Oncologist told whether the spring sun is dangerous for the skin
And whether ultraviolet rays can be harmful this time of year.
As the weather warms up, people are spending more and more time outdoors. Whether the spring sun is dangerous for your skin, let’s talk to an oncologist.
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The benefits of sunlight for health
It is known that sunlight is necessary for the production of vitamin D – it is synthesized by our skin under the influence of UV rays. The nutrient is important for the normal growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as for increasing the body’s resistance to certain diseases.
Sunlight is also beneficial for mental well-being. Studies have shown that it increases levels of serotonin, the mood-boosting happy hormone.
Sunshine promotes better sleep – again, by increasing serotonin levels. This hormone helps you fall asleep faster and maintain sleep throughout the night. It also makes you feel more alert in the morning.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, nitric oxide is released into the bloodstream – this compound helps lower blood pressure and, as a result, minimize the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Health Harms of Sunlight
Long-term sun exposure can lead to a variety of skin problems, from mild redness and sunburn to long-term damage such as skin cancer.
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and can be fatal if not treated properly.
MD, medical oncologist, surgeon at Euroonco Federal Network of Expert Oncology Clinics
“If we talk in general about the harms and benefits of sunlight, I, like any oncologist who specializes in malignant neoplasms of the skin and soft tissues, categorically do not recommend my patients to appear in the open sun.”
The danger of sunbathing is not only due to the harmful effects of ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, which is cumulative for the skin. The fact is that under the influence of the sun all that radiation that you have accumulated during your life, over time will make itself known and will manifest itself in the form of various formations on the skin – both benign and malignant.
The fact that the sun helps to produce vitamin D – a fact, but in any case, you are more likely to burn than to produce the necessary amount of this vitamin.
Natural sunlight and tanning beds are harmful to the skin. Therefore, even in spring it is recommended to use special care cosmetics, for example, a cream with SPF-factor.
Is the spring sun dangerous?
The spring sun in our latitudes is not dangerous to health. The sun is still low, and its rays do not have such a harmful effect as in summer. Also in spring we walk in clothes, so few areas of the skin are exposed to insolation (irradiation of surfaces with sunlight).
According to the doctor, in the spring sun has its own benefit, but it is not physiological, but psychological. After the gray winter colors, a person begins to see something bright and colorful, and this has a positive effect on his emotional state.