A British news organization reported this weekend that over-use of sunscreen and sun avoidance is contributing to a resurgence of the bone-disfiguring disease rickets in the United Kingdom.

“Over-anxious parents who slap sunscreen on their children may have contributed to the return of rickets in Cambridgeshire, doctors have said. Statistics released by Addenbrooke’s Hospital to the News show several children have been treated recently for the bone disease, which was virtually eliminated from Britain by the 1950s,” The Cambridge News reported.

“Parents need to be aware of the benefits of sunshine and not just the risks,” Dr Kate King, from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Public Health Protection Team, told The News. “The focus has been squarely on the risks of UV damage caused by sunburn, but we need to think more about the risks of vitamin D deficiency. If it’s a hot summer’s day, then it is important that children wear a hat and sunscreen. However, parents need to realize sunshine is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle.”

The News reported that six children in Cambridgeshire were treated for rickets in 2009 alone. Rickets was eradicated in the mid-20th century when doctors learned that vitamin D deficiency was the principle cause.

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