Skip the Sunscreen?

by WiredBerries Editors — March 12, 2008

Head outdoors without lathering on the sunscreen? Never! Well, maybe. Healthywomen.org reports that skipping sunscreen for brief periods of time can be good for you. The reason: sunshine stimulates your skin to synthesize vitamin D, which may help ward off osteoporosis and other diseases, including certain common cancers. People under 65 can get a year's supply of Vitamin D in most parts of the United States by going outdoors without sunscreen for several minutes between midmorning and midafternoon a few times a week during the spring, summer, and fall. However, that doesn't mean you should lounge and oil, baking your skin. As you should be well aware, too much sun exposure can cause certain cancers.