Health Notes: DO have fun in the sun
We revisit Sarah Stacey’s article on the health benefits of sun exposure (and how to enjoy it wisely)
Sun often has a bad rap in the beauty world as the biggest factor in ageing skin, with a side order of brown spots and splodges, plus there is the very real risk of skin cancer. But there are so many good things about it too, not least the boost to your spirits when grey days give way to blue skies and golden light.
Vitamin D – aka the ‘sunshine vitamin’ - is quite simply vital. Among the many benefits, there’s abundant research to support the role of vitamin D in supporting the immune system. And that means reducing the risk of respiratory infections, including Covid-19.
Also, according to Professor Steve Jones, author of Here Comes The Sun, Vitamin D deficiency affects life expectancy and is reflected in many conditions. ‘As well as affecting our bones, teeth and muscles, there is a link with multiple sclerosis, also infectious diseases and heart disease – sunlight relaxes your blood vessels and drops your blood pressure. It also affects mood and is a factor in depression,’ he wrote.
We’re big fans of taking supplements in winter, which is now official health advice, but the most efficient way of keeping vitamin D levels topped up is sunlight.
So, from late March/early April until the end of September, the recommendation from research quoted by Cancer Research UK is that we get out in the midday sun for nine minutes without sunscreen. That’s even for light skinned people who are ‘easy burners’. People with darker skins may be able to stay out longer. But remember, after that you really need to slap on the sun preps, at least SPF30. For more information on Sun Safety, read the advice from Cancer Research UK here.
So we urge you to get out and enjoy the sunshine, as we fully intend to. Unless you’re full on sun worshipping, a moisturiser with SPF is a sensible way of protecting your skin from UV light at this time of year, as well as blue light from screens. See our Beauty Bible Award winners here.
If you do find yourself out in the sun all day, we love Green People Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF30. And for legs, the same brand’s Sun Lotion with Tan Accelerator SPF15 is brilliant, turning even the most intractably pale legs a gorgeous gold in days.
Lastly, we’re fast becoming fans of the PerfecTint Powder SPF40 in five shades, from our friends at iS Clinical. Brilliant for carrying with you to top up your sun protection.
Have a wonderful time!
