We’re reminded every day to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful UV rays to prevent sunburn, premature ageing and more importantly, decrease the risk of skin cancer. So, if it’s drilled into us constantly why would any of us even consider not using it?
Well that has to do with Vitamin D. Vitamin D is synthesised in our skin when it’s exposed sunlight, which is why its commonly known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’. Yet many of us are Vitamin D deficient; I’m talking 8 in 10 people in the UAE according to Dubai Health Authority. That’s a huge amount of people when you consider that the UAE is one of the sunniest regions in the world.
So why does it matter? Because insufficient levels of Vitamin D can result in all kinds of health problems, including Vitamin D deficiency related cancers, osteoporosis, depression, flus and many other illnesses.
Hang on, there are Vitamin D deficiency related cancers? Yet, when we use sunscreen, it blocks the skin’s ability to make Vitamin D. So, does that mean if I use sunscreen, I’m increasing my risk of cancer?
Dr. Michael Holick, MD, PhD, Professor of Physiology and Biophysics and the world’s leading authority on Vitamin D, says it’s about finding the right balance between our exposure to the sun and protection from it. Which is why he recommends Solar D, a sunscreen that enables the body to produce Vitamin D with no loss of protection.
Most sunscreens are designed to filter out the sun’s harmful rays, including the UVB light that our body needs to make vitamin D. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF 50 screens out up to 99% of the sun’s light reducing our skin’s ability to produce Vitamin D by up to 99%. Solar D allows SPF 15, SPF 30 and SPF 50 broad-spectrum sun protection to screen out the harmful rays while still allowing a small spectrum of sunlight to stimulate the natural production of vitamin D in our skin.
Solar D is a true breakthrough in skincare which took some very clever scientists’ years to develop. In fact, Solar D’s Vitamin D promoting technology is so unique and revolutionary they are the only sunscreens to ever be granted patents for this technology - a world first!
So now you can get out there, enjoy the sun, protect yourself from harmful rays and still get your Vitamin D boost!
Top tips for getting your fix!
- Spend more time outside – ideally between 11am to 3pm when UVB rays are strongest
- Spend 10 to 15 minutes, exposing arms and legs, two to three times a week
- Eat more fatty fish - cod liver oil, salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines
- Eat more Vitamin D-fortified foods - fortified orange juice, eggs, fortified cereals, mushrooms
- Add a vitamin supplement (consult your doctor first)
