Only a fraction of adults can accurately assess the risk of sunburn. People with pale skin which tends not to tan are most at risk from UV radiation. But even those with black skin are at some risk from prolonged exposure to very high UV levels. The elderly are most at risk as they are least likely to understand warnings about high UV levels and sunburn risk.
A study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) (February 2000) says the danger of dying from skin cancer has been exaggerated and the potential benefits from the sun played down. The study says there is evidence that lack of vitamin D, which is linked to exposure to the sun, can cause bone problems, including childhood rickets, may reduce multiple sclerosis and depression and can treat skin conditions like psoriasis.