| The question about whether any sort of sun tan is | | | | - UV exposure is cumulative over a day. |
| safe is one that's asked constantly and brings a | | | | - UV radiation can't be felt; a hazy sky or water can |
| different answer depending on who you ask. | | | | enhance your exposure. |
| Recently U.S. and British researchers reviewed | | | | But don't we need some sun exposure? |
| published studies and noticed that both tans and skin | | | | The sun brings us light, heat and UV radiation, which |
| cancer start with changes to the DNA that comes | | | | aren't all bad. UVB rays from the sun help our bodies |
| from ultraviolet light. "The signals in the cells that | | | | convert precursor chemicals into vitamin D - giving us |
| induce sun tanning appear to be DNA damage," said | | | | about 90% of what we need. Deficiencies of vitamin |
| Dorothy Bennett, a cell biologist at St. George's | | | | D are very common, and without enough of this |
| University of London. She insists that anything that | | | | essential nutrient, you're at risk for developing many |
| causes mutations in the cells will increase your risk of | | | | serious diseases including osteoporosis and some |
| cancer. The link between skin cancer and tans that | | | | cancers, infectious disease and heart disease. |
| come from the sun or tanning booths is well | | | | "Sun is crucial to your overall physical and mental |
| documented, but the new study presents the idea | | | | well-being," says Dr. Michael F. Holick, author of The |
| that even a little bit of exposure of either kind can | | | | UV Advantage, and professor of Medicine, |
| be dangerous. | | | | Dermatology, Physiology and Biophysics at Boston |
| The World Health Organization estimates that 60,000 | | | | University Medical Center. Holick is the expert who |
| people die each year from exposure to too much | | | | uncovered evidence that vitamin D is produced by |
| ultraviolet light. According to the information provided | | | | sun exposure and is necessary to say healthy. |
| on the site, "A large number of studies indicate that | | | | So what to do? Too much sun exposure increases |
| the risk of malignant melanoma correlates with | | | | your skin cancer risk, too little puts you at risk for |
| genetic and personal characteristics, and a person's | | | | not having the vitamin D your body needs. |
| UV exposure behaviour." | | | | Here's the way to strike a balance: |
| Beyond the skin cancer risk, exposure to the sun | | | | - Get natural sunlight in the off peak hours - early |
| speeds up aging, cataracts and other eye problems, | | | | morning or later in the afternoon. Be sure to apply |
| and may even reduce the effectiveness of the | | | | (and re-apply) any sunscreen you use when you're |
| immune system. | | | | out in the sun during peak hours - 10:00 am to 2:00 |
| Here are some surprising things you might want to | | | | pm. |
| know about sun tanning: | | | | - Avoid tanning beds and the risks of UV exposure |
| - Your tan is your body's defense against further UV | | | | (and DNA damage), especially important for younger |
| damage. | | | | women. |
| - The protection of sunscreens depends more than | | | | - Get that golden, sun tan glow from sunless tanning |
| anything on applying them correctly. | | | | products that are safe to use (they don't enter the |
| - A deep tan only provides an estimated SPF of 4. | | | | body) so long as you follow the package directions. |