Covering up in the sun to guard against skin cancer could harm our health in other ways, say experts. Here's how to obtain it right.

For years we've had it drummed into us that we need to cover up and hit on the high SPF sunscreen in hot, sunny weather.

But experts horror some people are taking it too far.While it's vital to guard your skin from damage, including skin cancer, a recent study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) revealed that vitamin D deficiency is rising.

People are receiving far too little sun exposure, which the body needs to produce vitamin D, according to the study led by Professor Simon Pearce and Dr Time Cheetham.

It seems that days of sun-safety warnings have made us so terrified of skin cancer, we're overcompensating by covering up too much - or staying out of the sun altogether. But this can cause bone problems - in extreme cases rickets and osteoporosis - depression and yet weight gain.

That's not to say we should channel the sun cream.Whether you're fair skinned or have olive skin that never burns, you should always wear at least factor 20 when you're in the sun for longer than an hour, and never let skin to burn.
However, it's important to remember that small doses of exposed sun exposure are vital. Experts say we need about 20 minutes a day to help bodies produce enough vitamin D, known as the "sunshine vitamin". Here's why you should get sufficient sun...

It strengthen teeth and bones

One of the major reasons vitamin D deficiency causes diseases like rickets and the brittle bones in osteoporosis is because it helps to regulate the amount of calcium in the body, vital for keeping teeth and bones strong. A need of vitamin D often results in a lack of calcium, no matter how much milk or yogurt you have.

It reduces your risk of tumor

People with best levels of vitamin D have a 40% lower risk of getting cancer compared to people with very low levels, according to a study in the BMJ. That's mainly breast, ovarian, prostate and colon cancers.

It helps you go down weight

Low levels of vitamin D are also associated with o b e s i t y, say researchers at the University of Minnesota. "Our results suggest the possibility of the addition of vitamin D to a reduced calorie diet will lead to better mass loss," says Shalamar Sibley, who led the study.

It found people initial a weight-loss diet have better results if they include plenty of vitamin D in their diet and get a bit of sunshine. Just keep in mind: keep sun exposure safe by making sure it's in small doses and not in the most recent part of the day.

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Tightening Loose Skin After Weight Loss

Lose lots of weight and you might find yourself with unsightly and unhealthy excess skin. But there are ways to get rid of it. To learn how, read on.



You’ve lost a lot of weight — good for you! But you might find that loose skin is detracting from your new, svelte appearance. Whether you lost weight through diet and exercise or through weight-loss surgery, skin that stretched to accommodate your former size might not have tightened up, leaving you with loose skin on your face, neck, arms, breasts, belly, rear, and legs.

If you lost weight rapidly through restrictive dieting, your loose skin may shrink to fit over time as your weight stabilizes. Building muscle strength may help tighten the skin by providing a firm support, so if exercise wasn’t part of your weight-loss program, a strength-training regimen might be a good idea.

If weight-loss surgery helped you drop the pounds and over time your skin hasn’t shrunk, you might consider one or more surgeries to remove the excess skin. This loose skin, besides looking unattractive, can be prone to rashes or sores from friction and may bunch up awkwardly, making it hard to find clothes that fit properly. Surgery can improve the proportions of your body and help you feel better about your appearance.

Most doctors will want you to have maintained a stable weight for four to six months before body-contouring surgery. That probably means a 12- to 18-month wait after weight-loss surgery before you can begin any skin-removal procedures.

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