Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/DeihdcN1XFk With the rates of skin cancer including the deadly melanoma escalating, sunscreen is a must for beach goers and particularly vital for those with light complexions.  Since sunlight is a driver for Vitamin D synthesis in our bodies, some worry that sunscreen use will create a Vitamin D shortfall. A study just published in the British Journal of Dermatology shows that sunscreen use does not prevent Vitamin D synthesis despite protecting against sunburn and cancerous skin cell mutations.   Those sunscreen formulations with a high UVA protection factor allowed more Vitamin D production. Sunscreen overuse can be harmful, however, as application and reapplication can drive absorption of sun-blocking chemicals into the body.  A study from the FDA shows that 4 daily applications of sunscreen by spray, lotion, or cream drives absorption of the most common sunscreen chemicals, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule to levels deemed possibly toxic. The bottom line is that you should