Benefits and harms of sunlight
What are the benefits of sunlight?
Sunlight is necessary for life on earth, just as certain vitamins and proteins are. We need sunshine because it enables us to make vitamin D – a nutrient that promotes calcium absorption in the intestines, which is essential for bone growth and repair. Sunshine also triggers serotonin (a neurotransmitter) production in the brain. Serotonin contributes to healthy emotional balance, which is why sunlight makes us feel good.
Sunlight can be harmful too. If there were no harm in the sunshine, then we would not need to protect ourselves with sunscreen or protective clothing when exposed to it for extended periods of time. It’s true that there are benefits to sun exposure, but that does not mean that the sun is always healthy.
Sunlight, like many things in life, can be beneficial or harmful depending on how much of it we are exposed to and for how long. If you love sunshine, then go out in it (with protection), but don’t overdo it; nobody needs to fry themselves in the sun.
What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays? (photosensitivity, sunburns)
UVA and UVB are both types of ultraviolet radiation. The difference between them is that UVA penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB does, which makes it more likely to cause damage such as wrinkles or leathering of the skin. Both UVA and UVB can cause sunburns, but UVB is the chief culprit of this type of damage.
What are common forms of skin cancer?
The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. All three types are caused by DNA damage in skin cells due to chronic, unprotected sun exposure.
What is the SPF of sunscreen? What does it signify?
The “SPF” of a sunscreen refers to its ability to filter out UVB rays from the sun. In general, an SPF 15 product blocks about 93% of incoming UVB rays, while an SPF 30 product blocks 97%, and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98%. The difference between these effectiveness levels is negligible, but the difference in price is not.
What are some tips for preventing skin cancer?
Preventing this disease ultimately begins with resisting the temptation to stay out in the sun too long without sunscreen. When it’s sunny at the beach or in the park, don’t spend hours lazing about under the sun.
Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and re-apply at least every 2 hours to maintain its effectiveness. When you do go out in the sun, try to limit yourself to an hour of exposure per day if possible, and never expose your bare skin to the sun when it’s at its peak intensity in the middle of the day.
What is a good sunscreen with anti-aging properties?
There really isn’t such a thing as a “good” sunscreen, because all sunscreens block a certain amount of vitamin D production. After years of using sunscreen regularly, most people living in sunny climates have low vitamin D levels – if not an outright deficiency.
The best sunscreen for anti-aging purposes is the one you’re least likely to use, i.e. the one that doesn’t make it into your daily routine because of how often you forget to re-apply it. If you use an SPF 45 product once a day, it’s probably not wise to rely on it for anti-aging benefits; you’re better off with a moderate SPF 25 product that you use twice a day.
Benefits of morning sunlight for skin:
Vitamin D Production is one of the most important reasons to get outside and soak up some sunshine.
Sunlight also triggers serotonin (a neurotransmitter) production in the brain. Serotonin contributes to healthy emotional balance, which is why sunlight makes us feel good. Sunlight can be harmful too. If there is not enough sunlight, the body cannot absorb calcium. That is why they make vitamin D pills to take when they are indoors most of the day.
30 minutes of sunlight per day is all it takes to produce adequate levels of vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with many health problems, including depression and heart disease.
Sunlight is good for the skin. UVA rays are essential to produce collagen production in the body. Collagen is an important factor in cell repair, so sunlight helps acne scars heal more quickly.
Benefits of walking in the sun:
Walking in the sun is good for you. It helps to regulate your body’s internal clock. One study found that people who walked in the sunshine during the day were better able to sleep at night than those who walked alone in a dimly lit street.
Another thing about walking in the sun is, it releases brain chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are associated with good feelings and can help lift your mood, so walking in the sun helps you feel better about yourself as well as improving your overall health.
walking for 30 minutes per day is enough to balance out 4 hours of sitting. We might not all be able to find 30 minutes every day to walk around outside, but we can all find some time for it every day. It’s a good idea to ask someone to join you if you can, or better yet, get them to join you (that way they’ll be more likely to stick with it).