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Can sunscreen give you cancer? What experts want you to know

Friday, May 9, 2025

Can sunscreen give you cancer? What experts want you to know

May 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM EDT
Sun exposure is the primary cause of skin cancer. But can sunscreen cause cancer, too?
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There is nothing like feeling the warmth of sun on your skin—and soaking it up safely means applying sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer.
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Health-Promoting Reactions in the Body Triggered by Exposure to Full-Spectrum Sunlight

Friday, May 9, 2025
Published on May 8, 2025
 

Wavelengths of Energy from Sunshine: UVB, UVA, Red, Near Infrared, Far Infrared, and Blue Light from sunshine all have unique health consequences

Key Points

  • There are several wavelengths of energy from sunshine that trigger specific actions within the body to influence our health; different wavelengths are able to penetrate the skin to different depths and have certain effects on the cells and tissues they reach
  • UVB radiation stimulates the production of vitamin D, as well as serotonin and beta-endorphins, UVA promotes the release of nitric oxide into the blood, and both have a positive effect on the diversity of the microbiome on the skin and in the gut
  • Blue light has a strong regulatory effect on the circadian rhythm and the release of melatonin from the pineal gland, while red light, near-infrared radiation, and far-infrared radiation have anti-inflammatory and tissue healing effects; infrared radiation also stimulates the production of melatonin inside the mitochondria for a strong antioxidant effect

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  The energy given off from the sun (aka the solar spectrum) consists of different wavelengths between 300 nm and well over 1 mm.
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Diseases Related to “Sunshine Deficiency”

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Published on May 6, 2025
 

A lack of sunshine exposure can lead to decreased health and an increased risk of many diseases, also known as “Sunshine Deficiency” diseases

Key Points

  • 340,000 deaths per year in the United States and 480,000 deaths per year in Europe, as well as a rise in many diseases, could be attributed to insufficient sun exposure or “sunshine deficiency.”
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Researchers Shed New Light on the Benefits of UV Exposure

Friday, May 2, 2025

Researchers Shed New Light on the Benefits of UV Exposure

5 min readPartner content
As the government consults on a 10-year national cancer strategy, the health risks of UV exposure are once again in the spotlight.
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How to Make Vitamin D from Sunshine

Friday, May 2, 2025
Published on May 1, 2025
 

Tips for safely utilizing sun exposure to produce vitamin D and how vitamin D made in your skin provides additional benefits beyond vitamin D taken orally, plus several myths about sunshine and vitamin D addressed

Key Points

  • Developing a safe, personalized plan that incorporates sunshine exposure into your regular routine – to maximize overall benefits while making vitamin D in your skin (which has additional benefits beyond vitamin D taken orally) – can be easily done when considering the following factors
  • If the length of your shadow on the ground is shorter than your height, the sun is high enough in the sky to let UVB rays shine through and reach the ground, and your skin, which is usually mid-day between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm.
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