Can Sunlight prevent Cancer?

We are all exposed to lower but steadily increasing levels of such chemicals — pesticides, flame retardants and so on — and they are known to be toxic to the immune system. They probably double your risk of developing melanoma.

Nutrition is important; adequate levels of antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins C and E and of omega-3 fish oils protect against the inflammation and damage to the skin that can lead to cancer. Stocking up on these before a sun holiday can roughly double the amount of UV needed to burn the skin.

Probably the single most important nutrient, ironically, is vitamin D, which we are designed to get from sunlight. In northern Europe and USA, we are pretty much all deficient, certainly in winter. That’s why we developed pale skin, with less UV-screening ability, but nowadays we keep it indoors away from the sun.

Let’s look at the advice from Cancer Research UK, which uses the acronym SMART; our comments are below each item.

Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm

Yes if you’re in a sunnier place than Britain, or if you’re sun-exposed for the first time in a while, but on a British seaside holiday that would prevent you getting any UV at all. Peak sunlight here is usually at around 12.30; stay in the shade for 2 hours not 4, from 11.30 to 1.30, at first, and slowly decrease that.

Make sure you never burn

Absolutely right

Aim to cover up with T shirt, hat and sunglasses

No; overkill.

Remember to take extra care with children

Of course.

Then use factor 15+ sunscreen (sun cream)

No; as well as not preventing cancer according to several studies, some suncreams may actually promote it. If you must use a suncream choose an organic one from a reputable supplier and use it sparingly.

We would add a couple of other important points;

Your skin type is crucial. If you have ginger hair and freckles and only burn, never tan, then you should take much more care because your skin type makes you about twice as likely to develop skin cancer. If you are black or Asian in colouring, it’s the opposite; you need at least twice as much sunlight as a pale Brit and should increase your exposure accordingly.

For everybody, it’s chronic sun exposure we need — regular small doses year-round, and acute exposure we don’t — short bursts that cause burning. Regular sun builds up the top layers of the skin and protects, at the same time as giving us vitamin D.

When you can’t get sunlight it’s advisable to take a vitamin D supplement. Some foods are richer than others in this nutrient, such as fish oils and dairy products, but not enough to give us the high levels it is now known that we need.

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