The same DNA-damaging, sunburn-causing UVB wavelengths that sunscreens are designed to block also do some good: They kick off the chemical and metabolic chain reaction that produces vitamin D.
Research shows that many people have low vitamin D levels. There is a well-documented relationship between low vitamin D levels and poor bone health.
Now links have been made to everything from multiple sclerosis to prostate cancer. Getting some sun may also shake off the wintertime blues: Research suggests that light hitting your skin, not just your eyes, helps reverse seasonal affective disorder SAD.
Moreover, being outside gets us golfing, gardening, and engaging in other types of physical activity. Nobody wants to get skin cancer, but we've gone from sun worship to sun dread. Stern and others say there is a middle way that includes using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor SPF of at least 15 when you're outside for an extended period and wearing a hat and shirt around midday. So when summer's here, get outside and enjoy it!
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Thanks for visiting. Enjoying a little sunlight every day can be a simple way to boost and stabilize—your mood.
Vitamin D is crucial to our bodies. It is also required for bone growth —without it, our bones become thin and brittle. Fortunately, getting the necessary amount is as easy as taking a walk in the sunshine. Our skin generates vitamin D on its own.
Exposure of the hands, face, arms, and legs to sunlight times a week will produce an ample amount of vitamin D in our bodies.
The amount of exposure time will vary by the time of year, skin type, weather, and other factors of course but the good news is, even in bodies that are vitamin D deficient, it can be easy as lying in the sun to return us back to normal levels.
Just six days of casual sunlight exposure without sunscreen can make up for 49 days of no sunlight exposure. But as easy as treatment is, vitamin D deficiency may be more common than you think. One study showed that at the time, about three-quarters of US teens and adults were deficient in vitamin D.
Such statistics show that we, as a society, need to increase awareness that the sun is a carcinogen and is dangerous for our health. Of course, other risk factors must be taken into account when analyzing patients diagnosed with skin cancer, such as family history, the fairness of ones skin, medical treatments such as organ transplants, and exposure to chemicals, but it is clear that the rate of skin cancer can decrease if people become more aware of the dangers of the sun and act accordingly by taking the proper precautions before going outside.
Ultraviolet Radiation and the Eyes. Not only is skin exposure to UV light harmful for our skin, but it is also very dangerous for our eyes, especially for people with blue or very lightly colored eyes. Just like skin, the eyes can get burned by short-term exposure to UVB radiation.
In what is known as photokeratitis , the cornea becomes burned and inflamed, and in photoconjunctivitis, the conjunctiva inner surface of the eyelids is burned. However, this is not to say that UV radiation does not have long-term affects on the eyes. Eyes exposed to UV radiation over a period of time are more prone to cataracts the clouding of the eye lens , damage to the retina, and macular degeneration , which can lead to blindness.
Additionally, long-term exposure to UV radiation is even linked to melanoma of the eye. After discussing cancer and eye maladies caused by exposure to the sun, it may seem silly to talk about the consequences of sun-induced aging, such as wrinkles. Still, I think it is very important to understand the full spectrum of effects that the sun can have on our health and bodies.
The same culprit that causes skin cancer and the eye problems discussed above is responsible for sun-induced aging: UV radiation. When exposed to UV radiation, the collagen and elastin fibers in our faces break down , thus reducing the flexibility of the skin. Hence, sagging and wrinkles. According to a study published in Clinical, Cosmetic, Investigational Dermatology , Of course, cancer is my number one concern when it comes to the health effects of the sun.
If this means staying out of the sun and slathering my face with sunscreen five times a day, so be it. Unlike the wrinkles of the Chinese Shar-Pei above, which are not caused by the sun and are absolutely adorable, I personally do not see the allure of having lines running down my face and neck before I enter into old age! Now knowing the dangerous effects of the sun, do I still seem as paranoid as I first did in the introduction?
Of course I am not saying that people should be nocturnal and not go out during the day. Instead, I am saying that sun exposure should be limited, whether by wearing sunblock every day, sun protective clothing, or even a hat and big sunglasses. In my next post, I will write about some of my favorite sun style tips that allow me to have fun in the sun, while being safe and protected from UV radiation.
What are your views on the dangers of the sun? Do you agree that the sun is one of the most dangerous carcinogens facing people today, or do you think I am just too fanatical?
What kind of sun style tips would you like in my next post? June Hertz, P. Biology: The Dynamic Science. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, Bernard, J. Nature Medicine, 18, Flament, Frederic et al. Gruijl, F. European Journal of Cancer, Henriksen, T. Photochemistry and Photobiology, — Hussien, Mahmoud.
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, Oils, lotions, and pills claim to produce more melanin and darken your skin faster. These products are not approved by the FDA. There are safe ways to get a tan. You can use sunless self-tanners. Lotions, sprays, and tinted makeup provide color without risk of damage. You also can get an airbrush tan. It has become more common for salons to offer this service.
You still need to use sunscreen and other means of protection when you are exposed to the sun. Ask your doctor if you should get regular screenings to look for early signs of cancer.
These can help detect early signs of skin cancer. You also can check for new or changing skin spots at home. Contact your doctor if you notice anything unusual. This includes a spot that hurts, itches, or has changed color or shape. Your doctor will perform an exam to look at your skin. They might need to remove part or all of the spot to take a biopsy. This will show if the spot contains cancer or not. Your doctor will work with you on treatment if they find cancer.
American Cancer Society: Skin Cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation. Last Updated: September 15, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. You may hear conflicting reports from different sources.
The U. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Knee Bracing: What Works? Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy. What is sun exposure? Signs of sunburn include: Redness. Your skin will turn red due to an increase in blood flow.
It can happen right away or over time. You might not know you are burnt until you go back inside. Hot skin. You also can get goose bumps or chills.
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