Why a sunscreen can put your health in the shade

Sunscreens help to prevent burning and skin cancer, but they also block our main source of vitamin D, which protects us from a range of diseases, says Helen O’Callaghan.

IT’S summer and when the days are hot parents will slather sun screen on their children — head to toe — terrified of delicate skin burning.

Applied correctly, an SPF of 20 blocks 98% of the sun’s rays, but it also blocks the skin’s production of vitamin D. Exposing skin to UVB rays is the natural source of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth and a strong immune system.