Okay….so, now we know sun exposure is not “all that and a bag of chips”…like maybe our mothers thought back in the day as they’d lather up with baby oil and roast out in the hot, baking sun for hours on end (at least this is what my mom did when she was a teenager)….so in today’s times with today’s current information on the harmful side effects too much sun exposure can cause, we should be ‘golden’ (NOT) with this current information, correct? Well, yes and no. Too much sun as we now know can lead to sunspots with age, skin damage, and worst of all, cancer. “Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. The skin also bruises and tears more easily — taking longer to heal.” (Source) Furthermore, “skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States,” as documented by the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). (Source) So yes, these statistics, risks, and effects do not at all sound fun and we definitely should be covering up with SPF. On the flip side to this notion, however, too much lack of sun can lead to super low levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D has so many positive effects on the body—it promotes bone and muscle growth, and can also lower high blood pressure. If you’re in your teens or twenties now, this may not even be a worry of yours, but again as time would have it, this will be something that creeps up on you with age and you’ll wish you had strong bones and muscles when the gray hairs and wrinkles really start kicking in. My primary doctor is always reminding me of this when I come in for my annual visit—thanks, doc. The downsides to not having enough Vitamin D in your system are commonly linked to bone pain, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, and depression. In some more severe cases, low levels of this vitamin have been said to cause or be at risk for dementia, schizophrenia, prostate cancer, ED, and heart disease. Yikes! So, all in all, is sun horrible for you?…well, if you’re hanging out in it unprotected that’s probably not the smartest choice (that’s what she said). Slap on that SPF and you should be okay from time to time to let a few golden rays shine onto your glowing skin. Some other ways you can receive a dose of Vitamin D has been reported through certain foods in your diet or by taking a daily supplement.
However there is also controversy over these two forms, and various theories to the disruption unnatural additions of vitamins in your foods or supplements can cause to your system….so maybe it’s just better to get it straight from the natural source? I know for me personally, it’s sometimes difficult to get outside and catch even a few rays of sunshine when I’m on the move constantly or working in the studio. So what helps me out is taking a Vitamin D supplement once a day (a family friend turned me onto this brand: Vitamin D Supreme). It helps boost my levels, gives me some extra energy throughout the day, keeps my skin feeling revitalized, and is good prep for my bones as the inevitable aging process starts to occur…(dun, dun, dunnnnn). And no matter what, I always wear an SPF on my face just in case I do happen to catch a few minutes of sun during my daily routine. For my face, I like using Mary Kay’s Timewise Day Solution Sunscreen SPF 35, and for my skin, I like to use Neutrogena’s Ultra-Sheer Sunscreen. Sun or no sun? What do you think?
*Additional Source(s): (http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/illnesses-linked-vitamin-d-deficiency/).