Sunlight
Did you see the solar eclipse on the 12th August this year? There was a sudden interest in eclipse glasses or home-made pinhole projections the day before! Even though it was only a partial eclipse, with up to 96% of the sun covered, there was still dangers associated with damage to the naked eye if viewed without protection.
The sun can be so dangerous if you stare into it, but at the same time sunlight can be a powerful source of health and healing. The topic of my blog this month is light and how we harness the beneficial rays of light without exposing our skin and eyes to harm. There are many ways to optimise your exposure to the healing rays of light for improved metabolism, immunity, stress and overall well-being.
Light and Health
Recent research notes that no studies have linked sun exposure to increased all-cause mortality but instead suggest important systemic health benefits of sunlight. Although we are all aware of URV as a skin carcinogen, there are many other health benefits of sunlight. Sunlight is the most abundant energy source on this planet and is a powerful source of holistic healing and wellbeing!
Sunlight has the ability to improve mitochondrial function and physiological performance, as well as improved vision function.[1] When the sun’s rays hit your skin, your body produces vitamin D3 which is known to be anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting. In fact, ‘vitamin D–independent pathways, such as photomobilization of nitric oxide from cutaneous stores with reduction in cardiovascular morbidity’.[2]
Sunlight also impacts the pattern of cortisol release and regulates cortisol rhythms which has a massive effect on stress levels. Exposure to sunlight and other bright light triggers a decrease in cortisol and can balance the state of “fight or flight” and “rest and digest”. The inverse is also true. Staying indoors in dim light or darkness during the day can cause cortisol to stay elevated and increase stress. Sunlight exposure affects circadian rhythms and has a direct relation to sleep patterns and the quality of sleep.[3]
One interesting study even links sun exposure to increased life expectancy. A 20-year study of 29,518 Swedish women published in the Journal of Internal Medicine found that women who avoided the sun had a mortality rate twice as high as women who were exposed to the sun regularly.[4] They described a longer life expectancy amongst women with active sun exposure habits.
Light therapy for Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-lasting, autoimmune disease which causes abnormal skin with painful patches of red, dry, itchy, and scaly skin. It is well known that many people with psoriasis have noticed an improvement in their symptoms after they have been in the sunshine. One of the treatments has been exposure to the sun’s rays but a more targeted use of the sun’s light is even more effective.
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is a clinically validated treatment for psoriasis.[5] The use of narrowband UVB, specifically UV light delivered at a specific wavelength of 311–313 nanometres, has decades of clinical trial evidence behind it. UVB exposure is able to reduce abnormal skin cell turnover and reduces activated T-cells in the skin. It reduces inflammation and calms plaques and scaling to make symptoms more manageable and reduce discomfort.
In the NHS, your doctor can refer you to dermatology for phototherapy assessment. Small home units are also available, and there is also some indication that red light devices using near-infrared light may also help reduce the symptoms of psoriasis. More on red light devices below!
Protecting the skin
How do we protect our skin while still enjoying the benefits of sunlight? How do we ensure the kind of careful exposure to sunshine that can be beneficial? First of all by avoiding sunburn (and wrinkles) by keeping well-hydrated, wearing protective clothing and staying in the shade during the hottest parts of the day. At other times of the day, make sure you get adequate sunshine to take advantage of its anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, stress-fighting properties.
- Cover your skin! While exposure to the sun has lots of health benefits, it is important not to get burnt or dehydrated, especially if you are in the sun the whole day or if you are on holiday somewhere hot. Make sure to wear protective clothing and a hat to protect your skin.
- Limit use of sunscreen. Considering the list of ingredients in some brands of sunscreens, many people choose to limit the amount they apply to their skin. The four most common chemicals in sunscreen— avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule – can absorb through the skin and enter the bloodstream. There is research to suggest that Oxybenzone is a endocrine disruptor linked to hormone disruption and increased risk of breast cancer in women. It was recently banned in Hawaii due to their toxic effects on marine ecosystems.[6]
- Apply healing after-sun care. If you do get sunburnt you can apply natural Aloe vera as a soothing and healing balm. In 2008, an investigation compared the anti-inflammatory potential of Aloe vera gel which had superior results to the hydrocortisone placebo gel. Dermatologists suggest that supplementing with vitamin E and C could protect against sun damage, as well as Selenium which could protect against melanoma.
You can read more about your skin and the sun in one of my previous blogs here.
As Summer comes to an end we will all get less sunlight, so I hope you can make the most of the healing rays of the sun as we head into Autumn and back into work and school!
With every blessing,
Emma
Emma Maitland-Carew – Registered Nutritional Therapist
Dip.ION, mBANT, CHNC Registered Practitioner, ILM Accredited Wellbeing Coach
Certified Live and Dried Blood Analysis, Metabolic Balance® Coach, HeartMath Coach, Accredited Wellbeing Coach
[1] Jeffery, G., Fosbury, R., Barrett, E. et al. 2025. Longer wavelengths in sunlight pass through the human body and have a systemic impact which improves vision. Scientific Reports 15, 24435.
[2] Richard B. Weller, ‘Sunlight: Time for a Rethink?’, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Volume 144, Issue 8, 2024, pp 1724-1732,
[3] de Menezes-Júnior LAA, Sabião TDS, Carraro JCC, Machado-Coelho GLL, Meireles AL. The role of sunlight in sleep regulation: analysis of morning, evening and late exposure. BMC Public Health. 2025 Oct 6;25(1):3362.
[4] Lindqvist PG, Epstein E, Nielsen K, Landin-Olsson M, Ingvar C, Olsson H. Avoidance of sun exposure as a risk factor for major causes of death: a competing risk analysis of the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort. J Intern Med. 2016 Oct;280(4):375-87. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26992108/
[5] Zhang P, Wu MX. A clinical review of phototherapy for psoriasis. Lasers Med Sci. 2018 Jan;33(1):173-180.
[6] Suh S, Pham C, Smith J, Mesinkovska NA. The banned sunscreen ingredients and their impact on human health: a systematic review. Int J Dermatol. 2020 Sep;59(9):1033-1042. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7648445/
