Mixed messages about sun exposure?!
Question:
Mixed messages about sun exposure?
Two things that I hear frequently are that you should be outside in the sun for at least 20 minutes a day so that your skin can absorb vitamin D ....
and that you should not go out in the sun without wearing sunscreen.
Can your skin still absorb vitamin D with sunscreen on?
Also, How long does it take the sun to damage your skin? Is it okay to stay out for 10 minutes or so without sun protection?
Answers:
It's really quite simple. Go out in the sun for 20 minutes without sunscreen on. That won't hurt you one bit. If you plan to stay out longer than that, slap on a good layer of sunscreen after the 20 minutes are up. Sunscreen blocks the UV rays which react within your skin to produce the vitamin D.