutations, nucleotide damage, and single- and double-strand breaks. They can also oxidize lipids, producing highly active lipid peroxidation products like 4-HNE and MDA. Hydrogen peroxide can lead to protein inactivation.
Cellular Energy Budget and Consequences
All cells operate with a finite energy budget.
The greater the level of oxidative stress or the lesser a cell's ability to cope with it, the more likely the damage is to exceed the energetic needs for repair and basic housekeeping.
If the repair mechanisms themselves become damaged, it can lead to functional compromise, aging, and senescence (cells that cannot or will not rejuvenate).
Oxidative Stress and Sunburn
Sunburn is a direct manifestation of oxidative stress in dermal tissue.
UV light is a major driver of sunburn, readily inducing oxidative stress, especially in paler skin with lower UV absorption capacity.
Other wavelengths of light, including visible light, also contribute to oxidative stress and can penetrate deeper into the skin than UV.
When oxidative stress in skin cells becomes too high, it triggers an inflammatory response. Pro-inflammatory signals attract other cells to clean up debris and tissue damage, leading to symptoms like vasodilation (redness), swelling, and eventually skin peeling. This peeling allows for quick replacement of dead cells, and inflammation gives way to rejuvenation.
Influence of Dietary Fats on Oxidative Stress
The fatty acid composition of skin cell membranes, influenced by diet, can affect their sensitivity to ROS.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), common in seed oils, are inherently easier to oxidize than monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids due to their higher number of carbon-carbon double bonds.
The theory is that higher PUFA concentrations in skin cell membranes make them "more sensitive" to sunburn because they act as "dry kindling," making them more prone to "light on fire" if ROS levels exceed antioxidant capacity. Conversely, lower PUFA density in cell membranes means less "flammable material," leading to fewer toxins produced from lipid peroxidation and potentially greater tolerance to light-induced oxidative stress.
Melanin and Oxidative Stress Mitigation
Melanin, a light-absorbing pigment, acts as a natural sunscreen and plays a critical role in managing oxidative stress from sunlight.
It protects the skin by absorbing UV energy and dissipating it as heat, which reduces DNA damage.
Melanin also functions as a scavenger of ROS generated by UV exposure, preventing them from causing damage or triggering lipid peroxidation.
Eumelanin (brown-black pigment) is more effective at photoprotection and ROS scavenging than pheomelanin (reddish-yellow pigment). Pheomelanin can actually elevate ROS production, contributing to oxidative skin damage, which explains the high photosensitivity in red-headed individuals.
Commercial Sunscreens and Oxidative Stress
While chemical sunscreens block UV wavelengths, they often do not block non-UV light.
This can lead to a paradoxical effect: by preventing UV-induced sunburn, sunscreens allow individuals to stay in strong, direct sunlight for longer periods. During this extended exposure, the skin is still exposed to non-UV wavelengths that induce oxidative stress.
As a result, it is possible to generate as much or more overall oxidative stress while wearing sunscreen and staying in direct sunlight for long periods, despite blocking UV photons. This effect has led some researchers to suggest that sunscreen use might make it easier for people to expose themselves to more overall oxidative stress.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are an inevitable consequence of oxygen-based metabolism. Within our cells, mitochondria are the predominant site of oxygen-based energy and ROS production.
Oxidative stress occurs when the production of ROS exceeds the cell's antioxidant capacity. This imbalance leads to oxidative damage to cellular components like nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, impairing cellular function and potentially requiring energy-intensive repairs.
Sunburn is a direct manifestation of oxidative stress in dermal tissue, where excessive ROS production from UV exposure overwhelms the skin's antioxidant defenses. This leads to inflammation, cell death, and symptoms like redness, burning sensations, and skin peeling.
The two main types are eumelanin, a brown-black pigment highly effective at absorbing UV radiation and providing photoprotection, and pheomelanin, a reddish-yellow pigment less effective at UV absorption that can contribute to UV-induced damage. Eumelanin is dominant in darker skin tones, while pheomelanin is more common in lighter skin and red hair.
PUFAs are more sensitive to ROS because they contain multiple carbon-carbon double bonds, which are inherently easier to oxidize. A higher concentration of these bonds in cell membranes makes them more susceptible to lipid peroxidation when ROS levels are elevated.
Commercial chemical sunscreens work by containing molecules that absorb UV photons, primarily blocking a narrow band of UV light. A potential drawback is that by blocking only UV, they allow individuals to stay in direct sunlight longer, exposing their skin to more oxidative stress-inducing non-UV wavelengths.
The text suggests that widespread sunscreen use may not have reduced skin cancer rates, especially for melanoma, because sunscreens typically only block UV light. This allows people to stay in the sun longer, increasing exposure to other oxidative stress-inducing wavelengths, and melanoma itself is not strongly linked to sunlight exposure in the same way as other skin cancers.
This observation challenges the common perception that melanoma is primarily caused by sunlight exposure. It suggests that other factors, beyond direct UV radiation, might play a more significant role in melanoma development, as it frequently appears in less sun-exposed areas.
The skin acts as a large sensory organ, providing feedback like heat and redness as warnings when sun exposure becomes excessive. This natural feedback mechanism allows humans to intuitively seek shade or cover, regulating their sun exposure under natural conditions.
The hypothesis is that higher concentrations of PUFAs in skin cell membranes make them more sensitive to sunburn. By minimizing seed oil consumption, which are rich in PUFAs, the idea is that there would be less "flammable material" in cell membranes, thus increasing the skin's tolerance to sun exposure before oxidative damage leads to sunburn.
Antioxidant Systems: Cellular mechanisms and molecules (e.g., enzymes, vitamins) that can sense and neutralize Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), preventing or minimizing oxidative damage.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): A common, less deadly form of skin cancer that is correlated with UV/sunlight exposure.
Dermal Tissue: The layer of skin beneath the epidermis, containing connective tissue, blood vessels, hair follicles, and sweat glands.
Eumelanin: A brown-black pigment that is highly effective at absorbing UV radiation and providing photoprotection; primarily contributes to darker skin tones.
Ferroptosis: A type of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides, often linked to high levels of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs).
Keratinocytes: The most common type of skin cell, making up about 90% of the epidermis, involved in forming the skin barrier and storing melanin transferred from melanocytes.
Lipid Peroxidation: The oxidative degradation of lipids, particularly Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) in cell membranes, initiated by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), leading to the formation of toxic byproducts.
Melanin: A broad term for a group of pigments found in skin, hair, and eyes, produced by melanocytes, that absorb light and provide photoprotection.
Melanocytes: Specialized cells located in the epidermis that produce melanin.
Melanogenesis: The process of melanin production, stimulated by factors such as UV exposure, leading to increased pigmentation and sun tolerance.
Melanoma: The most deadly form of skin cancer, which the text argues is not directly linked to sunlight exposure, unlike other common skin cancers.
Melanosomes: Organelles within melanocytes where melanin is synthesized and stored, before being transferred to surrounding keratinocytes.
Mitochondria: Organelles within cells often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell, where oxygen-based metabolism occurs and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are predominantly produced.
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs): Fatty acids with one carbon-carbon double bond, generally more stable against oxidation than PUFAs.
Oxidative Damage: Damage to cellular components (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids) caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) when antioxidant capacity is overwhelmed.
Oxidative Stress: An imbalance between the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and the body's ability to detoxify or repair the resulting damage.
Pheomelanin: A reddish-yellow pigment, less effective at UV absorption than eumelanin, and which may contribute to UV-induced damage due to its photochemical properties; found in higher proportions in lighter skin and red hair.
Phospholipid Bilayer Membrane: The fundamental structure of cell membranes, composed of two layers of phospholipid molecules, which contain various fatty acids.
Photobiology: The study of the interactions of light and living organisms.
Photons: Fundamental particles of light, which can be absorbed by molecules (like melanin or sunscreen chemicals) and excite their electrons.
Photoprotection: The process by which the skin protects itself from damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, primarily through melanin production and antioxidant systems.
Photosensitivity: The degree to which skin reacts to light, particularly sunlight. Increased photosensitivity means a greater likelihood of adverse reactions like sunburn.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs): Fatty acids containing multiple carbon-carbon double bonds, making them inherently more susceptible to oxidation by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Commonly found in seed oils.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules containing oxygen, such as superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, which are a natural byproduct of metabolism but can cause cellular damage if present in excess.
Saturated Fatty Acids (SFAs): Fatty acids with no carbon-carbon double bonds, making them the least susceptible to oxidation among fatty acid types.
Seed Oils: Vegetable oils derived from the seeds of plants (e.g., soybean, corn, sunflower oil), which are typically high in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs).
Solar Elastosis: A condition caused by chronic sun exposure, resulting in damaged elastin in the skin, which appears as thickened, leathery, and wrinkled skin. The text mentions a paradoxical inverse correlation with melanoma.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): A common type of skin cancer that is linked to sun-exposed regions, similar to BCC.
Sunburn: An inflammatory response in the skin caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leading to oxidative stress, cell damage, redness, and pain.
UV Light (Ultraviolet Light): Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, categorized into UVA, UVB, and UVC, known to induce oxidative stress and DNA damage in skin.
Vasodilation: The widening of blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow, which contributes to the redness and swelling observed in inflammatory responses like sunburn.
convert_to_textConvert to source
I. Dietary Fat, Sunscreen & Skin Photosensitivity: Can Seed Oils Promote Sunburn? by Nick Jikomes
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are a natural part of metabolism.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an inevitable consequence of oxygen-based metabolism.
Within our cells, mitochondria are the predominant site of oxygen-based energy and ROS production.
Cells have evolved systems to manage ROS.
Evolution has equipped cells with antioxidant systems that can sense ROS production and quench ROS before they do real damage.
As long as ROS production does not exceed antioxidant capacity, there’s not much to worry about.
Oxidative stress occurs when ROS production overwhelms antioxidant capacity.
When ROS production exceeds antioxidant capacity, nucleic acids, proteins, or lipids within our cells take on oxidative damage.
Highly reactive molecules break stuff if not properly contained.
Cells have a finite energy budget for repair.
All cells have a finite energy budget, and may or may not be well-insured depending on cell type.
The greater the level of oxidative stress cells experience, or the lesser the ability to deal with it, the more likely the damage is to exceed the energetic needs of repair and housekeeping mechanisms.
Persistent oxidative stress can lead to functional compromise and aging.
If the repair mechanisms themselves become damaged, cells are functionally compromised and either can’t or won’t rejuvenate.
This is part of what underlies aging and senescence.
ROS also serve useful functions in cells.
ROS are not all bad, though.
Cells use them to do useful work.
External stimuli, like UV light, can ignite "small fires" (ROS production) in the body.
Small fires can also be ignited by external physical stimuli, such as UV light, toxic chemicals, etc..
The surfaces of our body—both the outer surface (skin), and inner surface (gut lining)—are exposed to these things the most.
Skin and gut cells are high-risk real estate due to their exposure.
Naturally, they have evolved to deal with such stressors, up to a point.
There’s a reason your skin and gut cells regenerate quickly when damaged: they occupy high-risk real estate within the organism.
Skin cells have natural capacities to absorb light and deal with ROS.
Skin cells have some natural capacity to absorb and utilize light, as well as natural antioxidant capacity to absorb and utilize some level of ROS.
The paler your skin is, the lower its capacity to absorb UV, and the more readily oxidative stress is induced.
Sunburn is a manifestation of oxidative stress in dermal tissue.
Sunburn is a manifestation of oxidative stress in your dermal tissue.
The redness, burning sensations, and skin peeling are symptoms arising from “too much” oxidative stress, which eventually drives cell death and inflammation.
Skin has "insurance" mechanisms for recovery from sunburn.
Luckily, skin cells have “insurance”.
The skin peels, but dead cells are quickly replaced.
Melanogenesis is a natural defense mechanism against sun exposure.
Melanogenesis (increased melanin production) can also be stimulated, a light-absorbing pigment that acts as a natural sunscreen.
This enabling you to tolerate more sunlight exposure in the future.
UV light is a major driver of sunburn, but other light wavelengths also contribute to oxidative stress.
UV light is a major driver of sunburn, but other wavelengths also contribute to oxidative stress.
Longer wavelengths of light, including visible light, penetrate our skin more deeply than UV.
No one is completely immune to tissue damage from intense sunlight.
Nobody can withstand an arbitrary amount of sunlight, especially intense sunlight, without sustaining tissue damage.
Everyone has a different tolerance level based on things like melanin content, but oxidative stress cannot be completely avoided.
Skin's sun tolerance can adapt to light conditions.
There is variation and plasticity in tolerance levels, however, allowing skin to adapt to light conditions, up to a point.
The pattern and frequency of sunlight exposures you have modulates informs biological adaptations, such as melanin production, that alter your skins’ propensity to sunburn.
Dietary fat composition influences cell membrane fatty acid profiles.
Like other cells, skin cells have a phospholipid bilayer membrane filled with fatty acids.
Diet is an important factor influencing the specific fatty acid profile that membranes have.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are more sensitive to oxidation than other fats.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are inherently easier to oxidize than monounsaturated or saturated fatty acids, which makes them more sensitive to ROS.
More carbon-carbon double bonds means higher ROS sensitivity.
Higher PUFA concentration in cell membranes may increase sunburn sensitivity.
The idea is that higher PUFA concentrations in your skin cell membranes make you more sensitive to sunburn.
If there’s less dry kindling to burn, your cells will be able to tolerate more “small fires” ignited by UV light before the house burns down (skin cells die).
There is debate on whether dietary PUFAs significantly affect dermal photosensitivity.
Some say that it does and that by minimizing seed oil consumption you decrease your sensitivity to sunburn and therefore tolerate more sun exposure before burning.
Others find this idea preposterous.
Various substances, topical or ingested, can impact skin photosensitivity.
The ways in which materials that we ingest or apply to the skin surface influences skin’s ability to deal with it.
Certain medications and food components can affect skin photosensitivity.
Melanin concentration determines "UV tolerance".
The melanin concentration of skin effectively determines “UV tolerance,” which is basically how much UV you can handle before oxidative damage begins to “overflow” beyond what antioxidant systems can handle.
The more melanin in your skin, the less oxidative stress per unit time in sunlight, because some of that UV will be absorbed by melanin instead of causing direct damage or generating reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Sunlight can also stimulate antioxidant production.
Sunlight can also stimulate antioxidant production, not just oxidative stress.
Red and near-infrared light can stimulate mitochondria function the body, as these wavelengths penetrate beyond the skin.
Eumelanin and pheomelanin are the two primary forms of melanin.
Melanin in human skin primarily exists as eumelanin and pheomelanin, with eumelanin being the dominant form in most people.
Each is synthesized from amino acid precursors.
Eumelanin provides effective photoprotection.
Eumelanin is a brown-black pigment, highly effective at absorbing UV radiation, providing photoprotection.
It is the primary contributor to darker skin tones.
Pheomelanin is less effective at UV absorption and can contribute to UV-induced damage.
Pheomelanin is a reddish-yellow pigment, less effective at UV absorption, found in higher proportions in lighter skin and red hair.
It may contribute to UV-induced damage due to its photochemical properties.
Melanin protects skin by dissipating UV energy as heat and scavenging ROS.
By absorbing external UV light, melanin can protect skin by: Dissipating UV energy as heat, reducing DNA damage.
Scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UV.
Red-headed individuals are highly sensitive to light-induced oxidative skin damage.
This why red-headed individuals are very sensitive to light-induced oxidative skin damage, as they produce higher levels of pheomelanin compared to eumelanin.
Pheomelanin can actually elevate ROS production, triggering things like lipid peroxidation or DNA damage.
Increased eumelanin levels enhance sun tolerance.
Getting intermittent sunlight exposure such that eumelanin is boosted results in greater sun tolerance.
Increased melanin levels mean that more UV will be absorbed and dissipated rather than doing direct damage.
Melanin acts as a natural sunscreen produced within the skin.
Skin’s ability to change melanin levels in response to sunlight exposure enables our sunlight sensitivity, including sunburn propensity, to change in response to environmental conditions.
Melanin is basically a natural sunscreen produced within the skin.
Artificial sunscreens come in chemical and physical varieties.
Artificial sunscreens come in two general varieties.
“Chemical sunscreens” contain molecules that absorb UV photons; “physical sunscreens” contain minerals that reflect photons.
Most popular chemical sunscreens primarily block only UV light.
Most popular chemical sunscreens only block a narrow band of sunlight from your skin, mostly just UV.
The multibillion-dollar commercial sunscreen industry is geared towards chemical sunscreens that block narrow bands of sunlight and aren’t visible to the eye, driven by consumer spending patterns.
Non-UV light can also induce oxidative stress.
Many overlook that non-UV light can also induce oxidative stress.
What Zastrow showed was that, if you take skin and measure the free radicals, with exposure to the UV portion of the light spectrum, you get X [some amount of free radical production]. If you then take skin, block UV but exposing it to visible light, you get X again. There’s equal amounts of free radicals being generated from the visible light.
Commercial sunscreens may enable more overall oxidative stress by prolonging sun exposure.
In essence, commercial sunscreens help prevent you from UV-induced sunburns, allowing you to stay in strong, direct sunlight for longer.
In doing so, your skin is exposed to more sunlight overall, including oxidative stress-inducing wavelengths that your sunscreen does not block.
People tend to over-expose themselves to solar radiation when using sunscreen.
In the absence of sunburn as an unmistakable warning, applicants use to over-exposing themselves to solar radiation, sometimes up to 10 times longer.
As the standard commercial sunscreens, however, provide no protection in the VIS/IR spectral region, the free radicals being formed in this spectral region can easily overcome the critical radical concentration (FRTV).
Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is not strongly linked to sunlight exposure.
Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is not actually linked to sunlight exposure.
The evidence is thin.
Melanoma frequently occurs in areas of the body with minimal sun exposure.
Melanoma predominantly occurs in areas of the body with minimal sunlight exposure, unlike SCC and BCC, which are linked to sun-exposed regions.
Patients with solar elastosis, a sign of sun exposure, were 60% less likely to die from melanoma.
Outdoor workers have lower rates of melanoma compared to indoor workers.
Outdoor workers, despite significantly higher UV exposure, have lower rates of melanoma compared to indoor workers.
This is something which argues against sunlight being the primary issue as it has not significantly changed in the last few decades.
Widespread sunscreen use has not reduced skin cancer rates, and some contain carcinogens.
Many sunscreens contain toxic carcinogens (to the point Hawaii banned them to protect coral reefs).
Conversely, existing research indicates widespread sunscreen use has not reduced skin cancer rates.
Humans historically managed sun exposure using senses and natural methods.
Humans, like other creatures, have had to manage their sunlight exposure for a hell of a lot longer than commercial sunscreens have been available for purchase.
Under pre-industrial conditions, humans in traditional societies had a couple of basic, common sense options for dealing with intense daytime sun: Make intermittent use of shade when your senses tell you to (skin gets hot, starts to turn red).
Relying on sunscreen for prolonged intense sun exposure may lead to more overall oxidative stress.
If your use of sunscreen causes you to stay in intense, direct sunlight for far longer stretches of time than you would otherwise, then you may very well be taking on more overall oxidative stress within your tissues over time.
This is compared to if you used natural sensory feedback and intermittent sun-shade-seeking, rather than multi-hour stint of direct sun exposure while wearing sunscreen.