Is Sunscreen Making You Sicker?

As I write this, I’m 20 weeks pregnant. During my first visit with my midwife this pregnancy, the blood tests that she ran determined that my vitamin D levels were low – embarrassingly low, if I’m being honest. To be fair, this was in April, after months of being cooped up inside during a long Michigan winter. My midwife recommended I immediately start a super-sized regimen of vitamin D – but more importantly, she stressed the importance of getting enough sunlight and suggested that I commit to spending 20 minutes per day sunbathing. 

I’m typically leery of most medical recommendations, but a prescription for daily sunbathing? Now that’s something I could get behind. That’s because in addition to supplying ample amounts of vitamin D, sunlight exposure has several other crucial benefits that cannot be replaced with diet or supplements alone. 

The Benefits of Sunlight 

Thankfully, it seems like some facets of our culture are becoming more aware of the sun’s benefits too. In a recent episode of the podcast The Art of Manliness, host Brett McKay spoke with Rowan Jacobsen, a science journalist who has spent much of his career studying the health impacts of sunlight. Jacobsen explained why we shouldn’t be afraid of sun exposure, and that when we’re being sun-smart, absorbing the sun’s UV rays can give us immense health benefits. 

The most widely known benefit of sunlight is that it helps our body produce vitamin D. Contrary to its name, vitamin D is actually a hormone and there are over 20 variations of vitamin D in the body. Jacobsen explained that every cell in our body has vitamin D receptors, so it’s vital to our overall health. Most notably, vitamin D is essential for bone mineralization since it supports healthy calcium levels in the body. Higher vitamin D levels are also linked to a healthier metabolism. 

But can’t we just avoid the risk of overexposure and reap the benefits of sunshine through a vitamin D supplement? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. In reality, absorbing sunlight has benefits that go far beyond vitamin D. 

For one, sunlight is beneficial for immune function. Because our skin is the first protective barrier against the outside world, it contains a lot of immune cells. When UV light hits these immune cells in skin, it triggers an anti-inflammatory response, which creates more immune cells. Those cells migrate throughout the body through the lymph nodes, creating a systemic immune response and strengthening your overall immunity. 

Additionally, higher levels of sun exposure are correlated with decreased levels of blood pressure. That’s because our skin contains nitrates. When sunlight hits the skin, those nitrates are broken up into nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to expand, thereby lowering blood pressure. 

Not to mention, sunshine on your skin just feels nice. Sometimes you don’t need scientific data to tell you that something is good. Being outside in the sun is a natural mood booster that warms you up and reduces tension – both physically and emotionally. 

But What About Skin Cancer? 

The biggest argument against getting more sunshine is that it causes skin cancer. And while it’s true that your risk of getting skin cancer increases if you spend more time in the sun, the full truth is more nuanced.  

The fear surrounding skin cancer is so extreme that The American Cancer Society recommends wearing sunscreen every single day – even those cloudy, wintry days when the extent of your outdoor adventures is going to the curb to get the mail. By slathering on the SPF every day, you may be reducing your risk of skin cancer – but you’ll also be missing out on the key benefits that are only available from sunlight. 

There are three main types of skin cancer associated with sun exposure: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Among those three, basal cell carcinoma is the most common – approximately eight out of ten skin cancer diagnoses are basal cell carcinoma, according to The American Cancer Society. 

Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma happens to be the most treatable form of skin cancer. The vast majority of the time, patients can get basal cell carcinoma removed just like a mole and be totally fine and cancer-free. In the AOM podcast, Jacobsen even cites a doctor who lightens the mood when delivering a basal cell carcinoma diagnosis by saying the cancer might even be an indicator of good health, since it means the patient spends time outside. 

Melanoma is the most concerning of the three skin cancers because it has the tendency to spread, most notably to the lymph nodes. That being said, melanoma is rare, making up only 1-2% of all skin cancer cases. When detected early, the survival rate of melanoma is 98%. Melanoma typically occurs in people who get intermittent sun exposure. For instance, if someone spends most days indoors and then vacations in Cancun for a week and roasts in the sun, they might get badly burned and increase their likelihood of getting melanoma. 

The thought of receiving any kind of cancer diagnosis is scary – even if it is highly treatable like basal cell carcinoma or even melanoma. But the fact that both cancers are rare and manageable should be enough to make us pause and consider if the incredible benefits of sunlight make up for the risk of getting cancer. In my mind, that’s an easy yes – as long as we’re being smart. 

How To Be Sun Smart

Many sunlight proponents agree that, for most people, the benefits of exposing your skin to more sunlight outweigh the potential risks – that is, if you're cautious not to burn. 

Each individual’s optimal sun exposure level is different. In order to reap the sun’s benefits without risking damage to your health, you need to determine the healthiest level of sun exposure for your own body based on your melanin level, lifestyle, and family history. 

For instance, I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin that sometimes burns, but only if I’m outside for extended periods during peak sun hours. (Side note: I used to burn more easily until I cut down on inflammatory seed oils. Now my skin tans more often than it burns – but that’s a topic for another time.) I have no immediate family history of skin cancer, I’m not on any medications, and my skin is completely mole-free. So, personally, I tend to only wear sunscreen if I know I’ll be out in the sun all day without ample shade, say a day on the lake or at a pool party. I don’t fret about wearing SPF day to day if I’m running errands, or meeting a friend for lunch at an outdoor patio, or even going for a walk outside.

When I do wear SPF, I make sure to opt for a high quality mineral sunscreen. As opposed to chemical formulas that are absorbed into the skin and may contain nasty endocrine disruptors, mineral sunscreens sit on top of your skin to create a physical barrier between your skin and UV rays. And since mineral sunscreens are made of more natural ingredients, your skin is less likely to have adverse reactions. 

Not sure how to determine how much sun exposure is healthy for you? This flowchart from The Australian Skin Cancer and Research Center is a helpful starting point.  

Worried about cosmetic damage from the sun? Then don’t throw out your facial sunscreen just yet. Instead, keep sunscreen in your skincare lineup for your face and neck only. Always use a high quality mineral sunscreen specifically formulated for your face, and don’t be afraid to skip it on days you know you’ll be mostly indoors. As long as most of your skin is exposed to the sun barrier-free, it’s perfectly reasonable to protect the delicate skin on your face. 

Closing Thoughts 

The sunscreen absolutism needs to stop. It’s not crazy to suggest that the government and cancer societies lump all sun-related skin cancers together while advising as little sun exposure as possible. It’s certainly easier to present the public with broad-sweeping advice than it is to delve into the nuances of specific kinds of cancers and what populations might be more susceptible to them. But they’re not giving us the whole truth, and when it comes to soaking in the sun’s beneficial UV rays, our health is at stake when we make covering up the utmost priority. 

As humans, our bodies were designed in sync with nature, which means being outside is beneficial. The sun provides our bodies with nutrients that we can’t find anywhere else. That being said, everyone’s skin is different. Being sun-smart doesn’t mean slathering on the SPF. Instead, it means being aware of your skin’s needs and intentionally taking precautions in order to reap the benefits of the sun while staying healthy. 

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