Many doctors have been telling their patients for years to avoid sun exposure and to use block when they are in the sun.  Is this a sound recommendation?

Avoiding sun exposure limits your critical vitamin D supply. Avoiding disease protecting vitamin D can have serious health consequences.  Vitamin D is protective of 16 types of cancer including melanoma. Vitamin D improves brain function, cardiovascular health, bone health, and lowers your death risk. In fact, sun avoiders live ½- 2 years shorter!

Vitamin D also improves quality of life issues like mood and sleep.

What to do?

Try to get 15-20 minutes of mid- day sun exposure with large areas exposed, NO SUN BLOCK! Avoid burning, use hats to prevent facial damage. If necessary, Zinc oxide is safer than sun blocks for facial protection if needed.