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The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

economist.com

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Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#81

Post by surfmike »

ZaoLahma wrote: post #38

As with everything, I guess do it in moderation and don't be stupid...? Planning on being out a full day under the summer sun as a very pale north European? Slob on all the sunscreen that you can and hide in the shade when possible. A day out in mid September / mid March when the sun is not looking to murder you? Revel in it. Soak it up. Be a plant.

Also it makes a lot of difference where you are. Scandinavians rarely wear sunscreen but their UV index is much lower than, say, California, let alone Australia.

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#82

Post by joseakle »

NaomiLehman wrote: post #64
anthonj wrote: post #56

Isn't skin cancer 100% survivable if caught on time*, with the removal procedure begin a single 1-2 hour specialist visit? Where "on time" means during the trivial yearly screening that everyone should be getting.

If you get melanoma, it can progress within weeks or months to stage >1. An annual checkup is not enough. And then you get 50% chance if you qualify for gene therapy or die.

What is the recommended screening frequency ?

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#85

Post by asdff »

calebm wrote: post #9

I am very white, but getting sun feels very healthy for my skin. Obviously I don't want to get burned bad, but good sun exposure helps my skin feel softer and less inflamed. My grandfather also spent most of his days out in the sun gardening, and my mom was just commenting a few months ago about how surprisingly smooth his skin is (and he's 92).

Grandfather was southern european but spent so much time in the garden he looked middle eastern. Never any sunscreen as he didn't burn. He wouldn't even feel bee stings. He did not visibly age from his 70s into his mid 90s when he passed, aside from getting quite skinny in those last years.

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#86

Post by htek »

calebm wrote: post #65
calebm wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On a related note: I also think looking at the sun is healthy for our eyes. I've been getting more sun-in-my-eyes exposure, and at the last optometrist I had, he was surprised to find that my vision improved since my last checkup.

So just to clarify - yes, I do think looking at the sun directly for very short periods is good (especially if it's lower on the horizon). But overall, what I as trying to get at is that being outside and getting the bright light of the sun on your eyes is helpful. The best way to do this is on the water. When you look at the sun reflecting off the water, you are getting the bright light, but because the water is ref…

IIRC, reflection of the sun off water is 5% when directly overhead to about 65% when at a glancing angle (low on the horizon). I prefer to close my eyes and aim my face at the sun for about 10 minutes a day if I'm working indoors all day plus whatever incidental sunlight I get. I have SAD during the winter months and use a full-spectrum lamp, then.

People who spend more time in the sun have a low-moderate risk of melanoma, but higher risk of other skin cancers, vs those who spend more time indoors having a lower risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and a moderate-higher risk of melanoma cancer.

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#87

Post by laserlight »

adrianN wrote: post #67
brightball wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since I was a little kid I was always skeptical of slathering something all over my body just to go outside. Just thought…how did people survive before this stuff if we really need it so bad.

If you ask „how did people survive“ the answer is more often than not: „with great difficulty“. Take for example simple hygiene measures like using soap or brushing your teeth or disinfecting wounds.

Or, the answer is simply “they didn't survive”, which is the case for countless babies who died because an activity as simple as hand-washing wasn't known to be a matter of life and death.

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#88

Post by jraby3 »

calebm wrote: post #10
calebm wrote: post #9

I am very white, but getting sun feels very healthy for my skin. Obviously I don't want to get burned bad, but good sun exposure helps my skin feel softer and less inflamed. My grandfather also spent most of his days out in the sun gardening, and my mom was just commenting a few months ago about how surprisingly smooth his skin is (and he's 92).

On a related note: I also think looking at the sun is healthy for our eyes. I've been getting more sun-in-my-eyes exposure, and at the last optometrist I had, he was surprised to find that my vision improved since my last checkup.

I don't think it's at all healthy to look directly at the sun.

But I have noticed that my eyes get weaker after spending a lot of time indoors, like if I'm sick. Getting enough time in sunlight seems to be heavily correlated with better eyesight, both in my personal experience fighting farsightedness as a man in his 50s and with studies done on children regarding nearsightedness.

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#89

Post by mikestew »

codr7 wrote: post #23
avian wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recently I've received an email from my eye specialist addressed to all her patients urging people not to look at the sun. At the same time I've also seen a similar public warning published in local media. Apparently there has been an sharp rise in people coming in with retinal damage from staring at the sun. They didn't go into details why someone would do that, but reading this on HN I can start to guess.

Until I see some definite proof, I'm going to put this in the FUD box. There's seems to be a concerted effort at making people afraid of the sun. My guess is because the sun fixes a lot of problems, and problems mean profit. Seriously, take a step back. If spending time in / looking at the sun was dangerous we wouldn't be here.

My guess is because the sun fixes a lot of problems, and problems mean profit.

And there ya go, the rallying cry of every conspiracy theorist: "They don't want you to know, because money!"

Seriously, take a step back.

Yeah, seriously.

Re: The health benefits of sunlight may outweigh the risk of skin cancer

#90

Post by Nevermark »

For winter I got a standing tanning machine. Which I use 2-4x a week for 1 minute per use. I calculated this was equivalent to 5-15 minutes outside, depending on time, but engages the entirety of the bodies largest organ.

My (anecdotal, subjective) experience is that it helps. Both vitamin D and nitric oxide are good rationales for that.

This would be economically impossible at a tanning salon.

If you like to be tan, it turns out that a minute at a time, sporadically but regularly, is enough to train the skin to be somewhat tan all the time. Presumably with far less skin damage than longer more random sun exposures, or typical duration salon sessions.

I also have bright rope LEDs surrounding a few of my room ceilings, hidden behind coving. That light reflects smoothly off the entirety of the white ceilings. A great combination of very high intensity lighting, that is also gentle, diffuse and calming. Summer days, indoors, all year round.

There is nothing subjective about the mental benefits of the lights. I am far more alert during the day, and sleep better at night, even in summer. Rationale: We were meant to live outside.

I have worked at home my whole career, so I tune things.

I also enjoy the real sun!

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