7 harmful effects of sunlight on the body

5 good things:

1. Improve mood

Dr. Bligard says that days filled with sunlight make people feel better and have more energy. Serotonin in the brain increases, which improves mood. It's no surprise that serotonin levels are highest in the summer.

2. Treatment of seasonal depression

In some people, the lack of sunlight in winter seems to trigger depression. Symptoms include low mood, difficulty working and maintaining friendships, overeating, fatigue, and sleeping too much. Seasonal depression, formerly known as seasonal affective disorder or seasonal affective disorder, is rare in the warmer months.

3. Reduce stress

Everyone experiences stress due to many factors, such as family, work, and health issues. Dr. Bligard says stress can be relieved in a variety of ways, including exercising, engaging in relaxing hobbies, walking the dog, or getting outside in the fresh air and sunlight.

4. Improve sleep

Sunlight affects the amount of melatonin in the brain (the chemical that tells you when to sleep). Melatonin production is suppressed by light and increases in the dark, so melatonin is also called the "hormone of darkness". Production peaks in the middle of the night, then gradually decreases in the second half of the night. In regions with perpetual darkness, artificial lighting is needed to reduce the pitch darkness to about 8 hours a day.

5. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a vitamin involved in maintaining bone health. One way you can get this sunshine vitamin is by exposing yourself to ultraviolet light from the sun. However, just 15 minutes of sun exposure in the morning and afternoon is enough to provide the necessary amount of Vitamin D.

7 bad things:

1. Eye damage

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun can damage the retina (the back of the eye where rods and cones create images, which are then sent to the vision centers in the brain). UV rays are also a factor in the development of cataracts.

2. Exhaustion

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heat exhaustion is the body's response to excessive loss of water and salt, usually due to excessive sweating. Common symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, increased body temperature, etc.

3. Heat shock

If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it can lead to heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. Heat stroke causes the body temperature to rise rapidly and can reach 41°C (106°F) in 10 to 15 minutes.

Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention because if left untreated, it can cause death or permanent disability.

Symptoms of heat stroke include delirium, loss of consciousness (coma), hot, dry skin or profuse sweating, and seizures.

4. Sunburn

This is one of the most common negative effects of sunlight on the skin.

Ultraviolet light is the cause of sunburn, symptoms usually appear 4 to 5 hours after exposure to sunlight.

Common symptoms of sunburn include red, painful, swollen skin, or some flu-like symptoms such as nausea, fever, chills or headache…

If symptoms of sunburn fever appear, go to a medical facility for monitoring.

5. Skin rash

Skin rashes commonly occur in hot, humid weather, the skin develops red clusters of blisters and often appears in skin folds, elbow folds, groin or on the neck and upper chest.

To reduce heat rash, simply change to a cooler environment to prevent sweating and keep the skin dry. Avoid using medicated creams.

6. Skin cancer

The worst consequence of long-term exposure to the sun is the development of skin cancer.

The more years the skin is exposed to direct sunlight, the higher the risk of developing skin cancer.

There are three common types of skin cancer (in order of frequency):

- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): the most common form of skin cancer, develops very slowly, usually appearing on the head and neck, where it is most exposed to sunlight. BCC is easily recognized by its shape as a round, white or pink bump, often with a concave center;

- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): can occur anywhere on the body. SCC often grows slowly and is difficult to detect. SCC can vary in severity and may require special surgical methods, such as Mohs Surgery, to remove if they are large or in difficult-to-treat areas.

- Melanoma: is the least common type of skin cancer but it is increasing every year, especially in young women aged 18-29. It can occur anywhere on the body. It is important that melanoma is diagnosed early, as the thinner the tumor, the less likely it is to spread. Although there is a lot of research into treating melanoma, currently the best way is to surgically remove the tumor and any involved lymph nodes before it spreads.

7. Wrinkles/aging

Sun exposure is a major factor in the development of skin aging. UV rays damage the collagen and elastic tissues in the skin, causing the skin to become fragile and unable to bounce back, causing sagging. The only factor that ages skin worse than UV exposure is smoking.

Much of the damage to our skin from the sun can be prevented. Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going out in the sun and should be reapplied every two hours in the sun and after swimming or heavy sweating. You can also protect yourself with UV-filtering sunglasses. Cover up with clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat (over 10cm).

If you are outdoors for long periods of time, seek shade. See a healthcare professional or dermatologist if you notice any unusual skin changes on your body.