Comments on: TV Health Complaints and Vitamin D http://www.healthexplored.com/tv-health-complaints-and-vitamin-d/ Health Guides involving all types of therapies Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:43:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Bill http://www.healthexplored.com/tv-health-complaints-and-vitamin-d/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Bill Sat, 10 May 2008 13:08:00 +0000 http://hxp2.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/tv-health-complaints-and-vitamin-d/#comment-12 "It pointed out the dangers of sunbeds (absolutely correct) but then told us to stay out of the sun or use high-factor sunscreens."<br/><br/>This phrase leaves me wondering how to respond. It's almost like asking, "when did you stop beating your wife?"<br/><br/>What about sunbeds, exactly, is it that makes you feel they are more dangerous than sun exposure? Is it the UV output? UV is UV. The majority of sunbeds are very similar in UVA/UVB ratio to the sun. Times are regulated and not varied based on time of day, cloud cover, etc. A person starting out in a sunbed is encouraged to start slowly without burning. I could go on, but hopefully, you get my point. Anything (sunbed or sun) has potential for abuse. Used properly, sunbeds are no more dangerous than the sun.<br/><br/>Now, on to the rest of your post, I agree almost completely. However, consider this: If you get regular UV exposure, whether from the sun or from a sunbed, you will begin to develop a tan. This pigmentation is your body's natural way to protect itself from overexposure to UV. If you start out at 15 minutes of unscreened exposure, you are getting some vitamin D produced in the skin. Once your skin begins to darken, it will require more and more exposure to get the same amount of vitamin D production. The darker you get, the longer the exposure time required to get an equal amount of vitamin D.<br/><br/>Also, it depends on time of day, latitude, cloud cover, season, etc., etc. A sunbed is roughly the same amount of exposure every day.<br/><br/>Get out in the outside. Get some sun, some outdoor exercise, run, jump, play, etc. It's good for you. But, when you can't, go check out a tanning salon (solarium to you Brits ;)). “It pointed out the dangers of sunbeds (absolutely correct) but then told us to stay out of the sun or use high-factor sunscreens.”

This phrase leaves me wondering how to respond. It’s almost like asking, “when did you stop beating your wife?”

What about sunbeds, exactly, is it that makes you feel they are more dangerous than sun exposure? Is it the UV output? UV is UV. The majority of sunbeds are very similar in UVA/UVB ratio to the sun. Times are regulated and not varied based on time of day, cloud cover, etc. A person starting out in a sunbed is encouraged to start slowly without burning. I could go on, but hopefully, you get my point. Anything (sunbed or sun) has potential for abuse. Used properly, sunbeds are no more dangerous than the sun.

Now, on to the rest of your post, I agree almost completely. However, consider this: If you get regular UV exposure, whether from the sun or from a sunbed, you will begin to develop a tan. This pigmentation is your body’s natural way to protect itself from overexposure to UV. If you start out at 15 minutes of unscreened exposure, you are getting some vitamin D produced in the skin. Once your skin begins to darken, it will require more and more exposure to get the same amount of vitamin D production. The darker you get, the longer the exposure time required to get an equal amount of vitamin D.

Also, it depends on time of day, latitude, cloud cover, season, etc., etc. A sunbed is roughly the same amount of exposure every day.

Get out in the outside. Get some sun, some outdoor exercise, run, jump, play, etc. It’s good for you. But, when you can’t, go check out a tanning salon (solarium to you Brits ;) ).

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