Published on May 25, 2016
May 25, 2016
Sunshine is important for your health, but before you get sun rays you need to assess your current situation. We want to get sunshine and all its beneficial aspects, but we don’t want to burn. Serious sun burns, particularly before the age of 20, increase the risk of all types of skin cancer.
What’s the Proper Time to be in the Sun?
An “erythema dose” is used by doctors to define the amount of ultraviolet radiation, from the sun or ultraviolet lamp, which results in a reddening of the skin. A minimal erythema dose is defined by a pinkness of the skin about 1-6 hours after sun exposure, going away within 24 hours. Sunny Hippocrates, our cartoon mascot this month, has been telling you to get a *smidge* pink. There is no single number, due in part to differences in skin type and other individual differences in vitamin D production, but one minimal erythema dose is equivalent to roughly 10,000 – 25,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D.
How long does that take?