GrassrootsHealth Survey Finds Dermatologists Believe UV Exposure Is a Viable form of Treatment, Yet Still Lobby Against Sun Exposure
GrassrootsHealth commissioned a survey of 100 dermatologists this spring 2015 and the results were astounding! Fully 99 of 100 dermatologists believe that sensible UV exposure is the world’s main source of vitamin D, yet the dermatology industry still lobbies against sun exposure.
SAN DIEGO, CA (June 15, 2015) – Ninety-nine percent of dermatologists believe UV exposure is a viable form of treatment for non-lethal skin conditions like psoriasis, but the dermatology industry’s main lobbying groups still do not recognize sensible UV exposure as the world’s main source of Vitamin D, according to a survey commissioned by GrassrootsHealth.
GrassrootsHealth commissioned a survey of 100 dermatologists this spring, all members of the American Academy of Dermatology, to quantify the troubling contradiction and to get ready for some targeted education programs. According to the GrassrootsHealth survey to treat cosmetic skin diseases such as psoriasis:
- Fully 99 of 100 dermatologists (99%) believe UV exposure is an effective treatment option.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 dermatologists (88%) recommend the usage of UV lamps as a form of treatment.
- More than 1 in 4 dermatologists (28%) recommend patients use tanning salons as a convenient, cost-effective self-treatment option.
“This survey confirmed the troubling contradiction: Dermatologists see value in UV exposure to treat non-lethal skin conditions, but still do not know that UV exposure is the body’s most natural and abundant source of vitamin D, and that vitamin D deficiency is a colossal health issue that cannot be addressed around the world without embracing sensible sun exposure,” said GrassrootsHealth founder Carole Baggerly.
This survey was commissioned as a result of questions in a GrassrootsHealth hosted symposium with the world’s leading vitamin D researchers at the University of California-San Diego in December, Vitamin D for Public Health: Integrating Sunshine, Supplements and Measurement for Optimal Health. The consensus: UV exposure is an essential component for the public to achieve vitamin D sufficiency. A consensus publication of the scientists will be available soon in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Video presentations from that symposium are available on-line by clicking here.
GrassrootsHealth also produced two targeted videos about UV exposure and vitamin D with some expert vitamin D researchers:
To see a full version of the video click here.
To see a short version of the video click here.
GrassrootsHealth is a nonprofit public health research organization dedicated to moving public health messages regarding vitamin D from science into practice. It has a panel of 40 senior vitamin D researchers from around the world contributing to its operations. GrassrootsHealth is currently running the D*action population intervention program to solve the vitamin D deficiency epidemic worldwide. Under the D*action umbrella, there are programs looking at the entire population as well as targeted programs for breast cancer prevention and a newly announced ‘Protect Our Children NOW!’ program to reduce the complications of vitamin D deficiency encountered during pregnancy and childhood.
For more information, please contact Carole Baggerly, [email protected] or visit www.grassrootshealth.net