The sun and her benefits
In the previous blog we explored the dangers of too much exposure to the sun. But is that big ball pof light pure evil? Of course not. Personally, I get extremely happy when the sun starts shining, people around me are suddenly a lot friendlier and having the sun warming up my skin, feels really nice. Should I stop enjoying all of that?
Dermatologist Han van der Rhee likes to bring some more clarification on the effects of sunlight. The light and the warmth of the sun certainly do have advantages:
- A good mood! Depressions are more common in the fall and winter than during summer;
- The sun helps us humans to create vitamin D. Vitamine D is essential for bone development, development of teeth, cell growth, a healthy immune system and muscle functioning. Young children profit even more of extra vitamine D;
- A positive effect on skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis;
- Scientific studies also show a shrinking effect on tumors
So, those sunrays aren’t all that bad. On the other hand, you do have to keep possible skin damage in mind. And yes, skin cancer is one of them. Conclusion: balance is key.
Enjoy the sun, but do it in moderation.
What does ‘in moderation’ mean then, exactly?
- Avoid the sun when it’s at its brightest between 11.00-14.00 o’clock. If you want to sit outside, seek shade, put a hat on and use sunscreen well and frequently with at least SPF 30. Keeping your little one in the shade can be a challenge, so that’s where those cute hats come in. We really like the ones from Musjes.com
- Let your skin get familiar with the sun at a slow pace, especially after a dark winter period. Tanning of the skin has a function: protecting it. This process can take a bit longer if your skin has not seen sunlight for a while. Sunburn is a really harmful thing, as you know by now, so you don’t want that to happen. Remember: a tan skin can still burn.
- Use an SPF! We can’t say it enough: applying sunscreen is the most important thing if you want to protect your skin. Preferably use an SPF of at least 30 and a mineral variant, available at greenjump.nl among other things.
You’re almost ready to enjoy that lovely springtime sun! In the next blog we will tell you all about various sun creams, sprays, SPF and ingredients.
