Wired: 3 Smart Things About Sunburn

3 Smart Things About Sunburn

07.21.08

1 Early hominids may have developed a sensitivity to UV rays for the good of the species. Based on a study using blood plasma, just an hour in direct sunlight could cause a 30 to 50 percent drop in folate levels — and low folate is linked to both abnormal sperm and birth defects. Good news for nerds: It's survival of the palest!

2 World War II sailors were early adopters of sunscreen. The zinc oxide they smeared on their noses served to reflect and scatter UV light. Today's lotions have added organic compounds that absorb UV energy and dissipate it as heat.

3 The sun isn't all evil. It stimulates your skin to produce vitamin D, and one study suggests that 1,000 IUs of D per day reduces your risk of certain cancers by up to 50 percent. But that's not a free pass to bake: More than 15 minutes of exposure daily over 40 percent of your body might just be an invitation to skin cancer.