It’s no secret that over-exposure to the sun can be bad for your health. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages the skin, aging it prematurely and increasing the risk of skin cancer.
There are two types of ultraviolet radiation:
- UVB rays lead to sunburn and play a key role in developing skin cancer.
- UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and are the culprit for wrinkling, sagging and leathering. They also worsen the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays.
Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB rays.
What About The Benefits of the Sun?
The same UVB wavelengths that sunscreens block also kick off the chemical reaction that produces vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential to and can boost your immune system to help fight off disease, boost metabolism and prevent bone disease.
What the Experts Say – The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use sunscreen:
- with broad-spectrum protection ( from UVA and UVB rays).
- an SPF of 30 or higher.
- that is water resistant.
They also urge seeking vitamin D through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements.
The Vitamin D Council recommends:
- getting half the amount of sun exposure that it takes for your skin to turn pink. You don’t need to tan or burn your skin to get vitamin D.
- covering up to prevent too much sun exposure is an important step in protecting yourself from skin cancer.