I always found it strange how everyone insisted I stay away from the sun and use sunscreen during outdoor activities, as I personally enjoyed the feeling of sunlight and noticed that it made my veins dilate, suggesting my body needed sunlight. Later on, I discovered that blocking natural light with glass, such as windows or eyeglasses, had a significant impact on health, and many people benefited from using specialized glass that allowed the full light spectrum to pass through.
This connects to one of my favorite therapeutic methods, ultraviolet blood irradiation, which offers a wide range of incredible benefits by introducing the sun’s ultraviolet light into the body.
During my time in medical school, I was surprised by dermatologists’ strong opposition to sunlight. Patients were constantly advised to avoid sunlight, and even in regions with limited sunlight, dermatologists required students to wear sunscreen and cover up indoors.
This made me question why dermatologists were so against sunlight and what was wrong with their perspective.
A comment I received perfectly reflects the dysfunctional state of affairs.
The Monopolization of Medicine
Throughout my life, I’ve observed that the medical industry tends to promote healthy activities that people are unlikely to engage in, while endorsing unhealthy activities that benefit certain industries. They also tend to discourage beneficial activities that are easy to do, such as sun exposure or consuming certain foods.
This issue seems to stem from the controversial history of the American Medical Association (AMA). In 1899, the AMA revitalized itself by offering its seal of approval to manufacturers who disclosed their ingredients and advertised in AMA publications. This move significantly increased the organization’s revenue and membership.
The AMA then monopolized medicine by becoming the national accrediting body for medical schools, effectively eliminating the teaching of alternative medical practices. They also used the media to promote campaigns against medical practices they deemed as “quackery” and mobilized regulatory bodies against competitors.
This monopolistic behavior continues to this day, with instances of suppressing medical innovations and discrediting alternative treatments. The AMA’s tactics to bury certain therapies are evident in history and continue to impact medical practices today.
The Benefits of Sunlight
Sunlight exposure has long been recognized as a therapeutic tool in medicine, having successfully treated various diseases throughout history. Despite its proven benefits, there has been a concerted effort to limit public access to sunlight, possibly due to the lack of financial interests in promoting it.
Sunlight has been shown to have significant benefits for mental health, cancer prevention, longevity, and heart health. However, the campaign against sunlight has been so effective that many people are unaware of its advantages.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a common concern, with UV exposure being a preventable risk factor. Organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Cancer Foundation emphasize the importance of sun protection to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, primarily caused by sun exposure. While it rarely spreads and has a low fatality rate, it often recurs after removal, necessitating repeated surgeries.
Overall, the discussion highlights the complex relationship between sunlight, health, and the medical industry, shedding light on the importance of informed decision-making regarding sun exposure and skin health. Alternative treatments can effectively manage large BCCs without the need for disfiguring surgery. It is important to note that while there have been some rare cases of BCC metastasizing in vaccinated individuals since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, the occurrence is still extremely uncommon.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is the second most prevalent type of skin cancer in the United States, with an estimated 1.8 million cases. The incidence of SCC varies due to exposure to sunlight, ranging from 260 to 4,970 cases per million person-years. Unlike BCC, SCC has the potential to metastasize, making it a more dangerous form of skin cancer. Early removal of SCC can result in a survival rate of 99%, dropping to 56% after metastasis. Around 2,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. due to SCC.
Melanoma, with an annual occurrence rate of 218 cases per million individuals in the U.S., is responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths despite comprising only 1% of all skin cancer diagnoses. Early detection is crucial for improving survival rates for melanoma. Contrary to common belief, melanoma is not solely linked to sunlight exposure, as evidenced by various studies.
In addition to these common skin cancers, there are other rare types that are not associated with sunlight exposure. It is essential to understand the distinctions between different skin cancers and their respective risks.
Dermatology has evolved over the years, with dermatologists now being highly sought-after and well-compensated professionals. The increase in skin cancer awareness has led to a rise in screenings and diagnoses, often driven by public fears surrounding sun exposure. It is important to seek multiple opinions from dermatologists and consider alternative treatments when dealing with skin cancer. Junto a esto, hubo una expansión significativa en la increíblemente lucrativa cirugía micrográfica de Mohs, promocionada como el estándar de oro para tratar cánceres de piel debido a su precisión y eficacia en la preservación de tejido sano.
Sin embargo, los críticos argumentan que la cirugía de Mohs a menudo se utiliza en exceso, motivada por incentivos financieros en lugar de necesidad clínica, lo que contribuye a costos de atención médica inmensos.
La comercialización de la dermatología se vio aún más amplificada por la entrada de firmas de capital privado en el campo. Estas firmas adquirieron prácticas dermatológicas, a veces contratando a proveedores no médicos para maximizar la rentabilidad.
Este cambio suscitó preocupaciones sobre la calidad de la atención, con informes de diagnósticos erróneos y sobretratamiento, especialmente en poblaciones vulnerables como residentes de hogares de ancianos, al punto de que el New York Times publicó una investigación en 2017 sobre esta industria explotadora.
Además, el cambio hacia modelos impulsados por el lucro en dermatología ha generado debates éticos dentro de la comunidad médica. Algunos dermatólogos han expresado preocupaciones sobre la mercantilización de los tratamientos contra el cáncer de piel y la erosión de las relaciones tradicionales médico-paciente a favor de interacciones más transaccionales. A pesar de estos desafíos, la dermatología sigue siendo un campo lucrativo, atrayendo tanto a profesionales de la medicina como a inversores en busca de ganancias financieras en servicios de cuidado de la piel.
Muchos, a su vez, son víctimas de estas prácticas explotadoras. El popular comediante Jimmy Dore, por ejemplo, recientemente cubrió la Gran Estafa de la Dermatología después de darse cuenta de que había sido sometido a ella.
Cambios en el Cáncer de Piel
Dado el gasto considerable para acabar con el cáncer de piel, uno esperaría algunos resultados. Desafortunadamente, como en muchos otros aspectos de la industria del cáncer, eso no ha sucedido. En cambio, se diagnostican más y más cánceres (previamente benignos), pero en su mayor parte, no ha ocurrido un cambio significativo en la tasa de mortalidad.
La mejor prueba de esto provino de un estudio que encontró que casi todo el aumento en el “cáncer de piel” provenía de melanomas en etapa 1 (que rara vez causan problemas).
Otro estudio ilustra exactamente lo que ha logrado nuestra guerra contra el cáncer de piel.
Finalmente, dado que muchos sospechaban que las vacunas COVID podrían llevar a un aumento de melanomas (u otros cánceres de piel), compilé todos los informes anuales disponibles de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer en algunos gráficos.
Conclusión
La necesidad de la dermatología de crear un villano (el sol) para justificar su racket es, argumentablemente, una de las cosas más perjudiciales que la profesión médica ha hecho al mundo. Afortunadamente, la codicia insaciable de la industria médica llegó demasiado lejos durante COVID-19, y el público ahora está empezando a cuestionar muchas de las otras prácticas explotadoras y no científicas a las que estamos sujetos, y es mi sincera esperanza que nuestra sociedad comience a reexaminar la desastrosa guerra de la dermatología contra el sol.
Nota del autor: Esta es una versión abreviada de un artículo completo que también discute formas más seguras de tratar o prevenir el cáncer de piel y los enfoques nutricionales (por ejemplo, evitando aceites de semillas) que facilitan una exposición al sol saludable. Para leer el artículo completo con detalles y fuentes más específicos, haga clic aquí.
Sobre el autor
Un Médico del Medio Oeste (AMD) es un médico certificado en el Medio Oeste y un lector de Mercola.com de toda la vida. Aprecio su visión excepcional sobre una amplia gama de temas y me siento agradecido de compartirla. También respeto su deseo de permanecer en el anonimato ya que todavía está en primera línea tratando a pacientes. Para encontrar más trabajos de AMD, asegúrese de consultar El Lado Olvidado de la Medicina en Substack.