12 Ways the Sun Affects Us: Positive & Harmful
Wrinkles, sun burn, dehydration...the sun gets a bad rap for some of its negative effects on our health. However, sunshine is good for you when you’re careful. Dermatologist Carey Bligard, MD, UnityPoint Health, says like many other things, sunshine should be enjoyed in moderation to avoid painful sunburn, heat rash, wrinkles and skin cancer.
Positive Effects of the Sun
1. Enhances Your Mood
Dr. Bligard says there are many benefits from sunlight, including being a free mood enhancer. Being in the sun can make people feel better and have more energy. Sunlight increases the levels of serotonin in the brain, which is associated with improved mood. Not surprisingly, serotonin levels are highest in the summer.
2. Treats Seasonal Depression (commonly referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder)
In certain people, the lack of sunlight in the winter can trigger depression. SAD symptoms include feeling down, difficulty making and keeping friends, overeating, tiredness and sleeping too much. Seasonal depression, formerly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is rare in the warmer months.
3. Relieves Stress
Everyone experiences stress for various factors, such as family, work and health issues. Dr. Bligard says stress can be relieved in a variety of ways, including exercise, having relaxing hobbies, walking the dog or by getting out in the fresh air for a little sun exposure.
4. Improves Sleep
Sunlight exposure impacts how much melatonin your brain produces, which is what tells your brain it’s time to sleep. When it gets dark, you start producing melatonin, so you’re ready to sleep in about two hours. With more sunlight in the summer, you’re likely to feel more awake. Dr. Bligard points out that modern technology has allowed us to change our light exposure artificially with lights, such as from TV, computer, tablet or phone screens. Consequently, insomnia is much higher now than it was before these devices were invented.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vitamin involved in maintaining healthy bone strength. One way you can get this vitamin is exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. However, you don’t need much time in the sun to reap the benefits. Dr. Bligard recommends only 15 minutes of sun exposure to provide all the vitamin D you need.
The Harmful Effects of the Sun
6. Sun Damage to the Eyes
Long-term, unprotected exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun can damage the retina. The retina is the back of the eye, where the rods and cones make visual images, which are then sent to the visual centers in the brain. Damage from exposure to sunlight can also cause the development of cloudy bumps along the edge of the cornea, which can grow over the cornea and prevent clear vision. UV light is also a factor in the development of cataracts.
7. Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to excessive loss of water and salt, usually
through excessive sweating. People working in a hot environment are at risk of heat
exhaustion
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Irritability
- Thirst
- Heavy sweating
- Elevated body temperature
- Decreased urine output
8. Heat Stroke
If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it can lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and can be life-threatening. According to the CDC, heat stroke causes the body’s temperature to rise quickly and can reach up to 106 degree Fahrenheit within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention because if it is left untreated, it can cause death or permanent disability. If you notice heat stroke, call 911 immediately.
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
- Loss of consciousness (coma)
- Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
- Seizures
9. Sunburn
Sunburns are widely recognized as one of the most common negative effects of too much sun exposure. Dr. Bligard says the maximum symptoms of sunburn do not usually appear until about four or five hours after the sun exposure occurs. Ultraviolet light is the cause of sunburn, which may come from the sun or tanning beds.
General symptoms of sunburn include:
- Redness
- Pain/tenderness
- Swelling
- Blisters
- Flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, fever, chills or headache
If you notice a sunburn fever, see your doctor. Besides a fever, severe burns also involve significant pain and extensive fluid-filled blisters.
10. Heat Rash
A heat rash is a skin rash that occurs when sweat ducts trap perspiration under the skin. Heat rash often takes place during hot, humid weather and, according to the CDC, often looks like red clusters of pimples or small blisters. Heat rash develops in skin folds, elbow creases, the groin or on the neck and upper chest.
Heat rash can be treated by staying in a cool environment to prevent sweating and by keeping the affected area of skin dry. To help relieve the symptoms of heat rash, the CDC suggests using powder to increase comfort. However, it is not advised to use ointment or creams.
11. Skin Cancer
Dr. Bligard says the worst consequence of long-term exposure to the sun is the development of skin cancer. Because the sun damage to the skin develops over years, the older you are, the greater the risk of developing skin cancer. After years of exposure to the sunlight, providers look for three common types of skin cancer (in order of how often they occur): basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
This type of skin cancer almost always occurs on sun-damaged skin and is usually pink, shiny and raised. Because the skin becomes very soft, it may be easily injured and so may appear as a scab that keeps returning in the same spot. Dr. Bligard identifies that basal cell carcinoma is especially common in the beard area of men where they use a razor and take the top off the cancer. Although BCC doesn’t generally spread, it does get bigger and deeper over time and can become a problem if ignored.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
This skin cancer is also caused by exposure to the sun, but can also occur in burn scars (from either heat or radiation treatment) or from chronic ulcers of the skin. In a small number of cases, SCC can spread to the lymph nodes and (rarely) to other organs. Dr. Bligard says these can vary in severity and may require special surgical treatments, such as Mohs Surgery, for removal, if they are large or in difficult-to-treat areas.
Malignant Melanoma
Melanoma is the least common of these skin cancers, but it is increasing every year, especially in young women between the ages of 18 and 29 because of the high rate of tanning bed use in this population. Melanoma is very dangerous and can occur any place where there are pigment-producing cells, include the entire skin (it does not have to be in direct sun-exposed areas, but sun exposure increases the risk), moles, birthmarks and the eye. It can spread to lymph nodes and beyond to other organs, including the brain, lungs and liver. Melanoma is much more common in families with a history of abnormal moles or malignant melanoma. Those who have had melanoma have a significant risk of developing other melanomas, so Dr. Bligard recommends regular skin checks.
Dr. Bligard says it is very important that malignant melanoma be diagnosed early, as the thinner the tumor is, the less likely it is to spread. Although there is a lot of research into treatment of melanoma, the best treatment is surgical removal of the tumor and any involved lymph nodes before it has spread.
12. Wrinkles/Aging
We associate wrinkles with aging, but sun exposure is a significant factor in their development and how early they appear. UV light damages collagen and elastic tissue in the skin, so it becomes fragile and does not spring back into shape, causing sagging. Dr. Bligard says the only factor worse than UV light exposure for aging and wrinkling is cigarette smoking, which causes the skin to become yellowish and thick with deep wrinkles. Some people will also get white cysts and blackheads on the cheekbones from sun exposure and smoking. UV light exposure also causes white and dark spots on the skin, as it damages the surface cells.
Why are Tanning Beds More Harmful Than the Sun?
A common misconception, promoted by the tanning bed industry, is that tanning beds are safer to use for tanning than direct sun exposure. Many teens will tan before prom to look good in their dress clothes, but Dr. Bligard says they aren’t doing themselves any favors. Tanning beds put out UVA light that is much more intense than what you receive outdoors because it does not work as efficiently as UVB light. UVA goes significantly deeper into the skin than UVB and not only causes skin cancer, but it causes more leathery, wrinkled skin.
In the United States, research shows more than 400,000 cases of skin cancer each year are attributed to indoor tanning. Studies have shown the risk of malignant melanoma is much higher in people who use tanning beds.
Protection from the Sun for Kids and Adults
Much of the damage to our skin caused by sun exposure can be prevented. Andrea Childs, CPNP-PC, DNP, UnityPoint Health, shares how kids and grown-ups can stay safe outside this summer.
Use sunscreen. Everyone, regardless of skin tone, needs to wear sunscreen, because all skin types are at risk for sun damage. Sunscreen must be applied 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. It should also be reapplied at least every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweating.
When choosing a sunscreen, look for:
- Ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are less irritating for those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema.
- SPF 30 or higher.
- Water and sweat-resistant varieties.
- Sunscreen without bug repellant, because it may reduce effectiveness of sun protection if applied together. If bug spray is used, it should be applied separately, after sunscreen.
Childs says lotions are generally better than sprays, because they provide more even coverage. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend sunscreen for infants under six months. Instead, they suggest keeping babies out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when rays are strongest.
If your baby is in the sun, keep them shaded or in clothing that covers their skin, face, ears and neck. If absolutely necessary, apply a small amount of sunscreen to exposed areas, but choose a mineral-based lotion that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
Protect your eyes with UV filtering sunglasses.
Wear long sleeves and a brimmed hat that covers your face and neck.
Avoid the sun, but if you’re going to be outside for long periods, sit under the cover of a building, umbrella or tree that has dense shade underneath.
Talk to your primary care provider if you’re concerned with any sun-damaged skin on your body.