The Power of the Sun:

1. Helpful or Harmful The Power of the Sun: Activity B

2. Being physically active outdoors in the sun is always good for your health. Answer: True and False • This answer is true because being physically active, indoors or outdoors, is important for our health. Young people need 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily. • Being physically active outdoors is often refreshing and invigorating. • The answer is false because being active outdoors in the sun without protection from the sun’s rays can damage a person’s skin and increase his or her risk of skin cancer.

3. We get vitamins from the sun. Answer: True Answer: True • Vitamin D is manufactured in the skin following direct exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D works with the calcium we take into bodies from the foods and beverages we consume to build strong bones. • While the statement is true, a person gets enough vitamin D from the sun without spending extended periods of time in the sun. • Bone density is established when a person is young. According to the United States Food and Drug Admin., bone mass peaks at about age 30. Ninety-eight percent of a young woman’s bone density is established by about the age of 20. So, being in the sun can help people build bone density as a young person and maintain bone density as an older adult. Continued

4. We get vitamins from the sun. Answer: True • Usually 5-15 minutes of sun exposure to the hands, arms and face two to three times a week is enough to satisfy the body’s vitamin D requirement. • The amount of vitamin D produced in the skin varies depending on the time of day, season, latitude and skin pigmentations. • In addition, foods and beverages can provide the vitamin D the body needs. • Dairy products, such as milk and cheese, contain calcium and are often fortified with vitamin D. • Other foods and beverages, such as orange juice, are fortified with calcium and/or vitamin D.

5. The sun can cause skin cancer. Answer: True and False • The answer is true because the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the genetic blueprint, known as DNA, of a person’s cells. This is the reason sun exposure can increase a person’s risk for skin cancer. • The answer is false because it is really a person’s behavior when exposed to the sun that can increase or decrease his or her risk for skin cancer. A person can protect him or herself by slipping on a long-sleeved shirt, slopping on sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher, slapping on a wide-brimmed hat, wrapping on sunglasses with 99-100% UV absorption, seeking shade and avoiding the sun between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Poster: “Be on the Look Out for the ABCD’s of Skin Cancer.”

6. The sun damages skin. Answer: True and False • The is true because exposure to the sun can damage skin by causing sunburns and changing the skin’s texture and visual appearance. • The changes include wrinkling, leathering, discoloration of skin tone (red, yellow, or brown spots), sagging and pre-mature aging. • The answer is false because sun damage to the skin can be prevented if people protect their skin by slipping on a long-sleeved shirt, slopping on sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher, slapping on a wide-brimmed hat, wrapping on sunglasses with 99-100% UV absorption, seeking shade and avoiding the sun between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Poster: “American Academy of Derm - sun damage due to UV ray exposure.”

7. Some medications increase the risk of sun damage. Answer: True • Some medications, including commonly-used acne medications and antibiotics, increase the risk of sun damage by making the skin more susceptible to sunburn. • A person should always check with his or her doctor about the side-effects of any medication he or she is taking, including any increased risks when exposed to the sun’s rays. • Sometimes this information is on prescription medicine bottles as a warning to individuals taking the medicine.

8. The sun helps people feel good. Answer: True • People tend to feel more energetic and happy when the sun is shining. Some people need the natural light of the sun for the emotional well-being. • However, they do not need to have prolonged exposure to the sun. And, they receive the same benefits and reduce potential harm if they protect themselves from the sun’s rays. Continued

9. The sun helps people feel good. • Bright light makes a difference in brain chemistry. The nerve centers in our brains controlling daily rhythms and moods are stimulated by the amount of light entering the eyes. When there is diminished light, such as in the winter, some people experience a change in their moods. They might feel depressed, sad, or lethargic, The might overeat or have trouble sleeping. Continued

10. The sun helps people feel good. • Some people use light boxes to provide more light. Sitting in front of a light box for 15-45 minutes a day will alleviate the symptoms. A person does not need to stare at the light, just have it on when they are watching television or doing another quiet activity. • A light box is NOT the same as the sun and does NOT emit UV rays.

11. The sun gives us light and warmth. Answer: True