Sunshine - health benefits and health risks
sun; sunshine; exposure; vitamin; D; rickets; cancer; nappy; rash; ;
Contents
Research has shown that exposing babies and children to the sun, especially during the middle of the day in summer, increases the risk of skin damage and skin cancers later in life, but some small amount of sun exposure is needed to keep us healthy. This is because we need vitamin D which is made by the action of sunlight (UVB rays) on the skin.
What is vitamin D?
- Vitamin D is a hormone that is needed for strong and healthy bones and muscles.
- There is even some evidence that having enough vitamin D will reduce the risk of many cancers, especially breast cancer.
Where do we get vitamin D?
- There is a very small amount of vitamin D in some foods, such as milk, margarine, oily fish, eggs, liver and cheese.
- For most of us, virtually all of the vitamin D that we have comes from the action of UVB rays on chemicals in the skin.
Who gets health problems?
People who get very little or no exposure to sunlight are at risk of not having enough vitamin D, and this can lead to an increased risk of weak bones and muscles.
- The group of people who are most likely to have very low levels of vitamin D are elderly people in nursing homes who have virtually no exposure to the sun. These people are at a high risk of falls and broken bones, especially fractures of the hip.
In Australia there have been a very small number of young children who have very low levels of vitamin D causing a problem called rickets.
- Almost all of these are babies born to mothers who have little exposure to sunlight during pregnancy because they cover most of their skin with clothing and veils. If these mothers breastfeed, their babies will get very little vitamin D in the breastmilk.
- If the mothers also have dark skin, their levels of vitamin D are even more likely to be low. If mothers have very low levels of vitamin D themselves, very little vitamin D passes from the mother to the baby before birth.
- Some babies and young children get rickets if they have a very strict vegetarian diet and no exposure to the sun.
There is no evidence that other babies and children have very low levels of vitamin D when they are protected from the sun in the ways that are recommended by the Cancer Council of Australia.
Rickets
Signs of rickets include:
- severe bow legs or knock knees
- deformed chest and/or spine
- bones that break easily
- muscle pains
- slow growth
- delay in standing or walking.
Cancer Council recommendation
The Cancer Council Australia released in May 2005 a 'Position Statement' which says that:
'Australia's high ultraviolet radiation levels mean that even when babies are outdoors for very short periods before 10 am and after 4 pm with small amounts of skin exposed, they are likely to receive enough ultraviolet radiation exposure to maintain healthy vitamin D levels even with the use of sun protection.'
Older children
Small amounts of sunshine are enough for older children too. Children can get enough sunshine before 10am and after 4pm when their hands and face are the only parts of the body exposed. It is very rare for children in Australia to get less exposure to the sun than this.
Vitamin D supplements
- In some countries, giving extra vitamin D by mouth is recommended for breastfed babies.
- In Australia, giving extra vitamin D is not needed except for high risk babies.
- In Australia and most other countries, vitamin D is added to baby formula so formula fed babies do not need extra vitamin D.
Nappy rash
Some people have suggested that nappy rash heals more rapidly if the sore area is exposed to sunshine. While exposing the nappy area to the air may help, the practice of exposing a naked infant to direct or indirect sunlight puts them at a high risk of sunburn and skin damage and is therefore not recommended.
References
Namgung R, Tsang R. 'Rickets' in Garfunkel, et al (Ed.). Mosby's Pediatric Advisor, Mosby 2002.
Position statement. 'Risks and benefits of sun exposure', Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Osteoporosis Australia, Australasian College of Dermatologists and the Cancer Council of Australia, March 2005
Position Statement. 'Sun protection and infants (0 to 12 months) Approved by the Cancer Council of Australia and the Australasian College of Dermatologists, May 2005
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
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