Avoidance of sun exposure brings back a disease that was once eradicated
Shade worshipers
“Look, I don’t know if I believe in this whole ‘natural thing’ or not.”
That’s a direct quote from my former dermatologist.
She’s part of that fear-of-sunshine crowd that believes every man, woman and child must cover all exposed skin with sunscreen, every day in every season.
I guess if you don’t “believe in this whole natural thing,” slathering synthetic chemicals on your skin every morning makes perfect sense.
Of course, you and I know hiding from the sun is a foolproof plan for reducing vitamin D levels, which will increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline.
Even so, there are plenty of clueless doctors out there who continue to spread the complete nonsense that sunshine exposure should be avoided.
And at least some of those ultraviolet worrywarts have helped plunge the UK back into the 17th century when bloodletting and raising blisters were state-of-the-art medical treatments.
The not-so-good old days
Nicholas Clark–a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Southampton, England–recently told the Telegraph (a UK newspaper) about a medical development that he calls “quite astonishing.”
I’d say that’s a good example of British reserve. Allow me to Americanize it by using this word: appalling. “Horrifying” works too.
However you describe it, rickets has returned to the British Isles. And that’s bad.
This bone condition–known as the “17th century disease”–is primarily caused by vitamin D deficiency in children. Their bones become soft, leading to fractures and deformities.
For most of the past 80 years, rickets has been considered one of those diseases that was easily controlled with modern knowledge of nutrition. But in recent years, cases of rickets have occasionally been reported in Scotland and other northern areas.
And now this long-gone condition is occurring even in the south of England.
And it’s not just a case here or there–over the past two years Dr. Clark has treated more than 200 kids with serious bone problems. He estimates that well over 20 percent have significant vitamin D deficiencies.
Overuse of sunscreen isn’t the only problem. Many parents keep their kids indoors to avoid sun exposure, especially during the summer–exactly the time they would get the most benefit from exposure.
Happily, Dr. Clarke is not afraid of sunshine. He knows that sensible exposure is exactly what these kids need to stay healthy.
And here’s what else I like about Dr. Clarke: He isn’t afraid to give an unqualified thumbs-up to supplement use. He recommends widespread vitamin D supplementation to put a stop to the rise in rickets cases.
As long as we’re talking “widespread,” let’s include the U.S. as well. Because, believe it or not, we’ve even had cases of rickets reported here in recent years.
I really don’t expect that’s going to grow into a serious problem. But this we do know: With so many sunshine-phobic mainstreamers encouraging daily sunscreen use and general sunlight avoidance, you can be sure that many of our kids are not getting the high-quality D they need.
Sources:
“Middle class children suffering rickets” Rebecca Smith, the Telegraph, 11/13/10, telegraph.co.uk
