Skin Cancer risk and vitamin D requirements

[phil the bread]

With the general population in the Northern hemisphere in the winter being vitamin D deficient and the best way to get levels up is exposure to sunlight does wearing sun cream reduce the production of vitamin D?What is the best balance to ensure vitamin levels and ensure skin protection?

[Dr Juber Hafiji]

Hi there,

Great question!

You don't actually need to be in the sun long to have vitamin D activation for the body to use. If you're fair skinned, being outside for 10 minutes in the midday sun—in shorts and a tank top with no sunscreen would give you 10,000 international units which isn't bad. Obviously if you are darker skinned and or covered, then being outside for 10 mins may not be enough.

There is no doubt that we have a Tsunami of skin cancer in the UK with rates exponentially rising over the last 30 yrs. The reasons for this are many - ageing population, increasing awareness, people travelling more, unregulated sun bed industry. We know that acute intermittent episodes of sun burn and the chronic sun exposure over time causes DNA damage to the skin and potentially put an individual of developing skin cancer later in life.

So, the punch line is Use adequate sun protection measures and have your vitamin D levels checked with your GP and supplement if required.

Hope that helps!

Dr Juber Hafiji