The influence of the sun on our body and skin
We talk a lot about the damage of the sun, but after all, the sun is the source of life and without the sun, the earth would not turn? Of course, we need to act carefully and responsibly, but I want to share a few highlights I've heard about why we absolutely need the sun (not just in the summer) and how to get the maximum benefits.
Vitamin D is important for our bones, blood cells, and immune system, and its deficiency is associated with the risk of developing certain diseases. We can get it from food (fatty fish, egg yolks), supplements, or from sunlight. The truth is that in our geographical latitude, we can only get vitamin D from sunlight between May and August, so the rest of the year we should supplement it from other sources (diet + supplements).
Take advantage of the summer months to naturally synthesize vitamin D, which is produced from cholesterol in the skin when exposed to sunlight. The amount of time you need to be in the sun to produce the necessary dose of vitamin D depends on your skin tone, age, health history, and where you live, but it is estimated that on average, 13 minutes of sun exposure with 25% of your body exposed (your face is not necessary, leave the rest of your body uncovered).
There is very little evidence that sunscreen reduces vitamin D levels, so this is not an argument against using it. We strongly recommend using SPF creams regularly, especially on the face.
Sunlight not only stimulates the production of vitamin D, but also affects many other processes in the body and is responsible for the synthesis of other substances such as endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, sirtuin, etc., so it is not surprising that as soon as the sun comes out, our mood improves and our days become lighter and more cheerful. Although sunlight suppresses the immune system, regular small amounts of UV light can alleviate the symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, and it has also been proven that UVA and UVB light destroy the yeast that grows on the skin of people with seborrheic dermatitis.
Sunlight plays a significant role in our circadian rhythm, sleep quality, so it is very important to receive daylight through our retinas as soon as we wake up or before 10 am, so that the body wakes up, stimulates physiological processes, hormones and becomes active. However, UV radiation from the sun is the main factor in skin photoaging and can cause about 80% of visible changes related to skin aging (wrinkles, age spots, loss of skin elasticity).
We say a strict NO to tanning beds, because they emit up to 12 times more UVA radiation than natural light and even ONE SESSION in a tanning bed can increase the risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 67%. Visiting tanning beds before the age of 35 - 60% more likely to develop melanoma - the most severe form. However, if you have enjoyed the sun without moderation or have already noticed the first changes in your skin, it is not time to give up and say - oh, that's it, I got sunburned, I will not change anything. Not true! What you can do is use antioxidants (both eaten and applied), because scientific studies have shown that - Polyphenols reduce the negative effects of solar radiation and have the potential to prevent skin diseases related to photoaging.
What to use: Antioxidants and vitamins (especially vitamins C and E), curcumin, coenzyme Q, lipoic acid, resveratrol, and other polyphenols.
The seminar was organized by the Medexy team, the presentation was given by public health specialist Brigita Bikaitė, 28.06.2023
