The Importance of Sunlight for the Human Body

As the days begin to get longer with summer lingering near in the future, many people in Northern New Jersey have begun planning their shore trips and vacations to sunny destinations. The sun's rays that bring tan lines and summer fun also have many other incredible roles. Many of these aspects are often overlooked or not fully understood. The sun's rays can support all life on Earth, from the smallest blade of grass to entire ecosystems. Sunlight exposure can even help maintain homeostasis within one's own body and mind.

This image shows a familiar summer image: a sunny day at the beach!

One of my favorite feelings in the entire world is the sensation of warm sunlight on my skin after a cold slew of days. There's nothing quite like that immense glowing inside and out. Interestingly enough, the beautiful glow that results from some well-needed time outside is largely due to the mystical powers of UV rays, which are found within sunlight. These UV rays that radiate from the sun can bring huge advantages (and some disadvantages) for those summer beach-goers.

When the UV rays in sunlight hit the surface of the skin, a few different things begin to occur. Melanin, a pigment found in melanocytes (a type of skin cell), begins to be produced as a protective barrier. This melanin pigment serves to absorb lots of the UV light and block it from reaching healthy cells. When melanin absorbs the UV light, it protects the DNA within the healthy cells from being damaged. Too much UV exposure can also damage collagen and other proteins that are responsible for skin elasticity, which can initiate wrinkle formation. Melanin can come in a few different forms, but is most often a somewhat dark shade that is responsible for tan or darker color. 

Another incredibly interesting thing that sun exposure can do for our bodies is help foster the synthesis of vitamin D3, an essential nutrient for the body that can regulate inflammation, promote calcium absorption and help support healthy mood levels. When UVB rays hit the surface of the skin, they help convert a few different compounds into a usable form of vitamin D. Melanin carries this whole process, as it acts by absorbing the UV rays that stimulate the process. In this way, the more melanin present, the more UV rays can be absorbed to help create vitamin D3. This is why some people with darker complexions can be in the sun for a shorter amount of time than someone with a lighter complexion and receive the same amount of vitamin D3 needed daily. 

This figure shows a melanocyte and how melanin can affect pigmentation.

Sunlight exposure has also been associated with mood improvement and alleviation from disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Sun exposure can increase serotonin levels in the body and help ward off anxiety, and in some cases, even depression. No wonder it feels so good to have the sunshine rest on my skin after a dreary winter!

Although sunshine and the UV rays found within it can have their advantages, there are some precautions that are incredibly important to consider as the summer season rapidly approaches. Too much UV exposure can damage the cells in our body, leading to skin cancer. Although melanin is the knight in shining armor for our cells, sometimes the DNA within skin cells can become altered as a result of too much UV radiation exposure. DNA controls how every cell in the body functions and contains genes that can code for proteins. Two very important genes are oncogenes, which help cells divide, and tumor suppressor genes, which check and slow down cell division. The UV rays can alter these genes, sometimes turning on oncogenes and/or turning off tumor suppressor genes. This can lead to skin cancers and tumors. 

Although sunlight can be great (especially after a dreary winter) it is important to be mindful of the advantages and disadvantages of UV exposure during the sunnier parts of the year. Just remember to wear sunscreen during your summer Jersey shore beach trips and soak up some rays!

My favorite jersey beach and boardwalk: Asbury Park!!