Thread: Vitamin D/Sunscreen Contorversy

Wearing sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer and premature aging ... OR ... getting the benefits (strong bones, etc.) of Vitamin D by tanning?

Seems we're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

What are your thoughts on this?

Originally Posted by LuLu

Wearing sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer and premature aging ... OR ... getting the benefits (strong bones, etc.) of Vitamin D by tanning?

Seems we're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

What are your thoughts on this?

Too much of anything is not good for you, or a little bit of what you fancy does you good.

The "experts" say 15 minutes a day in the sun will give you what you need to manufacture vitamin D. Get your sun before applying the sunscreen.

From what I heard, one should apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out into the sun. So if you apply right before you go out, does that mean it'll take effect in about 20 minutes and you'll get your dose of D in the meantime?

Good question, Patty! I would guess that you would get some, but not 15 minutes worth.

When I'm going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time (beach/catamaran), I apply waterproof sunscreen to some parts of my body before I put on my bathing suit. I leave areas (arms/legs) that are easy to reach until later.

The only place I ALWAYS wear mosture lotion with sunscreen year'round is my face.

The sun is the best source of Vitamin D!

For my last trip, I was given orders from my dermatologist to use sunscreen with at least 30 SPF because she prescribed an antibiotic (tetracycline) that causes more sensistivity to the sun where it is applied. I forgot to do that in San Francisco because it was cloudy, but later, I had it on every day.

I think the problem here is many people are so addicted to unhealthy drinks (soda, bottled water, beer, and energy drinks), that they don't think once about drinking milk. One doctor told me Vitamin D is not added to dairy products, so you have to drink milk to get it. Another doctor said I need four glasses of milk a day to avoid evil calcium supplements. Another doctor prescribed D3 gelcaps (one pill per week). So apply sunscreen and drink lots of milk. Ask your doctor if you need Vitamin D3 supplements before you travel. Problem solved.

If you are planning on spending hours relaxing and playing at a beach, you better have the best waterproof sunblock you can find and put it everywhere. The last time I wore my suit I lost my bag and towel, so I got severe sunburns on my shoulders, back, hips, and legs while my mom spent an hour looking for them. Making matters worse, I got heat burns on my feet by walking too much on hot concrete. Chances are that can happen to you on the hot sand.