Why the Sun Is Both Good and Bad for Our Skin and Body
Without the sun, life on earth would not exist. Sunlight is also important for maintaining healthy skin.
However, it can also be detrimental to the body and skin’s health. Let’s take a closer look at why the sun is both good and bad.
The Dark Side of the Sun
You probably know that too much sun exposure can cause sunburn. But have you thought about the more serious issues too much sunlight can cause? Both the sun’s UVB and UVA rays can affect your skin’s health. The latter can travel more deeply into your skin. When UV rays enter your skin’s cells, the rays upset the process that affects your skin’s appearance and growth. In turn, that causes early ageing of the skin. Symptoms include leathery skin, dark spots, and wrinkled or tight skin. Quite simply, the more sun exposure you get, the earlier your skin ages. And as you get older, the harder it becomes for your skin to repair itself. Over time, the damage of UV rays takes a toll on your skin’s underlying connective tissue as well as the skin itself. Thankfully, there are anti-ageing treatments available that are customised to your skin’s needs, such as the excellent treatments provided by dermatologists at NavaMD.com.
Ageing skin is not the only risk of too much sun exposure. One of the most serious risks is skin cancer, which is caused by UV light entering skin cells and harming the DNA within. Skin cancer often first appears as a small spot on the skin. One of the less common but more serious types of skin cancer is melanoma.
Another potential problem from too much sun exposure is eye injuries. When your skin absorbs too many UV rays, the tissue in your eyes can become damaged. That can result in blurred vision. Over time, you could develop cataracts and if left untreated, you could go blind.
The Light Side of the Sun
Now that the bad news is out of the way, let us take a look at the good. The sun does our skin as much good as it does bad. In fact, it is vital for good health because it provides us with vitamin D. While vitamin D can be taken via food or supplements, most people do not get enough of the vitamin through their diets, so getting sunshine is vital. Vitamin D is a key component for keeping your bones healthy and strong. It can also help you to maintain a healthy immune system and proper muscle function. So, quite simply, getting the sun’s rays into your skin enables you to stay healthy.
Furthermore, absorbing a few UV rays can help to give your skin a healthy glow. Studies have also shown that sunshine can lower blood pressure and improve heart health. Also, while too much sun can cause conditions like early ageing of the skin and skin cancer, sunshine can also help to make some skin conditions better, including eczema and psoriasis.
Getting a daily dose of sunshine can also help you to improve your mood. When you are exposed to sunlight, it is thought your brain increases its release of the hormone serotonin. The hormone is associated with helping people to boost their moods. Without enough exposure to sunlight, your serotonin levels can drop and you have a higher risk of suffering from SAD or depression.
The Good, the Bad, and the Balance
It should now be clear that the sun is both good and bad for our skin and bodies. So, to ensure your skin and body stays healthy, get regular but moderate doses of sunshine and avoid too much exposure to the sun.
