Tuesday, 5 June 2012 (addition 31 May 2016)
Sunshine, Vitamin D, Sunbathing and Sunscreen
Revised Sunbathing advice: Get out in the sun between 10am and 2pm to get the most from the protective UVB rays. Ref: Dr William Grant, UK, Robyn Lucas, epidemiologist ANU, Canberra.
Vitamin D helps build bones which protects against bone density problems (rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis). It also supports the immune system in cancer prevention. It is especially important for pregnant women to ensure optimal foetal development.Research continues to discover more and more ways that vitamin D supports optimal physiological functioning.
However, research is showing many people have vitamin D deficiency because they don't get enough sunshine. The darker your skin the more sun exposure you will need to avoid vitamin D deficiency.
Reasons below
- UVB protective rays are more intense around noon so a shorter exposure time is required.
- UVB protective rays are filtered out much more than UVA when the sun is low.
- UVB rays are safer and can be beneficial with short term exposure.
- Squamous cell carcinoma (less serious, easier treated, rarely fatal) is linked to lifetime UVB irradiants
- Melanoma is linked to lifetime UVA irradiants or sporadic sunburn in youth.
- UVA rays before 10am and after 2pm are highly correlated with melanoma.
Ref. Natural Health Summer magazine 2009/10