Contrary to received wisdom, a new study has reported that sunbathing might actually be good for you, as the body needs the vitamin D it helps provide. Many people in the UK are not getting enough of the vitami, and such a deficiency can result in a range of health problems .
A group of leading health groups and charities, Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK, the National Heart Forum, the British Association of Dermatologists, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Osteoporosis Society and the Primary Care Dermatology Society have issued a statement to try to end the confusion about the levels of sunlight that it is safe to be exposed to.
The groups argue that you should go out in the sun for 10 minutes about midday during the summer months when the sun is strongest and can trigger the body into making vitamin D. However, they did emphasis that you shouldn’t stay out too long and get burnt.
Concerns about too much sunlight and skin cancer has led many people to avoid the sun at all costs, so much so that there has been a re-emergence of the bone disease, rickets, which was last seen in the early 20th Century.
Peter Johnso, chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, said “It is important to strike the right balance with the risk of skin cancer and vitamin D deficiency. This statement is designed to bring some sort of clarity.” The message, then, is little and frequent sun exposure is a good thing.

Get our free newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest news, research and breakthroughs.

You May Also Like

Coronavirus: UK instructed to stay at home this weekend

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that staying at home this weekend…

Type 2 diabetes found to be a ‘significant risk factor’ among stroke victims

More evidence has been published which supports that diabetes is a “significant…

Twice daily dairy intakes could reduce type 2 diabetes risk

Eating cheese, yoghurt or eggs twice a day could help lower the…