Good Day Sunshine

Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-orange-bikini-applying-sunscreen-8157149/

Let me start by acknowledging that there’s a fair amount of controversy concerning the relative risks and benefits of sun exposure. By far, the biggest risk is getting sunburned repeatedly, but even without burning, there may be some risks to some people from just periodic non-burning sun exposure.

Most dermatologists will tell you to avoid sun exposure as much as possible. But dermatologists are laser-focused on the sun’s potential detrimental effects on the skin, just the skin, and only the skin. Dermatologists do skin – that’s their job – and every other part of the body be damned!

All right, most dermatologists probably aren’t quite that extreme, but they do tend to be pretty focused on the skin when it comes to the subject of sun exposure. And it is true that sun exposure is associated with an increased risk of skin cancers overall, although it’s mostly precancerous lesions and the less serious (and relatively easy to treat) cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

In fact, when it comes to the “big bad” skin cancer – melanoma – approximately 75% occurs in areas of the skin not usually exposed to the sun.

But to be fair, as with pretty much anything fun in life, sun exposure has some potential risks.

That said, sun exposure is also really important to health!

Now, you probably know that sun exposure is necessary for your body to produce Vitamin D. In fact, if you’re not supplementing, 90 to 95 % of your vitamin D comes from your skin being exposed to the sun’s UV-B rays which start the conversion of cholesterol to vitamin D (one reason that having some of the frequently-demonized cholesterol is important to health, as well).

Although some have speculated that sunscreen might interfere with vitamin D production from sunlight, this does not actually appear to be the case – normally applied sunscreen apparently allows enough UV-B rays through to the skin to still produce healthy levels of vitamin D. So you can get your vitamin D without risking getting burned.

Vitamin D has numerous important functions. It helps to modulate inflammation and it’s necessary for bone health and normal immune function (to fight infections). Presumably due to the immune system effects, some studies suggest that although sun exposure probably increases the risk of mild forms of skin cancer, the Vitamin D produced may actually decrease the risk of the more serious melanoma!

Vitamin D even helps reduce fat cell production and participates in appetite control.

So just from the standpoint of getting adequate vitamin D, moderate sun exposure (avoiding burning) has some pretty far-reaching health benefits.

But wait – there’s more!

Sun exposure does more than just help you produce vitamin D.

UV rays have anti-microbial effects, separate from Vitamin D, that further help you fight infections.

In addition, sunlight interacts with the retinas of the eyes to trigger the release of serotonin, which in turn helps elevate mood and counteract depression.

Sun exposure also modulates the function of melatonin and the sleep-wake cycle. Bright sunlight exposure during the day will help you to fall asleep faster and sleep better. Not only that, it enhances “slow-wave” sleep, which helps with memory consolidation and brain recovery. Sunlight exposure in the morning suppresses melatonin, making you more awake and alert.

Possibly associated with sleep effects, sunlight seems to improve cognition, especially in older adults.

And speaking of older adults, sun exposure increases endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers – so it might keep those aches and pains of aging at bay to some degree as well.

So, to sum it up, sun exposure has some risks (primarily of certain less-serious and largely-treatable skin cancers), but these risks can largely be avoided with appropriate use of sunscreen. If all we considered was the skin, it might make sense to avoid sun exposure altogether, but the benefits of sun exposure are far-reaching – enhanced immune function, improved mood, better brain function, enhanced bone health, better sleep, reduced pain, and probably quite a bit more in indirect ways (given that vitamin D interacts with numerous hormones and biochemicals in the body).

It’s definitely important to avoid getting sunburned, but all things considered, non-burning sun exposure will probably do you some good.

Until next time…

George Best, D.C.