May 23, 05 | 2:00 pm

U.V. Rays, Are They Good or Bad?

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Exposure to sunlight

Did you all see the segment on U.V. Rays and vitamin D on The Today Show this morning?

It is not recommended to be in direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. So, I suppose that we all will just hang out inside all summer long… Didn’t think so. There are plenty of precautions that we can take for ourselves and our families to ensure a safe, fun summer without the worry of overexposure to ultra violet rays. First, we should wear a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protector Factor) of 15 or more.

Artifical Tanning

Researchers say that ten minutes in a tanning bed or booth is about the equivalent of one hour in the sun. If you've ever been in a tanning bed, you know that it cannot be good for you. The lights are intense enough to turn your skin an entirely different shade within minutes--results like that don't come without consequences.

Other express, sunless tanning products like those from G.M. Collin Paris are much healthier and comfortable ways to tan.

U.V. rays are good for us?

According to the American Cancer Society, one study, led by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, found that people who got lots of sun exposure through sunbathing or vacations in sunny places were less likely to develop lymphoma than people who stayed out of the sun. The other, led by researchers at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, found that people with melanoma were less likely to die from the disease if they had had lots of sun exposure.

Vitamin D a Possible Explanation

Both groups of researchers say sunlight's influence on vitamin D may provide one possible explanation for the results. But the theory is still just that: a theory.

Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that is found in certain foods like salmon, tuna, liver, and fortified milk, cereals, and orange juice. Sunlight is another source; the UV rays stimulate the skin to produce it.

We all need vitamin D to keep our bones healthy and strong. But it also seems to have an effect on the immune system and on how cells grow and change -- and that action may influence the development of some types of cancer.

Sun exposure was thought to raise lymphoma risk because people who have had some types of skin cancer are also more likely to get lymphoma. But the University of New Mexico study showed just the opposite: Sun exposure seemed to have a protective effect.

It is really too early for experts to come to definite conclusions, at this point. We all should continue to use the recommended precautions and follow the common proverb, "Too much of anything is not good for you."

Don't Get Burned

Until more is known, it's important to keep protecting yourself from too much sun, however getting enough vitamin D is also important.

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Sources:

The American Cancer Society

The Today Show NBC

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