A Chinese woman, who was so fearful of tanning that she had never worn short sleeves, ended up suffering a fracture simply by turning over in her sleep.
The incident has shocked many on Chinese social media.
The case emerged on May 14 when Long Shuang, an attending doctor in the emergency department at XinDu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, shared the unusual incident.
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The 48-year-old woman from Chengdu, in southwestern China’s Sichuan province, whose name has not been disclosed, experienced a bone fracture from merely rolling over in bed, a consequence of her prolonged and excessive avoidance of sunlight.
According to Long, the woman had shunned sun exposure since childhood, rarely wore short sleeves outdoors, and always applied sunscreen.
While it remains unclear whether she or her family ever voiced concerns about her extreme sun-avoidance habits, the repercussions became serious after her injury.
Upon admission, medical tests revealed that her vitamin D level was critically low, which had accelerated bone resorption and led to severe osteoporosis.
Given that sunlight plays a vital role in enabling the body to synthesise vitamin D – which is essential for bone health and aids in calcium absorption – long-term avoidance of sunlight can result in a range of health issues, including weakened bones and diminished immunity.
As sun protection trends gain traction across China, with women extensively shielding themselves from the sun using wide-brimmed visors, sun-protection gloves, cooling face masks, and lightweight UV-resistant hoodies – layering to guard against harsh UV rays – experts are voicing concerns about the potential health risks associated with excessive sun avoidance.
Jiang Xiaobing, Chief Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, issued a warning in an online video.
“It is now common to see people fully covered from head to toe for sun protection – this is indeed unhealthy. All the bones in our body regenerate every 10 years, but from age 30, we begin to lose bone mass at a rate of 0.5 to 1 per cent per year. Low calcium intake, lack of sun exposure, and vitamin D deficiency all hinder calcium absorption. A sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive drinking also compromise bone health.”
“We need to ensure adequate calcium intake, exercise regularly, and limit smoking and drinking. For instance, no more than two cans of beer per day if the alcohol content is five per cent. Menopausal women, in particular, should be exceptionally cautious,” he advised.
The news, reported by Haibao News, quickly went viral, sparking a wave of online reactions.
One person commented: “This is unbelievable – she broke her bone just by turning over in bed?”
Another added: “This is so extreme. Was she also crash dieting in addition to avoiding the sun? Seriously, everyone needs some sunlight every day.”
A third remarked: “Sadly, this reflects how society has conditioned many Chinese women to prioritise fair skin over their health.”
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