In a previous article we discussed the benefits of Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitamin. The most effective way to get Vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight. We are also well aware of the dangers of over-exposure to sunlight and the increased risk of skin cancer.

But now researchers at Stanford University are saying a little Vitamin D-generating sunlight may be just the prescription for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

UVB rays cause Vitamin D3 to be generated in the skin. Through contact with various enzymes in the liver and kidneys, the body turns D3 into an active compound that signals T-cells to migrate to the skin’s epidermis where they stand on guard against infection and even cancer.

Although sunlight is still considered to be the most avoidable cause of skin cancer, it appears that getting the right amount of light could actually strengthen the immune system. However, avoiding intense sun is still recommended.

“So, avoiding intense sun, protecting yourself when you’re out in intense sun — that’s still our [cancer society] recommendation, and this is not going to change that,” said Martin Weinstock, chairman of the skin advisory group of the American Cancer Society and professor of dermatology and community health at Brown University.

A Little Sun Might Shield Against Skin Cancer