One of the most persistent health myths circulating is health "experts" and the media preaching the dangers of sun exposure to your health. Unfortunately, this long-standing recommendation of avoiding sun exposure has increased cancer deaths, not just non-fatal skin cancers, by more than 50,000 per year in the United States due to lowered vitamin D levels.

That is why I was glad to see that more physicians are starting to appreciate that maintaining optimal vitamin D levels -- by having them tested -- is one of the most important things you can do to prevent and treat not only skin but all cancers. Receiving appropriate amounts of sunshine that optimizes vitamin D levels is the key, as it keeps your cell growth and activity in proper balance.

Obtaining Vitamin D

The safest way to obtain vitamin D is, of course, through appropriate sun exposure.  If that is not practical than you can use a safe tanning bed or take oral vitamin D.

When Exposing Your Skin, Do So With Caution

While exposure to sunlight can reduce your risk of cancer, please understand that sunlight has the potential to cause skin cancer if you are not careful.

Therefore, at the beginning of the season, go out gradually and limit your exposure to perhaps as little as 5-10 minutes a day. Progressively increase your time in the sun so that in a few weeks, you will be able to have normal sun exposure with little risk of skin cancer. If you are really sensitive you can start by exposing only your feet and progressively more skin on your legs and then your arms. More details on this are available in my absolute favorite book on this topic The Healing Sun.

And remember to never get burned, that is the key. However, using sunscreen is not a good way to limit your sun exposure either. In fact, sunscreen is generally one of the last things you want to put on your body. That is because it is a toxic chemical that can cause problems in your system and increase your risk of disease. I must admit that I occasionally violate this principle. I usually spend most of January in Maui to recharge my batteries as I absolutely love the sunshine and surf there. I love to body board and am typically in the water for a few hours a day. So I will use a waterproof sunblock around my eyes to limit my UV exposure as there really aren't many practical alternatives if I am out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. But most of the time I am able to stay out of the water from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can also creatively use your clothing to block the sun's rays during your exposure time with the use of hats and long sleeve shirts and pants or simply stay in the shade once you have reached your dose. Complete avoidance of the sun is nearly a guarantee that you will suffer health complications in the future.