Safe Sun

May 21, 2018

For years, we have been told to stay out of the sun, to douse ourselves in sunscreen whenever we leave the house and to wear sunglasses whenever we're outside. While I don't dispute the fact that we need to be sensible when spending time outdoors, it has never made sense to me that we need to run and hide every time the sun comes out -- haven't humans been outside without sunscreen and sunglasses for most of our existence on this planet?

Rates of skin cancer, including melanoma, are increasing, it is true. But is that because we are spending too much time in the sun? In fact, there is a ton of evidence that shows that the opposite is true -- those who avoid the sun actually have a much higher risk of melanoma than those who spend a fair amount of time in it. And the same is true for those who apply a daily dose of sunscreen, which often contains many harmful, toxic ingredients and may be one of the causes for the increase we've seen in melanoma.

There are plenty of reasons why the sun should be revered, not feared. Here are a few:

1. Adequate Vitamin D levels prevent skin cancer. You get Vitamin D from sun exposure on your bare skin. And you get the most Vitamin D when the sun is the strongest, around noon.

2. Tan skin provides natural protection from the potentially damaging UV rays of the sun. Burning is always bad -- it is your body's way of telling you you've gotten too much sun. A healthy tan can keep you from getting burnt.

3. Sun exposure does wonders for the immune system. It gives us Vitamin D, as mentioned, but it has also been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and prevent disease by increasing levels of lymphocytes (white blood cells) which destroy infection.

4. Sunlight helps regulate your Circadian rhythm. This means you get better, more restful sleep, which allows your body to heal and repair, and makes you better able to fight off illness.

5. It boosts your mood! We have all heard of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which can occur when we don't get enough sunlight, but exposure to the sun has also been shown to be helpful in treating depression. This is because the sun boosts serotonin, a feel-good hormone in our bodies.

6. It can even help your kids avoid the need for glasses. Australian researchers found that time in the sun reduced the incidence of myopia (near-sightedness) in children.

But it is important not to be reckless in the sun also. An app like D-Minder can tell you how much sun is safe for YOU, taking skin tone, location, time of day and time of year into account. Or just check your skin after 10 minutes or so by moving your shorts or bathing suit to the side a bit -- if you see a change in color, it's time to head for the shade or apply a natural sunblock. And annual skin cancer screenings are always a good idea.

Try to get 10-20 minutes of sun (depending on your skin tone and how quickly you burn) every day, on as much exposed skin as you can. This weekend is Memorial Day -- the perfect time to get your first dose of SAFE sun.