The sun: friend or foe?

Doctors, health professionals, advertisements, beauty experts, have always told us that staying in the sun will cause skin cancer.  On the other hand, health professionals are now suggesting exposure to sunlight every day to get adequate vitamin D.  The truth lies somewhere in between.


Long-term, excessive exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of certain types of skin cancer.  However, moderate sun exposure significantly decreases the risk of melanoma (a more deadly form of skin cancer.) 


Hence, moderate sun exposure is the key.  In fact, moderate sun exposure is less dangerous than sporadic sun exposure.
But what about sunscreen?  


First, one of the most widely used chemicals in sunscreens is titanium dioxide (at the nanoparticle level), which may actually cause premature ageing of the skin and skin cancer. 


Secondly, research shows continuous application of sunscreen can lead to development of resistance and harm the body’s natural ability to handle sunlight.


Let’s talk about UV (which stands for ultraviolet light), something we hear a lot about but perhaps not in enough detail.  Sunlight comes in two main wavelengths: UVA and UVB. 
UVB is the "good guy" as it helps your skin produce vitamin D.  UVA is the "bad guy" because it penetrates your skin more deeply and can cause free radical damage. 


UVA (bad guy) rays are quite constant during all the hours of daylight throughout the entire year.  By comparison, UVB (good guy) waves are low in morning and evening and high at midday.


So, if you're in the sun early in the morning or late in the day, you get lots of UVA (bad guy) and not much UVB (good guy). Not a good way to produce vitamin D.  Plus you increase the risk of cancer.  What's more, even on a cloudy day, UVA (bad guy) can break through cloud cover and pollution and do some real damage your skin.


Interestingly, most sunscreens protect more against UVB (good guy) than UVA (bad guy). The sun protection factor, or SPF, that we find mentioned on sunscreens refers to protection against UVB (good guy).  Even sunscreens with a high SPF protect mostly against UVB (good guy). 


Confusing?  Yes.  So what’s the best way to get more UVB (good guy) and less UVA (bad guy)?  Go under the sun in late morning or early afternoon for 10 minutes or so, every day if possible, preferably without sunscreen.  Or apply sunscreen in the beginning and ease off as you become more tan (i.e. produce more melanin).  Melanin will give you natural protection.