Sunscreen, Shade and Sunblock - What About My Vitamin D?

With the summer months approaching and more and more reminders for sunscreen being seen, many patients ask us, "don't I need sun exposure for vitamin D?" It's true. UV light converts cholesterol in the skin to vitamin D, which helps strengthen bones and can protect against various cancers, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.

However, a fair-skinned person in shorts and a tank top can get sufficient exposure for vitamin D in less than 10 minutes on a sunny day. Darker-skinned people may need up to an hour to get the same levels. Wearing sunscreen reduces the skin's ability to create vitamin D; however, we can safely get it through many foods such as fish, liver, cheese and fortified cereals, and in multivitamins and supplements.Chose a safe route to get your Vitamin D and stay safe in the sun over the summer!

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/04/22/2160311/skin-cancer-usually-easily-treated.html#storylink=cpy