“This smallish study in Mexico found no particular association between sun exposure, or lack of sun exposure, and MS. It is a pity they didn’t use skin damage as the metric for assessing sun exposure. A scoring technique using silicone skin casts has been used extensively in Australia. Could sun exposure be more important in childhood than adolescence? A Norwegian study has shown this in the past. What is clear that once someone develops MS they seem to withdraw from going out. Why? Could it be because of heat sensitivity? Lack of mobility? Economic factors? Unsightly injection site reactions from DMTs? Low mood and social isolation? I would be interested in finding out.”
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| Is this an outdoor activity? |
Epub: Espinosa-Ramírez et al. Sunlight exposure and multiple sclerosis in a tropical country. Neurol Res. 2014 Jan 12:1743132813Y0000000307.
Objective: We analysed past and current sun exposure in MSers as compared with matched controls in Mexico, a country with tropical climate.
Methods: In a case-controlled study that include 83 MS patients and 166 matched controls, we inquired about sunlight exposure on two different periods: during adolescence and during the immediate past 5 years. Indicators were: exposure on quotidian and weekend outdoor activities with direct sunlight contact as expressed on frequency by mean number of days, daytime (morning, noon, afternoon), number of hours, visits to sunny places, and use of sunblocking agents. Additional elements were socioeconomic status, skin colour, and antecedent of varicella infection during childhood.
Results: MS patients showed a larger proportion of white skin. MS patients had more sunlight exposure during adolescence (80% versus 60%, P = 0·002); this tendency prevailed on current indicators (46% versus 30%, P = 0·02). However, current exposure on weekends (10% versus 22%, P = 0·02) and visits to the beach (64% versus 98%, P = 0·002) were lower in MS than in controls.
