Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin • Hacker News Board

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#31

Post by throwaway87651 » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 9:33 PM UTC

olivermuty wrote: post #19

torstenvl wrote: post #9

> Vitamin D is manufactured in our bodies when the UVB rays in sunlight react with a chemical in the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol. Bone and muscle cells use it to regulate levels of calcium and phosphorus, which are needed to keep them strong and healthy If you are at all active over age 30 — by which I mean you EVER run, jump, or otherwise put pressure on your spine — you need to get lots of sunlight. Most peopl…

Most western diets gets more than enough d-vitamin through food additives. Just a couple of slices of cheese per day and some milk is all the d-vit you need here apparently. The old folk saying is to take d-vitamin supplements in all months that has an R in them. Probably sound advice

"Probably sound advice" ... unless you're in the southern hemisphere!

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#32

Post by smdyc1 » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 9:33 PM UTC

olivermuty wrote: post #19

torstenvl wrote: post #9

> Vitamin D is manufactured in our bodies when the UVB rays in sunlight react with a chemical in the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol. Bone and muscle cells use it to regulate levels of calcium and phosphorus, which are needed to keep them strong and healthy If you are at all active over age 30 — by which I mean you EVER run, jump, or otherwise put pressure on your spine — you need to get lots of sunlight. Most peopl…

Most western diets gets more than enough d-vitamin through food additives. Just a couple of slices of cheese per day and some milk is all the d-vit you need here apparently. The old folk saying is to take d-vitamin supplements in all months that has an R in them. Probably sound advice

Unless you're living in the southern hemisphere, sure

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#33

Post by 0134340 » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 9:35 PM UTC

avalys wrote: post #27

russellbeattie wrote: post #14

I've always been skeptical of dermatologist insistence that sun exposure is unequivocally bad. It never made sense. If human health and lifespan were so negatively affected by sunlight, we would all be covered in fur, or everyone would be as dark skinned as populations living near the equator. Like everything else in life, "moderation in all things" is the best rule to follow. If you spend your life getting deep dark…

No kidding. It seems such an obvious example of industry taking a kernel of truth and blowing it out of proportion to promote a market for themselves. Yes, sunscreen is beneficial in certain situations, but I know some people who slather all their exposed skin with chemicals to "protect" from the sun over the 5 minutes they spend outside while carrying groceries into the house.

Any many of those sunscreens, if not purely mineral-based, contain endocrine disruptors that can get absorbed into the skin.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#34

Post by nu11ptr » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 9:45 PM UTC

This is not even remotely surprising to me. I've always been a bit skeptical of "the sun is evil" (and got even more skeptical when I was told I should wear sunblock inside!) and ensure I get 20 minutes full body exposure daily in the summer. Anecdotally, I can tell a general difference in my mood and sleep during periods where I get adequate sun vs. when I'm not (and I supplement vitamin D when I'm not).

While I am a big fan of the scientific method, it is difficult to do studies that don't have lots of confounding variables in this area, so when in doubt, use common sense is my rule. We evolved with the sun, so the most likely probability is we have at least some defense to it, and more than likely we evolved so that at least some exposure has benefit.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#35

Post by amelius » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 9:49 PM UTC

olivermuty wrote: post #19

torstenvl wrote: post #9

> Vitamin D is manufactured in our bodies when the UVB rays in sunlight react with a chemical in the skin called 7-dehydrocholesterol. Bone and muscle cells use it to regulate levels of calcium and phosphorus, which are needed to keep them strong and healthy If you are at all active over age 30 — by which I mean you EVER run, jump, or otherwise put pressure on your spine — you need to get lots of sunlight. Most peopl…

Most western diets gets more than enough d-vitamin through food additives. Just a couple of slices of cheese per day and some milk is all the d-vit you need here apparently. The old folk saying is to take d-vitamin supplements in all months that has an R in them. Probably sound advice

Don't forget to take vit K2 too, to get that calcium into your bones instead of your arteries.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#36

Post by jms » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 9:50 PM UTC

I've been living in Australia and New Zealand, and have been terrified of sun exposure - during peak times (summer mid-day) it's scary how quickly you can burn.

However I also have low vitamin D.

My current strategy is to check the UV levels (I've got a widget on my personal dashboard) and whenever the UV levels are moderate or below, I try to get as much sun exposure as possible - shorts and t-shirt, or topless.

I then cover up when the UV levels are demonstrably high.

My theory is that low levels of exposure are very good - you get your vitamin D, whatever else you need, and your body starts to build an appropriate amount of melanin.

The worst thing to do is to avoid sun all the time, then suddenly get massive UV doses.

I've noticed that my hands very rarely get burned compared to other areas - my theory is due to constant exposure that part of my body is more resistant compared to the pasty areas.

My key point is that you can view the UV rating and protect yourself appropriately - e.g. high caution summer-midday, zero caution winter mid-day.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#37

Post by InSteady » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 10:03 PM UTC

DennisP wrote: post #3

graypegg wrote: post #2

Interesting, the linked paper [0] does show they controlled for physical activity here, since I would assume someone who gets more sun exposure, is outside more. If they really have controlled for that factor, shouldn't we see similar results from people with sedentary lives, but high UV exposure? (possibly by regular use of tanning beds or the like?) Being prescribed UV exposure is an interesting idea for the future…

In sunlight you also get lots of red and infrared, and there's quite a bit of research on the benefits of that. To replicate sunlight you'd also need bulbs for those frequencies.

IR light reduces certain types of inflammation, speeds wound healing, protects against macular degeneration.. I'm surprised there isn't more interest in its benefits given what we've found so far.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#38

Post by kempfcreative » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 10:07 PM UTC

0134340 wrote: post #33

avalys wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No kidding. It seems such an obvious example of industry taking a kernel of truth and blowing it out of proportion to promote a market for themselves. Yes, sunscreen is beneficial in certain situations, but I know some people who slather all their exposed skin with chemicals to "protect" from the sun over the 5 minutes they spend outside while carrying groceries into the house.

Any many of those sunscreens, if not purely mineral-based, contain endocrine disruptors that can get absorbed into the skin.

Can you elaborate on this? I am always ridiculed because I don't want to put on sunscreen for health reasons but I don't remember what the evidence was.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#39

Post by ilaksh » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 10:14 PM UTC

WillPostForFood wrote: post #13

ilaksh wrote: post #8

Is it just full spectrum light or specific UV sections? I wonder if future building codes will require some type of intermittent full spectrum or UV light in certain areas. Maybe in a bathroom with a timer that shuts it off a few seconds after someone enters.

Glass blocks most of UVB and a chunk of UVA, so there isn't currently a good solution for indoor full spectrum light exposure.

I meant like a type of lighting fixture that gives off full spectrum light.

Re: Unexpected benefits of sun exposure on skin

#40

Post by pkoird » Sun, Oct 01, 2023, 10:17 PM UTC

N=1 but I've felt that I always sleep better when I've spent an hour in the sun that day. Considering how the sun has been a constant during much of human evolution, it just makes sense that our biological processes, both known and unknown, should revolve around it.