Exposing skin to the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight has both positive and negative health effects. On the positive side, exposure allows for the synthesis of vitamin D3. Vitamin D has been suggested as having a wide range of positive health effects, which include strengthening bones[1] and possibly inhibiting the growth of some cancers.[2][3] A dietary supplement can also supply vitamin D,[4] but there are also benefits to exposure not obtainable through Vitamin D supplementation. Long-term sun exposure is associated with reduced all-cause mortality and reduced mortality risk from cardiovascular disease (CVD), some forms of cancer, and non-CVD/noncancer related disease, with indications in these studies that Vitamin D is not the mediator.[5][6][7] Supplementation offers limited bioavailability and no synthesis of subdermal nitric oxide.[8][9] UV exposure also has positive effects for endorphin levels, and possibly for protection against multiple sclerosis. Abundant visible light to the eyes gives health benefits through its association with the timing of melatonin synthesis, maintenance of normal and robust circadian rhythms, and reduced risk of seasonal affective disorder.[10]
On the negative side, UV is a mutagen and carcinogen for skin.[11][12] Acute exposure may lead to a painful sunburn, which can increase the chances of developing serious skin problems later in life.[13] Long-term sunlight exposure is known to be associated with the development of some types of skin cancer, skin aging, immune suppression, eye diseases such as cataracts.[14][15]
Since UV rays, and therefore sunlight and sunlamps, have both health benefits and risks, a number of public health organizations state that there needs to be a balance between the risks of having too much sunlight or too little.[16] There is a general consensus that sunburn should always be avoided.
^Cranney A, Horsley T, O'Donnell S, Weiler H, Puil L, Ooi D, et al. (August 2007). "Effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health". Evidence Report/Technology Assessment (158): 1–235. PMC 4781354. PMID 18088161.
^John EM, Schwartz GG, Koo J, Van Den Berg D, Ingles SA (June 2005). "Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, and risk of advanced prostate cancer". Cancer Research. 65 (12): 5470–5479. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-3134. PMID 15958597.
^Egan KM, Sosman JA, Blot WJ (February 2005). "Sunlight and reduced risk of cancer: is the real story vitamin D?". Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 97 (3): 161–163. doi:10.1093/jnci/dji047. PMID 15687354.
^"Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D". Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Archived from the original on July 16, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
^Hoel DG, Berwick M, de Gruijl FR, Holick MF (January 2016). "The risks and benefits of sun exposure 2016". Dermato-Endocrinology. 8 (1): e1248325. doi:10.1080/19381980.2016.1248325. PMC 5129901. PMID 27942349.
^Lindqvist PG, Epstein E, Nielsen K, Landin-Olsson M, Ingvar C, Olsson H (October 2016). "Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort". Journal of Internal Medicine. 280 (4): 375–387. doi:10.1111/joim.12496. PMID 26992108. S2CID 23771787.
^Alfredsson L, Armstrong BK, Butterfield DA, Chowdhury R, de Gruijl FR, Feelisch M, et al. (July 2020). "Insufficient Sun Exposure Has Become a Real Public Health Problem". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 17 (14): 5014. doi:10.3390/ijerph17145014. PMC 7400257. PMID 32668607.
^Šimoliūnas E, Rinkūnaitė I, Bukelskienė Ž, Bukelskienė V (June 2019). "Bioavailability of Different Vitamin D Oral Supplements in Laboratory Animal Model". Medicina. 55 (6): 265. doi:10.3390/medicina55060265. PMC 6631968. PMID 31185696.
^Holliman G, Lowe D, Cohen H, Felton S, Raj K (September 2017). "Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Production of Nitric Oxide:A multi-cell and multi-donor analysis". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 11105. Bibcode:2017NatSR...711105H. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11567-5. PMC 5593895. PMID 28894213.
^Mead MN (April 2008). "Benefits of sunlight: a bright spot for human health". Environmental Health Perspectives. 116 (4): A160–A167. doi:10.1289/ehp.116-a160. PMC 2290997. PMID 18414615.
^Osborne JE, Hutchinson PE (August 2002). "Vitamin D and systemic cancer: is this relevant to malignant melanoma?". The British Journal of Dermatology. 147 (2): 197–213. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2002.04960.x. PMID 12174089. S2CID 34388656.
^Cite error: The named reference 13th Report on Carcinogens was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Sunburn". www.nhsinform.scot. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
^Lucas RM, Repacholi MH, McMichael AJ (June 2006). "Is the current public health message on UV exposure correct?". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 84 (6): 485–491. doi:10.2471/BLT.05.026559. PMC 2627377. PMID 16799733.
^Cite error: The named reference Meyer-Rochow 2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure" (PDF). Cancer Council Australia. May 3, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
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