How Important Is Sunscreen? Read This Article Before You Spend Your Weekend In The Sun.
Exposure to the sun is the best way to get your vitamin D, and several studies show that those who shun the rays are at much greater risk of developing vitamin D deficiencies. Yet national guidelines encourage us to lather on sunscreen or avoid the sun to decrease the risk of developing skin cancer. Ironically, this recommendation may be doing more damage than good — not enough vitamin D can actually increase your risk of other types of cancer. So how do we find the balance between getting enough vitamin D without developing skin cancer? The answer may literally be skin deep; the color of your coating determines the tipping point between health benefit and health risk.
