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Sensible sun exposure is good for health

By JOE GRAEDON and TERESA GRAEDON
Published April 25, 2006

Decades ago, there were few effective sunscreens. If you spent too much time in the sun, you were bound to burn. That's why farmers wore hats and long sleeves, vacationers took umbrellas to the beach, and lifeguards put white zinc oxide on their noses, which stuck out from beneath their hats.

Now, the chemicals in most sunscreens prevent you from sunburn despite hours in the sun. Because of this protection, people spend more time biking, swimming, gardening or golfing.

Just because you don't burn does not mean your skin is safe. The lawsuit against the makers of Banana Boat, BullFrog, Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic and Neutrogena brand sunscreens claims that longer ultraviolet-A rays still can damage skin. UV-A is associated with skin cancer, wrinkling and aging. The lawsuit states that despite the increasing use of sunscreen, skin cancer has been rising at an alarming rate.

Consumers are understandably confused as to what protection they are receiving.

To make matters even more baffling, scientists have announced new benefits from vitamin D, the so-called sunshine vitamin. Two studies have found that women who have the highest levels of vitamin D have the lowest risk of breast cancer. Exposure during adolescence seemed to reduce adults' risk of breast cancer by 25 to 45 percent.

These new studies confirm previous research suggesting that cancers of the colon, breast, prostate and lung are less common among people who get regular sun exposure. It's hard to get adequate amounts of vitamin D just from the diet, because the amount is small in fortified milk or fish such as salmon, tuna or sardines.

Vitamin D also may help protect people from developing type 2 diabetes (Diabetes Care, March 2006). A large study followed the diets and health habits of more than 80,000 women for 20 years. Women who got the most vitamin D and calcium were least likely to develop this condition.

What should consumers do with this conflicting information?

Dermatologists say excess sun exposure is harmful but some vitamin D is beneficial. Sunscreen can keep the skin from making vitamin D, but it might not provide adequate protection from skin cancer.

One possible way out of the dilemma is to be sensible about exposure. As little as 10 or 15 minutes of sun on arms and face three or four times a week without sunscreen should provide enough vitamin D. The alternative: Take vitamin supplements adding up to approximately 1,000 IU daily.

But if you will be out in the sun, after 10 minutes' exposure, make sure you have complete protection from harmful solar rays. Look for a sunblock containing zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both. Choices include Blue Lizard Australian Suncream, Solbar Zinc or Vanicream.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthro-pology and is a nutrition expert. Write to them c/o the St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-1121, or e-mail their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.

[Last modified April 25, 2006, 07:21:53]