The UV Advantage.

The UV Advantage

Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD and Mark Jenkins, editors. Michael F. Holick and Mark Jenkins, 2003. 210 pages. $19.95. ISBN: 0-7434864-7-1

Information overload is typical of our society. We are bombarded constantly by information: magazines, books, advertisements, and of course, well-meaning friends. The easy access to the Web has also added a totally different dimension to the available information.

The problem, however, is that the information available is often raw, unfiltered and sometimes blatantly contradictory and biased. Ideally one needs an independent advisor to review this information and place it in the greater context of already available information.

This is precisely what Dr. Michael Holick and Mark Jenkins have done in the book they have written. Over the past few years there has been great emphasis on the potential dangers of sunlight and the need to avoid its exposure. On the other hand, sunlight is important for the skin to produce vitamin D precursors and for health. Whereas some dermatologists recommend avoidance of sunlight, other specialists recommend some exposure. It is difficult to know where exactly the truth lies, because dermatologists only see patients with skin diseases while other specialists do not.

That is until Dr. Holick started to speak, or to be more accurate, write. Dr. Holick is a professor of dermatology and of medicine at Boston University. He is therefore in a strong position to put the available evidence in perspective and make unbiased recommendations. Besides having discovered the various steps by which vitamin D is activated, he is in a unique position to discuss the advantages and dangers of sunlight, put them into perspective and make sensible, unbiased recommendations.

The UV Advantage has just over 200 pages, divided into seven chapters: The Facts of Light (why you need sunlight, and how you got conned into thinking it was bad for you); The Facts about Skin Cancer and Sunshine (why the statement "sunlight causes cancer" is overstated, and how to harness the sun for health); Sunlight and Skin Appearance (how to avoid wrinkles and other skin problems and still get the health benefits of sunshine); Sunshine is a Powerful Medicine (the good news about the healing power of the sun); Light Up Your Life (how sunlight affects your psychological health and sleep patterns); When the Sun Just Isn't for You (exploring other sources of vitamin D: diet supplements and artificial sunlight); and Rx: Sun (learning to use sunshine as good medicine in everyday life). At the end of the book there is also a glossary and a bibliography should interested readers wish to pursue their study of UV light further.

The book is very well written and easy to read. The liberal use of boxes, tables, diagrams, titles and subtitles enhance the readability of the book and facilitate finding the relevant passage for future reference.

This book is strongly recommended for the lay public and for health care professionals who are often asked for advice regarding exposure to sunshine. Reading this book will ensure a better understanding of the problem and will allow readers to put the available evidence in perspective and enjoy the benefits of sunshine while avoiding its potentially harmful effects.

Ronald C. Hamdy, MD

Editor