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The use of sunscreens can cause a lack of vitamin D

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 31.05.2018
 
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26 May 2017, 09:00

Creams and other outdoor tanning products are very common in the summer: most people use them to prevent sunburn.

However, researchers are rushing to warn of the danger of regular use of such drugs - the fact is that the constant application of sunscreen can lead to a lack of vitamin D in the body .

Researches of scientists have confirmed also that application of means from sunburn is most not recommended to the patients with a diabetes, a celiac disease and other diseases at which absorption of nutrients from food can be broken. This information was published by Professor Kim Pfotenauer in the journal of the American Osteopathic Association. According to statistics, cosmetic preparations with ultraviolet filter every year lead to a lack of vitamins more than a million people in the world.

Vitamin D is very important for the body. Thanks to it, our bones are strong: calcium is absorbed well, getting directly to the destination - in bone tissue. In addition, vitamin takes part in the regulation of nervous processes and immune response.

Lack of vitamin D can be detected by doctors only in laboratory: the serum concentration is less than 20 ng / ml. The deficit is accompanied by bone demineralization processes, the risk of fractures increases.

On the recommendation of doctors, a person for normal body work should receive an average of 700 IU of vitamin D every day. In this case, the main amount of vitamin we get, thanks to sunlight. A small amount of vitamin is also found in meat products, mushrooms, eggs, fish and tofu cheese.

If you regularly use products to protect the skin from ultraviolet, then the production of vitamin can be reduced by 99% - especially dense skin protection provides creams with SPF 15 or more. Professor Pfotenauer and other scientists representing the Californian School of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Thuro explain: the results of the study do not mean that you should not use sunscreens. On the contrary: they need to be used to withstand burns and post-burn cancer cell degeneration. But, at least twice a week for half an hour to stay under the sun without sunscreen.

The experiments proved that external means for skin with ultraviolet filtration in their opposition to the production of vitamin D are equated to diabetes mellitus, Crohn's disease, celiac disease and chronic renal failure.

Some experts object: in fact, it is possible to additionally take vitamin preparations and nutritional supplements, which include vitamin D 3. However, scientists do not fully agree with this. Indeed, such additives exist in huge quantities. But they are not suitable for everyone, and the synthetic analog is digested much worse than natural and natural vitamin.

The conclusion of the researchers is simple: in everything you need to know the extent, as well as in the use of sunscreen drugs.

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