It’s a fact that too much sun exposure can cause the skin to age faster and increase your risk of deadly skin cancer. This does not mean, however, that you should completely dodge the sun. In moderate amounts, the sun actually comes with so many health benefits — from warding off painful joints to lifting the mood.
Before we tackle some of the signs that you need to soak up the sun more, there are a few things you need to know beforehand. Since too much sun is bad for you, keep the following in mind:
- Stay away from direct sunlight in between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. Within this time frame, the sun is very intense and it will only bombard your skin with excessive amounts of UV radiation.
- The best time to expose your skin to the sun is in the early morning. According to experts, it’s a good idea for you to get 10 to 15 minutes under the early morning sun without applying sunscreen.
- Speaking of sunscreen, make sure that you apply something with an SPF of at least 15 if you are planning on stepping foot outside in the middle of the day to deflect as much of those UV radiation as possible.
- Also, consider putting on protective clothing and accessories. Some of them are long pants or skirt, a long-sleeved top with a high neckline, jacket, wide-brimmed hat, pair of sunglasses and an umbrella.
Now that you know some of the tips and tricks on how to save yourself from the harmful effects of unnecessary exposure to the sun, it’s time to discuss some telltale signs that you need to have more sun in your life:
You Feel Down
According to experts, sun exposure helps boost the levels of serotonin in the brain. A neurotransmitter, serotonin helps in combating mild depression. It’s for this reason why a lot of people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that strikes during winter when there is less sunlight available.
You Have Brittle Bones
Everyone knows that calcium helps strengthen the bones. But did you know that vitamin D helps drive calcium into your bones? Because the sun is an excellent source of vitamin D, getting enough sunlight on a daily basis can help keep your bones strong. By the way, moderate sun exposure can help prevent painful and swollen joints, too.
You are Always Sick
Vitamin D is also important for making your immune system strong. That’s because the said nutrient helps keep the T cells, which are important components of your immunity, functioning optimally. So if you are constantly suffering from the common cold or flu, maybe you need to let your skin be touched by the sun more often.
You Have Poor Eyesight
Based on a 2012 study, regular exposure to the sun helped lower one’s risk of age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to poor vision and even loss of it. For 5 minutes every morning, it’s a good idea to close your eyes and face the direction of the sun — let those golden rays fall on your eyelids.
You are Sleep Deprived
Did you know that moderate exposure to the sun is important in battling insomnia, something that can lead to a number of health complications? Experts say that the sun helps in regulating your body clock. Come nighttime, your body will produce enough amounts of melatonin, a hormone that helps you get a good night’s sleep.
You Have Ugly Skin
Lack of sun exposure can definitely make your complexion look dull. Also, it can pave the way for an assortment of skin issues, ranging from pimples, acne, psoriasis, eczema and various fungal infections. The sun can help ward off these problems due to the fact that it possesses antiseptic properties.
