Melanoma, Vitamin D, and the Summer Sun.

With Memorial Day weekend marking the start of the summer season and with the recent death of Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame pitcher Paul Splittorff due to complications from melanoma, I figured I would begin my foray into the blogging world talking about how sun exposure can be both good and bad for us.  A lot of people probably spent a good portion of this past weekend out in the sun, whether having fun at the lake or getting out and catching up on some of those outdoor chores that fell by the wayside.

The Good
Apart from getting a nice tan at some point, being out in the sun for 10-15 minutes at three times a week can fulfill the body's requirement for Vitamin D.  The sun should shine on your face, arms, legs, or back without sunblock for this amount of time, however, it is still recommended that sunblock be used if you are planning on spending any extensvice amount of time out in the sun.  Less vitamin D is made with sun exposure through cloud cover, windows, shade, and in those with darker pigmented skin. 

Why Vitamin D is Good for Us
Vitmain D is good for us because it helps with the absorption and retention of calcium and phosphorus which is needed for normal bone formation.  In childhood, these two minerals are used to make our bones.  In adulthood, they are needed to maintain them, which means the older we get, the more we may need.  Deficiencies in vitamin D can lead to a softening of the bones suchs as osteoporosis in adulthood or rickets in children.  Too much vitamin D can leach calcium from the bones and into the blood via absorption by the intestines, depositing it in the heart or lungs, leading to reduced function in those organs and causing even more serious problems in the future.   The good news is that most overdoses are from using supplements in excess and not from spending too much time in the sun.

The Bad
The unfortunate part is that too much sun exposure without adequate protection, over time, can potential lead to melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.  Of all the skin diseases, this one causes the most deaths.  We all know that people most at risk are the ones that have fair skin, blue or green eyes, and red or blond hair becuase of their increased chance of getting sunburn.  We also know that it is the ultraviolet radiation in the sun as well as tannning beds that is the cause. Melanomas can spread very rapidly and there is increased incidence as we get older.  Usually starting as flat, irregularly shaped and colored moles, they can be detected by anyone, including chiropractors.  We cannot not treat melanoma, but we can refer cases to the appropriate professional and help co-manage after treatment and if there is no advanced spread into the bones. 

So, as the heat of summer starts to ramp up, we at Eastern Kansas Chiropractic want everyone to be safe and take preacutions when it comes to your skin...minimize your time in the sun as much as possible, wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes, wear sunscreen, and make sure you report any suspicious looking mole to your primary care doctor.