We’ve all heard sunshine is good for your health.
How Much Sunshine Is Healthy?
Turns out, it’s 15 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen 3 times a week.
How Much Sunshine Is Not Healthy?
More than 15 minutes of sun without sunscreen and you’ll end up with premature aging.
Dr. Melissa Piliang (pronounced Pill-ee-ang) of Cleveland Clinic says areas that should be covered at ALL times include:
FACE
“Face, chest, back of hands are places too – that you can get a lot of sun just running and out of stores, to and from your car, to your mailbox; those kinds of situations.” [:10]
What Does 15 Minutes of Healthy Sunlight Do?
It activates Vitamin D in your body. After activation, it functions as a hormone. The active form of Vitamin D is called D3 or cholecalciferol.
Vitamin D is vital for mental health, age-related cognitive decline, mood, cardiovascular health and strong bones. D3 supports calcium absorption and your immune system.
You get vitamin D3 from foods such as mushrooms, orange juice fortified with calcium/D, milk, fortified soy products, fish or supplements.
What If You Can’t Avoid Sun More Than 15 Min.?
If you need to be exposed to the sun more than 15 minutes Dr. Piliang says to use sunscreen liberally. Everyone should make sun protection a part of their everyday routine, even while running errands –not just when you go to the beach or pool.
“For people who are worried about sun exposure on their head, a hat is helpful. And actually a hat is very helpful for everyone because it protects the face, the head, and the top of the ears.” [:15]
If you see new moles or ones that change shape make sure to get them checked.
Again, people with exposed scalps should always use sunscreen there or wear a hat.
See a dermatologist if you have any concerns.
You can now safely say, “Good Morning, Sunshine!” 15 min. 3x’s a week.
THEN, IT’S “HELLO SUNSCREEN!” 😀
YOU CAN PREVENT SKIN CANCER BY TAKING THESE PRECAUTIONS.
Most of us think to pack the sunscreen when heading outdoors into the sun, but we might not always remember to grab a pair of shades.
According to Reecha Kampani, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinic, putting on sunglasses is more than a fashion statement.
She says protecting eyes from ultraviolet rays is just as important as using sunscreen to protect the skin.
”UV protection is good for all kinds of structures of the eye, like the eyelids, the cornea, conjunctiva, the lenses and retina tissue itself,” says Dr. Kampani. ”You can get damage and changes of the eye with exposure to UV light, so protection is very important.”
Dr. Kampani says it is actually possible to get a sunburn on the eyelids and while rare, if exposed to too much UV light, the cornea, which is the clear tissue over the eye, can get a thermal burn, which can be very painful.
“Long-term exposure to UV light can lead to the formation of cataracts or macular degeneration.”
Dr. Kampani recommends wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat even on moderately sunny or overcast days, to make sure eyes are protected.
Wrap-around sunglasses are best if heading out in the sun all day, as they can keep light from coming in through the top and the sides of the glasses.
The good news is that people dont have to spend a fortune to keep their eyes protected.
Dr. Kampani says buying discounted sunglasses is fine, but its a good idea to replace inexpensive glasses yearly.
”If you’re buying lenses that are at more discounted places, thats fine, said Dr. Kampani. A lot of times they still do have full protection, but you have to keep in mind that it could be something thats more temporary, like a spray-on coating, that wont last as long.”
Dr. Kampani says it’s also a good idea to keep in mind that artificial UV light, like the kind that is found in tanning beds, is just as bad for the eyes as it is for the skin.
Remember, when you’re outdoors or out in the field as we say in TV wear sunglasses OR a hat to protect your peeps!
Stay healthy!
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