4 ms·
Interesting news almost completely buried in overpolarized nonsense: sunlight is beneficial beyond vitamin D. Of course, sun burns are still bad for you, and e
by paulsutter 8y ago
Interesting news almost completely buried in overpolarized nonsense: sunlight is beneficial beyond vitamin D.
Of course, sun burns are still bad for you, and excessive tanning will make you look old at a young age. So yes do use sunscreen in moderation but don’t avoid the sun.
- zeroname 8y ago> sunlight is beneficial beyond vitamin D. Is it though? Do we actually have the data that says so, or do we have data that has tons of other factors mixed in, where sunlight exposure happens to be correlated with better health? > So yes do use sunscreen in moderation but don’t avoid the sun. Using sunscreen (according to the article) is equivalent to avoiding the sun, as it blocks production of Vitamin D.
- PKop 8y ago> Is it though? Do we actually have the data that says so, or do we have data that has tons of other factors mixed in, where sunlight exposure happens to be correlated with better health? What other kind of data would you need, or expect to see? Shouldn't the onus be on people claiming that, given the reality of human evolution and existence, blocking sun exposure is the way to go? The article points out risks mitigated by sun exposure (and their corresponding mortality rates), and the main negative (Melanoma) and its lower incidence. On net I think the "minimize sun exposure" advocates have a weaker argument. As article points out this is eerily similar to low-fat, cholesterol fear mongering from decades ago. Funny a similar recommendation (blood pressure pills) is given by doctors here.
- Gimpei 8y agoWhat I'd hope to see is randomized studies or studies that exploit some random variation for identification. The studies mentioned in the article all appear to rely on regressions controlling for observables. But of course there could be plenty of unobservable factors that are driving the result: the type of people that spend a lot of time in the sun are healthier for other reasons. I haven't read Weller's work though so maybe he has some RCTs too or maybe someone else does.
- scottlocklin 8y agoSunlamps were used as a performance enhancing 'drug' by German and Soviet athletes in the 30s and 40s.
- jnwatson 8y agoThe article states the causation right in the beginning. Sunlight -> nitric acid-> lower blood pressure.
- snovv_crash 8y agoSunlight exposure is more beneficial than taking Vitamin D supplements, ergo there are factors we haven't yet quantified which are not Vitamin D.
- matwood 8y agoI wonder if we are seeing the results of getting sun being vilified. I know a lot of makeup now has an SPF rating, which means many women are wearing sunscreen nearly 100% of the time.
- rsync 8y ago"So yes do use sunscreen in moderation but don’t avoid the sun." I find it to be much simpler, faster and aesthetically pleasing to just wear a hat and a very lightweight long-sleeved shirt. Same for the kids. Assuming you're concerned about sun exposure (we're not) it's much easier to hand them a long-sleeved swimshirt (rashguard) than lather their entire bodies up with sunblock ...
- jayd16 8y agoThose poor necks and ears. At least use a little sunscreen.
- sbov 8y agoDepends on the time of day. At noon a hat does just fine protecting ears and necks.
- nradov 8y agoWhen my family was on vacation in Greece the lifeguard told me he could always recognize the American kids because they were the only ones wearing shirts in the pool.
- hokkos 8y agoIt is really ? Or just a spurious correlation from the life lived by the people who happens to have more sun exposure ?
- jayd16 8y agoIts really apparent. Look at anyone who has played tennis without sunscreen for years. They'll look a decade older.