We all love
vitamin D and a summer glow, but rays from natural sunlight and tanning beds
can have some unintended long-term effects.
Harmful side effects from UVA and UVB rays can include: skin and eye cancer,
accelerated aging of the skin including thin skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and
liver spots, skin rashes from medication interactions with UV rays, aggravation
of autoimmune diseases, and cataracts.
Some tips
to stay safe in the sun include:
1. SUNSCREEN!
2. Cover yourself up – wear clothes,
especially long sleeves and pants with SPF protection built in. Don't forget to wear sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection as well!
3. Stay in the shade – especially
during peak sunlight hours
4. Use self-tanner or bronzer – but know
that they do not offer any protection from the sun! Don’t let that glowing skin fool you - it's not like a tan.
5. Eat beta-carotene – Present in carrots,
yellow and orange squashes, cantaloupe, and other similarly colored fruits and
vegetables, beta-carotene can give you a golden hue.
Looking for
vitamin D in other places? Tuna, salmon,
and other fatty fish as well as supplement foods like milk and cereals are a
safer way to get your vitamin D. If you
have low vitamin D, contact your doctor or nutritionist for information on how
to safely supplement.
This post was inspired by: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/27/skin-cancer-americans_n_1545757.html?ref=health-news&ir=Health%20News
HAVE FUN THIS SUMMER!
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