According to the Vitamin D Council, the National Osteoporosis Society is heading its fifth Sunlight Campaign to increase awareness about the role vitamin D and sunlight play in bone health.

The National Osteoporosis Society, a UK based organization that promotes safe sun exposure as a way to get more vitamin D, recently conducted a survey of 600 people in that country and found that:

•    62% of the people surveyed know vitamin D is vital for optimal bone health.
•    200 respondents reported that the best way to get vitamin D is to go in the sun without sunscreen.¹

The National Osteoporosis Society is encouraged by the increasing awareness of vitamin D and bone health, but recognizes there is still a long way to go. A spokeswoman for the organization explained:

“Over 37% of people we questioned this year understood that you need to head outside without sunscreen in order to obtain your vitamin D, compared to only 6% of respondents three years ago, but there is still a lot of confusion and a lot of people still think that you should wear sunscreen.”¹

Exposure to the sun produces vitamin D that lasts twice as long as supplements in the system and is easily metabolized.  It is important to note that sunscreen should be applied immediately after vitamin D has been optimized through sun exposure.²

SkinHealth Technology’s Natural Vitamin D UV Activation Sensors gauge real-time UVB light intensity and indicate when an individual (with Type II Skin) has been fortified with vitamin D–before sunburn damage. Step Two Sheer Sunscreen is designed to provide instant UVA/UVB protection to the skin when applied as soon as the sensor indicates vitamin D optimization.²

1) http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/how-informed-are-you/
2) http://www.skinhealthtech.com

The true purpose of Memorial Day is to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. As you enjoy the day with your family—take time to talk about the true meaning of this patriotic day.

Celebrated the last Monday in May, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial kick-off of the summer season. The three-day weekend is a time for outdoor family gatherings, picnics and parades. Spending time in the sun is typically a part of the Memorial Day weekend, so it’s also time to make sure to purchase and use a broad spectrum sunscreen.

Broad spectrum means that the product protects from both the Ultra Violet B (UVB) and Ultra Violet A (UVA) rays of the sun. The UVB rays cause sunburn, while the UVA rays cause deeper, more long-term damage and may be responsible for certain skin cancers, such as melanoma.

Be aware that all ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreens are not equal. There are three ingredients to look for on the label to determine UVA protection: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and avobenzone. Both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide leave an unattractive white film on the skin. The most effective and cosmetically pleasing of the three is avobenzone at a concentration of 3%.

SkinHealth Technology offers a variety of true broad spectrum sunscreens containing Avobenzone.

Chances are if you are between the ages of 10 and 24 your next visit to the doctor will include a warning about the dangers of excessive sun exposure.

According to an article published this week by WebMD News, your doctor may give you (or your child) a gentle lecture about sun protection. The objective is for the doctor to appeal to your vanity to reduce sun exposure now and the risk of skin cancer later. ¹

The counseling sessions are a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The independent group of experts reviews evidence and makes recommendations about preventive health services.

According to the new recommendation doctors should:

• Conduct appearance-based behavioral counseling for their fair-skinned patients.
• Warn them of the ill effects of too much sun on their appearance.
• Encourage sun-safe behaviors such as wearing sunscreen and hats.¹

Why focus on appearance?

Appearance is very important to that age group. However, because “The outcome of skin cancer is so far down the road for them it’s not terribly relevant,” says Virginia A. Moyer, MD, MPH, chair of the task force and professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Although the recommendation is for fair-skinned individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 – because that’s where the evidence is strong and the studies have been done – Moyer says of older and darker-skinned people, “We certainly aren’t telling other people to ignore this.” ¹

The new recommendation is published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.¹

1) http://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/news/20120507/warning-youth-skin-cancer-with-vanity-appeal

According to Mercola.com, production of vitamin D3 in the skin varies by individual and depends upon several factors.

Each of the factors listed below can affect the production of vitamin D when trying to metabolize it naturally from the sun.
Skin color (including current tan level): Paler skin will hit an “equilibrium point” after about 20 minutes of exposure to UVB light, at which point vitamin D will no longer be produced. For darker skin, reaching this equilibrium point can take two to six times longer (or up to an hour or two), depending upon pigmentation.
Amount of time spent in the sun: A light-skinned person living far from the equator (such as in the UK or the northern U.S.) needs at least three 20 minute sessions per week, in bright midday sunlight and with few clothes. A dark-skinned person should be outside significantly longer and more often to get the same effect.
Weather conditions: Clouds can prevent some UV radiation from reaching the earth’s surface, but it is still possible to get sunburned on a cloudy day. This is especially true under light clouds, which can block infrared (heat) radiation but not UV radiation. Air pollution can also block UV radiation. This can be particularly true of cities surrounded by hills or mountains, which trap air pollution. Some types of ground cover reflect UV radiation, increasing its intensity even in deceptively shaded areas. These surfaces include sand, snow, and water.
Latitude: Sunlight is strongest at the equator, where the sun is directly overhead rather than at an angle. The UV radiation at the equator is about four times as strong at the equator as it is at the Arctic and Antarctic circles.
Altitude: UV radiation is also more intense at higher altitudes, because there is less atmosphere to absorb it. You will burn more easily at high altitudes — a fact that is often overlooked because it is usually colder at higher altitudes.
Season: Always start “priming” your skin early in the spring when the sun’s rays are still mild. In summer, avoiding being outside when the solar radiation is most intense is a good idea at most latitudes, to avoid sunburn. The winter is the time of year when you need to be most concerned about the amount of vitamin D you are receiving. Vitamin D levels can drop by up to 50 percent during winter months.
Time of Day: The optimal time to be in the sun for vitamin D production is as near to solar noon as possible. That would be between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. During this time you need the shortest exposure time to produce vitamin D because UVB rays are most intense.

You need to be very careful about the length of your exposure.  This may only be a few minutes for some. Once you’ve reached your equilibrium point your body will not make any additional vitamin D. Any additional exposure will only cause harm and damage to your skin.

1) http://www.mercola.com/