When people think about sun exposure, many immediately respond with “NO! NO! NO!” Thoughts of UV rays, skin cancer, aging, and sunburn come to mind-reasons to avoid the sun. However, sunlight is not all bad. In fact, it is essential for human health.

Sun Exposure Can Help You Live Longer

Imagine lying in the warm sun on a cold winter day-doesn’t it feel relaxing? Sunlight not only warms us but also triggers serotonin and endorphin release, making us feel happy and content. On the other hand, prolonged lack of sunlight can lead to depression and negatively impact health.

A Swedish study followed nearly 30,000 women in Stockholm for 20 years. The study found that women who avoided sun exposure had twice the death rate of those who enjoyed sunbathing.

Several studies show that avoiding sunlight increases the risk of death, even when factors like age, income, and health are considered. This is primarily due to higher risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and other non-cancer-related deaths.

The relationship between sun exposure and all-cause mortality

The relationship between sun exposure and all-cause mortality

The Winding Path Towards an Inverse Relationship Between Sun Exposure and All-cause Mortality

Sun Exposure - Hazards and Benefits

Sunlight and Health

Sunlight contains three main types of light: ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), and infrared (IR). Each type plays a key role in health when exposure is moderate.

• UV Light (UV): UV rays help the body produce vitamin D, which is essential for bone health and immune function. But excessive UV exposure can damage the skin.

• Visible Light (VIS): Visible light is the light visible to the human eye. It helps regulate our circadian rhythm, improve mood, and stabilize our biological clock.

• Infrared Light (IR): Infrared light includes near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared rays. Near-infrared (780-1400nm) is called the "golden band" due to its strong penetration ability. It plays an important role in mitochondrial function, circadian rhythm, and hormone regulation.

Reference:

What If Avoiding the Sun Is Bad for You?

https://elemental.medium.com/what-if-avoiding-the-sun-is-bad-for-you-4c21585180da

Ultraviolet exposure and mortality among women in Sweden

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21297041

The relationship between sun exposure and all-cause mortality

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28074966/
On the Relationship Between Sun Exposure and All-Cause Mortality
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32918215/
The Winding Path Towards an Inverse Relationship Between Sun Exposure and All-cause Mortality
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29374755/
Sun Exposure - Hazards and Benefits
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35346986/

Near infrared light protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia and reoxygenation injury by a nitric oxide dependent mechanism

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2640422/

Transcranial near-infrared light in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.965788/full

NHS,Overview - Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/