Commercials and the media today have us all in panic not to leave the house until we have slopped on layers of sun block, demonizing the sun as the biggest contributor to skin cancer, which actually is one of the many things that effectively fight cancer. I have often wondered what is in most sun blocks, and what else could it be doing to my body other than preventing a sun burn, which not always works. Much of this curiosity hit me after I had realized how permeable our skin is. I do understand that too much sun is not good, we do not want the skin to become burned, and if you are planning to be in the sun for long periods of time, it is very wise to use sun protection, but slopping on layers on sun block every time we leave the house concerns me.
The sun is the absolute best way our bodies receive the amount of vitamin D it needs to maintain optimal health. Sun block does more than prevent sun burn; it also prevents your skin from producing the very important vitamin D, which to me seems like a complete waste of sun exposure. The most natural skin care treatment one can receive is from the sun. The right amount of sun exposure is very critical for not just healthier skin, but a healthier immune system as well.
In just the past 10 years alone many scientists have been exploring vitamin D more and more rapidly, and are amazed how it affects the body. Some experts suggest that over 80% of children and adults are deficient in vitamin D, which deficiency in vitamin D causes the immune system to not do its job properly.
Vitamin D helps the body produce over 200 antimicrobial peptides that fight off infections such as Crohn’s disease. Vitamin D also helps prevent and treat many cancers such as lymphoma, lung, prostate, colon and skin cancer. Scientist and Doctors are beginning to discover more and more benefits of vitamin D, and are encouraging more so today than ever before, not just those who are deficient, but everyone to get their vitamin D levels checked 3-4 times a year.
You may live in an area where you cannot receive the right amount of vitamin D from the sun and are deficient. If this is the case you can take vitamin D supplements, but want to be careful you are receiving the right amount. When receiving vitamin D naturally from the sun the body self regulates the amount it needs through the skin. The body does not do this when taking vitamin D orally. Too much vitamin D can be harmful which is why it is very important to have your blood tested. The optimal level of vitamin D should be between 55-65 ng/ml. There are two different test available, 1, 25 (OH) D, and 25(OH) D. The 25 (OH) D which is also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D is most recommended by doctors as the better marker for vitamin D status.
Most important things to consider when wanting to obtain vitamin D naturally from the sun, is common sense, “don’t overdo it”! For the first few times being exposed to the sun limit yourself to about fifteen minutes or so, before protecting your skin from the sun’s rays, gradually build a tolerance. By midsummer you can spend nearly an entire day outside without getting sunburn, and of course if you are going to be exposed to extreme sun conditions for great lengths of time, then yes, protect your skin, whether it is wearing a hat, clothing, or using a natural sun screen, that is free from harmful chemicals.