Vitamin D, sometimes referred to as the "sunshine vitamin," is an essential nutrient. It helps facilitate the body's absorption of calcium, enhances bone growth and repair, and is a crucial participant in the immune system. But as awareness about protection from the sun continues to increase, the following arises: does sunscreen, applied to protect us from hazardous ultraviolet (UV) radiation, interfere with our production of vitamin D?

The human body produces vitamin D through a fascinating biochemical process. When the skin absorbs ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun, a protein in the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol converts these rays into vitamin D3, the active form of the nutrient. Vitamin D3 then plays other important roles in the body by supporting nerve signaling, immune defense, and strong bones.

Even a short sun exposure session will produce all the vitamin D your body needs for the day. For example:

- A light-skinned person can get all the vitamin D needed by spending 15 minutes in the sun.

- A darker-skinned person may need several hours since melanin also protects against UV rays naturally.

On the other hand, too much time in the sun without sunscreen increases your risk of developing sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer.

What Does Sunscreen Do?

Sunscreen forms the most vital tool in protecting the body against skin cancers, particularly for those providing protection from bad UVs. These mostly work as sun-blocking and absorbing devices for radiation against UV damage. Now does this defense interfere with the production of vitamin D?

In short-not necessarily.

Research has shown that while sunscreen does reduce the penetration of UVB rays, it does not block them entirely. For example, a sunscreen with SPF 30 filters about 97% of UVB rays. Even high SPF sunscreen allows a very small amount of UVB rays to reach your skin, which is usually sufficient to stimulate vitamin D production.

Other than this, research findings also fail to establish a correlation between sunblock application and the depletion of vitamin D. This is for several reasons. Most people apply sunblock incompletely and do not reapply as often as is suggested.

Factors Affecting Vitamin D Absorption

Vitamin D levels in the body are influenced by several factors other than sunblock application. These factors include:

1. Skin Color

Melanin limits the production of vitamin D in the skin. In fact, naturally, the dark-skinned person will synthesize less vitamin D than their fair-skinned counterpart.

2. Age

Elderly people produce much less vitamin D from an equal amount of sun exposure.

3. Geography

Those living farther from the equator, especially the people in northern states, tend to get insufficient sun-derived vitamin D, mainly in winter.

4. Clothes and Lifestyle

Clothing that covers most of the skin or staying indoors reduces exposure to UVB rays.

Environmental factors such as air pollution and overcast skies can also reduce the amount of UVB rays that reach your skin.

Balancing Sun Protection and Vitamin D Intake

It is important to balance sun protection with maintaining healthy vitamin D levels. Here are some practical tips:

Short, frequent exposure: Spend a short period of time of about 10-15 minutes outside without sunscreen on your arms and legs. This is typically enough to fulfill the day's vitamin D needs.

Optimize timing: Sun exposure is most potent when the sun is highest in the sky, that is, between 10 AM and 3 PM.

Supplementation: If you’re at risk of vitamin D deficiency (due to age, darker skin tone, or other factors), consider vitamin D-rich foods or supplements. Fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and egg yolks are excellent dietary sources.

Smart Sunscreen Use: Apply sunscreen generously but remember that incidental UV exposure—such as during short walks or while driving—can still contribute to vitamin D synthesis.

Why Vitamin D Matters

Vitamin D plays a very crucial role in preventing various health conditions. The deficiency can cause diseases such as:

• Rickets: It is a condition that causes soft and weak bones in children.
• Osteomalacia: Softening of bones in adults.
• Osteoporosis: Bones are weak, porous, and are easily breakable.

Low levels of vitamin D also have been associated with weakened immunity, muscle weakness, and even mood disorders such as depression.

The use of sunscreen does not completely cut off your body's ability to produce vitamin D. While it's important to protect your skin from destructive UV radiation, moderate exposure to the sun can deliver enough vitamin D without significantly elevating the risk of damage to your skin.

For those with lifestyles, geographies, or conditions that prevent them from adequately exposing themselves to the sun, dietary sources and supplementation are alternatives. By harmonizing safe sun practices while maintaining vitamin D levels, you can enjoy the healthy skin and healthy body together.

In the end, balancing moderate sun exposure with suitable sunscreen use and a diet in vitamin D can ensure that you attain the benefits of this highly important nutrient while protecting the skin.

The effect of sunscreen on vitamin D. Br J Dermatol. 2019.

Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Consumers. NIH.

Infertility impacts millions across the globe, touching both men and women alike. According to the World Health Organization, around 17.5% of the global population, roughly one in six people, experience fertility challenges. This condition can significantly reduce or even prevent natural conception.

Yet, despite its prevalence, infertility remains clouded by myths and misconceptions, many of which unfairly place the blame solely on women. Seeking to debunk these long-held beliefs, Dr. Holly Miller, an American Board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, took to Instagram to share three important truths every woman should know about fertility.

3 Truths About Fertility Women Should Know

With the help of modern medicine and medical interventions like IVF, fertility treatment can help people boost their chances of reproducing.

Infertility Isn't Just a Woman's Issue

It’s important to understand that infertility affects both partners — it’s not solely a woman’s issue. Blaming only the woman is both unfair and inaccurate. In fact, experts find that the causes of infertility are almost evenly split between men and women.

Roughly one-third of infertility cases are linked to the woman, another third to the man, and the remaining third result from issues affecting both partners — or from causes that doctors are unable to clearly identify.

To identify the cause of infertility, both partners should undergo testing simultaneously. For men, a semen analysis — a quick and straightforward test — is often the easiest and most informative first step.

The "Wait One Year" Rule Changes with Age

Most couples automatically try to conceive for a full 12 months before they think about seeing a fertility doctor. However, the doctor emphasizes that the woman's age is the single most important factor that affects the chances of successful treatment.

If you are under 35 years old: You can safely try for a full 12 months of regular, unprotected sex before seeking a specialist.

If you are 35 or older: You should contact a specialist after only 6 months of trying without success.

If you are 40 or older: You need to see a specialist right away—as quickly as you possibly can.

The doctor explains that after age 35, the woman's egg supply starts to decline more quickly. Time is essential, so couples should strongly ask their doctors for an early referral.

"Unexplained Infertility" Often Means "Undiagnosed Problem"

When a couple is diagnosed with "unexplained infertility," which happens in about 10% to 20% of cases, it means the basic first tests did not find a clear reason. This can be upsetting, but it does not mean you can never have children. In the doctor's experience, the term "unexplained" often means there are hidden problems, such as:

• Small issues with the male partner's sperm that were missed by the basic tests.
• A hidden condition called Endometriosis, which can only be confirmed by a surgical procedure.
• Not having sexual intercourse at the best time or not often enough.

In today's corporate world, desk jobs have become the order of the day and so are the health problems associated with them. Endless typing, long hours of sitting, and poor posture are silently taking their toll on young professionals who spend most of their day glued to screens. Many don't realize that their daily work habits could trigger unexpected medical conditions.

Such a growing concern was once highlighted by Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, who recently shared a case on X. He wrote about one such case of Riya (name changed), a 25-year-old software engineer who developed a sharp, burning pain in her elbow-a pain which began as a minor ache while typing and gradually became so severe that even lifting a teacup felt unbearable.

What was the cause of the sharp elbow pain that Riya experienced?

Riya tried everything she could think of: Rest, pain relief balms, painkillers, even switching hands while using her computer, but the pain refused to fade. When she finally decided to visit the doctor, her symptoms immediately pointed to something unexpected: Tennis elbow. The diagnosis came as a surprise, considering she had never even held a tennis racket. On examination, Dr Sudhir Kumar found the tell-tale signs of the condition, medically known as lateral epicondylitis — tenderness along the outer elbow and pain when she tried to extend her wrist. He explained that the culprit wasn’t a sport, but repetitive strain from long hours at the computer — a problem increasingly common among desk workers.

What is Tennis Elbow?

The Mayo Clinic describes tennis elbow, medically termed lateral epicondylitis, as a painful condition resulting from the overuse of muscles and tendons in the forearm. It develops where these tissues are repeatedly strained by similar wrist and arm movements, leading to tiny tears and inflammation near the elbow.

The name is misleading, and you don't have to be an athlete to get tennis elbow. As a matter of fact, most people who develop it never have used a racket. It's common for the condition to strike people in jobs that require repetitive motions: plumbers, carpenters, painters, butchers, and yes, office workers who spend hours typing or using a mouse.

The pain generally arises on the outside of the elbow, precisely at that bony prominence to which the muscles of the forearm attach. For some, the discomfort may extend into the forearm or even the wrist, making most activities quite arduous.

How Can Tennis Elbow Be Treated?

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, Dr Sudhir Kumar focused on addressing the underlying cause — repetitive stress and poor workstation ergonomics. The holistic treatment for Riya included the following:

• Avoided repetitive activities that triggered her pain.
• Adjusting the computer setup and improving posture.
• Establish a physiotherapy regimen to stretch, strengthen, and gradually build muscle endurance.
• A short course of anti-inflammatory medication

Employing a counterforce brace-a tennis elbow strap-to reduce strain in daily activities. By her six-week follow-up, Riya’s pain had completely resolved. Her grip strength was back, and she could type, lift, and exercise without discomfort. Three months later, she was symptom-free — and far more aware of how small ergonomic changes can make a big difference.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, however, a recent survey showed that most people don’t know this vital fact about prostate cancer symptoms.

Prostate cancer is a serious illness in the US, affecting over 300,000 men each year and causing more than 35,000 deaths, according American Cancer Society. This makes it the second-most deadly cancer for men. If doctors detect the disease early, it is treatable. However, patients usually don't notice any signs of the disease in its beginning stages. Due to this lack of symptoms, checking for the disease is extremely important.

A recent survey of 1,004 U.S. adults, commissioned by the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, aimed to gauge public knowledge of the disease. The findings highlight a critical need for better education.

What Do Americans Know About Early-Stage Prostate Cancer?

The results showed that most people, 80% of those surveyed, are unaware that early prostate cancer usually has no physical symptoms. One health specialist noted that it's crucial for everyone to understand that this cancer causes no symptoms until it has become advanced. The survey also revealed other gaps in knowledge:

• More than half of the people surveyed (59%) did not know that changes in sexual function could be a sign of prostate cancer.
• The survey noticed some differences across groups. For example, one minority group was better at identifying less common signs like tiredness and weight loss.
• However, that same minority group was less likely than others to correctly identify that the cancer usually has no symptoms in its early stage.

What Is The Best Way To Diagnose Prostate Cancer?

The fact that prostate cancer often begins without symptoms is the main reason doctors worry.

Lack of Symptoms

In its early phase, the cancer is small and contained within the prostate gland. It doesn't push on or block any other body parts, so it doesn't cause pain or discomfort. Because the cancer is deep inside the body, it's hard to tell if someone has it without special tests.

Provider Worry

Because men feel fine, they may wrongly believe they aren't at risk. This feeling of being safe often makes men hesitant to get screened. Since there are no symptoms to look for, screening tests, usually a simple blood test or a physical exam, are the best way to find the cancer early.

What Are Some Signs of Prostate Cancer?

Even though most men with early prostate cancer feel completely normal, there are certain signs that might appear if the disease is more advanced. These symptoms include:

• Having trouble starting to urinate.
• Having a urine flow that is weak or stops and starts.
• Needing to urinate often, especially during the night.
• Difficulty completely emptying the bladder.
• Feeling pain or a burning sensation while urinating.
• Noticing blood in the urine or semen.
• Feeling pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.
• Experiencing pain during ejaculation.

When Should You Get Screened For Prostate Cancer?

According to American Cancer Society, health organizations advise men to talk with their doctors about getting checked for prostate cancer starting at certain ages, depending on their personal risk.

Average Risk: Age 50

Men who have no special risk factors.

High Risk: Age 45

Men who are African American or who have a father or brother who was diagnosed before age 65.

Highest Risk: Age 40

Men who have more than one close relative (father or brother) diagnosed at an early age. There is no one-size-fits-all advice for screening. Men should always speak to their doctor about their own risk and discuss the pros and cons of testing. Since there are no early warning signs, talking to a doctor about screening is described as "critical" and a simple process that could potentially save a man's life.