How Much Sun Exposure is Healthy?

 TikTok scare stories are total baloney. Here’s the real Rx: Use sunscreen, and get your vitamin D.







Recently I went to New York to visit family for my brother’s birthday. The day was sunny and hot, but he has a boat, so we decided to take it out on the bay where the breeze would help us forget about East Coast humidity for a while. My older cousin was ready to go, decked out in cargo pants, a wide brimmed hat, and a long sleeved shirt.

It’s easy to hate the sun during such a blistering summer, but letting our skin be exposed to its rays, when protected by sunscreen, has a lot of benefits. My cousin disagrees, and so do TikTokers who spread misinformation about sunscreen and its harms. And that kind of incorrect advice is reaching a lot of people. A survey from the Orlando Health Cancer Institute found that 1 in 7 American adults under age 35 believe using sunscreen daily is more harmful than direct sun exposure.


Humans rely on the sun for vitamin D, which plays a role in many body systems. Likewise, we need to avoid the sun to the point of burning. It is important to know how to maximize the benefits while minimizing the harm it poses to our skin.

“I hate the sun,” he said as I looked at him judgingly. But he got me thinking.

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