Vitamin D Testing

Made Easy

If you want to get a Vitamin D Blood Test you can do at home and participate in an international study, join the D*action Campaign and get your Vitamin D Blood levels tested: JoinDAction.org

Find out why optimum Vitamin D blood levels are so important.
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Melanoma Risks

The majority of melanomas are caused by genetic factors. People at risk are very fair skinned, have red hair and have a large number of moles. Canadians that are a Skin Type one should not tan whether indoors or outdoors. Know your skin type go to www.SkinType.ca

The World Health Organization (WHO) IARC report of 2009 IARC put UV light from a sunbed into the same category as sunlight. What is never reported is UV light has both a positive effect and a negative effect depending on exposure levels. The IARC report shows that increased risk is associated with phototherapy sessions from equipment found in dermatology offices and from the use of unsupervised home equipment. Getting a tan should always be done at a tanning salon that employs trained and certified staff.

Exposure level is key; this is why dermatologists use UV light in phototherapy booths for skin disorders. Research from the American Academy of Dermatology this year said you can reduce your melanoma risk by 50% by increasing your vitamin D blood levels. 90% of all vitamin D comes from exposure to UVB light both from the sun and sunbeds.

Health Organizations that create sunscare messaging are sometimes funded by large chemical sunscreen manufacturers and this affects their objectivity when providing Canadians with sun safety advice. They also promote chemical sunscreens for the risk reduction of certain skin cancers, where chemical sunscreen manufacturer do not promote this fact because they don't have conclusive events. The CDC in the USA concluded that chemical sunscreens could even increase your risk of melanoma.

Research studies by Dr. Sara Gandini, who reviewed and combined over 60 existing research studies in a meta-analysis on the risk factors for melanoma, reported the following risks: large number of moles +589%, red hair +264%, Skin Type 1 +109%, sunburns +103%, intermittent sun exposure +61%. The study reported that "chronic" (defined as regular, continuous) sun exposure REDUCED the risk of melanoma by 5%. This is consistent with scientific studies of outdoor workers who have greater sun exposure and a lower risk of melanoma than indoor workers.

Canadian provinces with higher sunny days in the warmer month like AB, SK and MB have lower rates of melanoma. Provinces with fewer sunny days such as the maritime provinces of NL, PE, NB and NS have higher rates of melanoma.

Source: Environment Canada and Canadian Cancer Society

Outside sun exposure has been decreasing for the past 75 years. Because our jobs have moved indoors, we get our food from the grocery store and don't hunt or grow it anymore. Melanoma rates have been increasing at the same rate. How is it possible that sun or UV exposure be the direct cause of melanoma when people are spending less time outdoors and when outside they are covered in chemical sunscreen? In addition, with our modern lifestyle people just don't spend enough time out in the sun, especially between 10am-2pm in summer.

As Melanoma incidence in the USA increased, so did chemical sunscreen sales.

In the UK, 7 medical organizations, including: British Association of Dermatologists, Cancer Research UK, Diabetes UK, Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Heart Forum, National Osteoporosis Society and Primary Dermatology Society have urged people to enjoy the sun safely and take care not to burn, helping to ensure the benefits of vitamin D can be enjoyed without the risk of skin cancer being raised unnecessarily.