With summer fast approaching people are spending more time outside in the sun. We know that too much sun can be bad for you, but research also shows that we need some sun exposure in order to produce enough Vitamin D to maintain our health. In case you didn't know, Vitamin D helps us absorb calcium and build strong bones and helps us keep our immune and nervous system functioning at a healthy level. Too much sun, however, can cause skin damage, skin cancer and eye damage among other problems. So, the question is how do you enjoy being out in the sun, get enough sun for proper Vitamin D production, but not get so much sun exposure that it causes health problems. Constant sun screen application is not the answer as using sun screen too often will hamper the production of Vitamin D. The solution is to get 10 minuets of midday sun 2 times a week. This has been shown to allow the body produce the right amount of Vitamin D to for optimum health.

Now, for the time you spend in the sun that is more then 10-15 minuets a couple times a week here are some suggestions to protect yourself from too much sun exposure.

-Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and neck.

-Wear cloths such as long sleeved shirts that cover your skin. Preferably wear cloths that have high UV protection in the material.

-Try to avoid midday sun (between 10 a.m. and 4p.m.)

-Use sun screen with SPF 30 and above. Make sure to avoid sunscreens that have been shown to have carcinogens in them.

If you have any questions about this blog post, chiropractic, back pain, neck pain, or headaches I can be contacted at my Ann Arbor office at [email protected]