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Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

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Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#111

Post by axpy906 »

hh3k0 wrote: post #98
MaintenanceMode wrote: post #89

Well, this is oddly personal for hackernews but what the heck. This is pretty interesting to me. I’ve been living outdoors for the last 12 months, and I’ve noticed some significant changes in libido. It’s been on my mind quite a bit (not only for the obvious reasons but also wondering why this is happening to me). There’s a lot of factors of course, going from a mostly sedentary indoor life to a mostly actively outdo…

Interesting nonetheless, thanks for sharing! Slightly related: I've decided to stop using suncreen altogether for day-to-day sun exposure. My mood and overall sense of happiness increased significantly – in fact, it seemed to have helped more than my antidepressants ever did. (My libido did not increase but my antidepressants are pretty much libido killers.)

Got to watch out with sunscreen too. Many brands have ingredients that can pass the blood brain barrier.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#113

Post by SamoyedFurFluff »

immigrantheart wrote: post #112

Not trying to be racist, but does this mean darker skinned people (caused by sun burn) are sexually more active?

Sun burn doesn’t cause darker skin. Also being tan from sun exposure doesn’t have much to do with race. Melanin in the skin functions as a protectant against UV rays, so you would actually expect paler people to have more reaction to UV simply because they would have more exposure.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#114

Post by beowulfey »

Khelavaster wrote: post #107

This isn't big news at all. Melanocyte-stimulating hormones have been known to stimulate sexual behavior since forever. Melanocortin receptors directly modulate sexual behavior. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone production is boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage. This has been known forever, too.

Thank you for the additional info. I certainly found it to be big news.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#115

Post by Balgair »

collegeburner wrote: post #104
mattlondon wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UK - and I presume Europe - has a star rating for UVA protection in addition to SPF. Some details here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-s... Tl;Dr - you want minimum 5-star 30 SPF for your daily cream.

Do people actually use sunscreen every day? I wouldn't think a little sun (well before a burn) is that likely to cause problems?

I do. But I live at a fairly high altitude. If I don't put on the sunny, I'll get a bad burn in ~15 minutes of being outside. That's short enough that mowing the lawn or taking a walk will burn me. I got tired of always having a bright red nose or arms that just hurt. So, now I just have a bottle sitting by the door and schmear some on before going out. Also stopped wearing sunglasses, as they make burns worse. Again, I live at altitude.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#116

Post by sdwr »

AuthorizedCust wrote: post #110
Khelavaster wrote: post #107

This isn't big news at all. Melanocyte-stimulating hormones have been known to stimulate sexual behavior since forever. Melanocortin receptors directly modulate sexual behavior. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone production is boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage. This has been known forever, too.

> boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage That wording supports a notion that the boosting is to encourage the most essential activity of a species—reproduction—in the face of potential harms that may shorten the opportunity for that activity (cancer-induced final exit). That said, I’m aware of counterarguments to the simplistic takes on “sun bad” messaging and think they have merit. Not trying to open a de…

Thats what came to my mind too.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#117

Post by kiliantics »

hh3k0 wrote: post #98
MaintenanceMode wrote: post #89

Well, this is oddly personal for hackernews but what the heck. This is pretty interesting to me. I’ve been living outdoors for the last 12 months, and I’ve noticed some significant changes in libido. It’s been on my mind quite a bit (not only for the obvious reasons but also wondering why this is happening to me). There’s a lot of factors of course, going from a mostly sedentary indoor life to a mostly actively outdo…

Interesting nonetheless, thanks for sharing! Slightly related: I've decided to stop using suncreen altogether for day-to-day sun exposure. My mood and overall sense of happiness increased significantly – in fact, it seemed to have helped more than my antidepressants ever did. (My libido did not increase but my antidepressants are pretty much libido killers.)

I don't put on sunscreen unless I know I will be outside unexposed for over an hour while the UV index is 5+. If I can wear a hat and long sleeves or know there will be shady spots, I still avoid sunscreen. I rarely get anything close to a burn and I believe this is probably healthier than the religious screen use that everyone seems to recommend.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#119

Post by FullStackAda »

collegeburner wrote: post #104
mattlondon wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UK - and I presume Europe - has a star rating for UVA protection in addition to SPF. Some details here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-s... Tl;Dr - you want minimum 5-star 30 SPF for your daily cream.

Do people actually use sunscreen every day? I wouldn't think a little sun (well before a burn) is that likely to cause problems?

I do. Aside from sunburns, sunscreen helps to prevent or delay photoaging and reduce inflammatory response to UV in the skin - meaning less acne, rosacea and hyperpigmentation. I use only European sunscreens with proper UVA protection.

Re: Skin exposure to UVB light induces a skin-brain-gonad axis and sexual behavior

#120

Post by whatshisface »

AuthorizedCust wrote: post #110
Khelavaster wrote: post #107

This isn't big news at all. Melanocyte-stimulating hormones have been known to stimulate sexual behavior since forever. Melanocortin receptors directly modulate sexual behavior. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone production is boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage. This has been known forever, too.

> boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage That wording supports a notion that the boosting is to encourage the most essential activity of a species—reproduction—in the face of potential harms that may shorten the opportunity for that activity (cancer-induced final exit). That said, I’m aware of counterarguments to the simplistic takes on “sun bad” messaging and think they have merit. Not trying to open a de…

There's no way that we evolved to chemically respond to an effect that takes fifty years to happen.
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