Sunlight seems like a strong argument against wearing sunscreen every day.
When we go outside on a sunny day, the sun’s ultraviolet rays stimulate the production of endorphins in our bodies, reducing stress and boosting our mood. UV rays also tell our skin to produce vitamin D. And when we look up at the morning sun, our bodies recognize that it’s daytime and adjust our sleep-wake cycles accordingly.
That may be enough to tempt some people to forgo sunscreen — in fact, dermatologists say patients often worry they’ll miss out on the benefits of sunscreen.
“The idea that people shouldn’t wear sunscreen for fear of not getting enough vitamin D is one of the biggest obstacles in people’s minds,” said Dr. Steven Q. Wang, chief of cutaneous oncology and dermatology at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital in Newport Beach, California.
Recent surveys reflect this fear: In one survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults, 11% of respondents said they believe wearing sunscreen is more harmful than being in direct sunlight, while another 15% said they believe being in the sun is the only way to get vitamin D.
But sunscreen is also your best weapon against potentially deadly skin cancer: The sun’s ultraviolet rays damage the DNA of your skin cells, and that damage accumulates over time. Every time that DNA is repaired, it creates the potential for mutations that can lead to cancer.
We asked nine experts whether you actually need to wear sunscreen every day and whether the potential benefits of sunshine may outweigh the risks. All said there is no safe amount of unprotected sun exposure, and that you should wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day. Here’s what they want you to know about sun, sunscreen, and your health.
Do sunscreens interfere with the mood-boosting effects of the sun?
Not necessarily, says Dr. Elizabeth Richard, associate professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Even if you wear sunscreen every day, the sun’s visible light — the light you can see — can still boost your mood. Visible light doesn’t damage DNA like UV light does, but it can increase serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood. That’s why using a light box can help ease symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, says Deborah Sarnoff, PhD, professor of dermatology at New York University.
Dr Richards says if you’re worried you’re missing out on endorphins from sun exposure, you can compensate by staying active – and just being outdoors, whether it’s a solo walk, gardening or a picnic with friends, can boost your mood, even under a generous smear of sunscreen.
“Exposure to sunlight makes people happier,” says Dr. Wang, “and they’re more likely to lead active lifestyles and enjoy social gatherings.”
Does sunscreen disrupt your sleep cycle?
Your body clock relies on sunlight: when the sun goes down, your body releases melatonin, a hormone that helps you sleep, and when the sun comes up, it does the same thing and wakes you up.
But just looking at sunlight could do this, Dr Richards said.
“We get this benefit not through our skin, but through our eyes,” she says. Even when we wear sunglasses to protect our eyes from UV rays, we still see enough light to reap the benefits of sunlight, which promotes circadian rhythms, she says.
Will wearing sunscreen every day provide enough vitamin D?
Our bodies need vitamin D to absorb calcium and prevent conditions like osteoporosis, said Dr. Robert Ashley, an internist at UCLA Health.
When exposed to UV rays, your skin cells make vitamin D, but you can also get it from the diet, says Dr. Ashley. Foods that contain vitamin D include oily fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, as well as fortified foods like milk and breakfast cereals.
And even if you use sunscreen every day, most people don’t get enough UV rays to produce the vitamin D they need, says Dr. Sarnoff, because most people don’t apply enough sunscreen often enough to fully protect their skin.
“Even if you use the best sunscreen you can imagine, and you apply it thickly and reapply it every two hours, some of it still soaks in,” says Dr. Sarnoff, who is also president of the Skin Cancer Foundation.
“The risk of skin cancer is much more real than the risk of vitamin D deficiency,” Dr. Wang said.
He and other experts said the risks of exposing skin to UV damage are negligible.
“People want to hear that short periods of direct sunlight, anywhere from five to 30 minutes, can have a huge effect,” says Dr. Sarnoff, “but really, why would you do that?”
