Sunlight exposure is necessary, but too much causes damage to the skin, which frequently leads to [[Cancer]], and leads to the appearance of aging. In this way, sun exposure is, like most things, in need of [[Balance]]. There's the suggestion "wear sunscreen!" and a suggestion of "get outside and get some sunlight", both aiming to be advice for improved [[Health is Vague|health]]. It's true that wearing sunscreen _can_ actually reduce the body's ability to turn sunlight to vitamin D, but in practice that's probably not a valid reason to not wear sunscreen.
> The factors that affect UV radiation exposure, individual responsiveness, and uncertainties about the amount of sun exposure needed to maintain adequate vitamin D levels make it difficult to provide guidelines on how much sun exposure is required for sufficient vitamin D synthesis
> ...
> However, despite the importance of the sun for vitamin D synthesis, limiting skin exposure to sunlight and UV radiation from tanning beds is prudent
> - NIH article in source
[[Apple Health App]] lets you track sunlight exposure, although I've not found an app/method for writing to it - not even with the [[Shortcuts App]]. The benefits of sunlight exposure, per Apple's Health App:
- Children can reduce their myopia risk by pending 80 to 120 minutes outdoors in sunlight each day
- Allows the body to product [[Vitamin D]]
- Reduced [[Stress]] through the production of [[Serotonin]].
# Recommendations
Synthesized by me.
- **Get morning sunlight** - 10 to 30 minutes outside within the first hour of waking helps your [[Circadian Rhythm]]
- Part of a good [[Morning Routine]]
- **Aside from that, wear sunglasses & sunscreen**, _especially_ around midday - but continue to [[Go Outside]] as much as you can
****
## Source
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/#:~:text=Some%20expert%20bodies%20and%20vitamin,13%2C15%2C28%5D.
- Synthesize assisted by ChatGPT
- Apple's Health App
## Related