Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018)

Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by tinyhouse on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @07:45AM (#29484059)

I make sure to go out every day. Unlike doctors' recommendations, I never use sun screen unless I know I'm going to be exposed for hours. I never get burned. I once had a PCP who told me I should alway put sun screen, even on my ears, when going out when it's sunny. I found this suggestion ridiculous. I do understand the skin cancer risks associated with sun exposure, but people need to be exposed to sunlight, just don't be stupid about it (e.g., sitting under the sun for hours to get a tan)

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by bloopernova on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:21AM (#29484365)

We had to put our dog to sleep a few weeks ago. We've barely left the house since. I definitely want to get out more, but without canine motivation it's been very difficult to remember (Adult executive dysfunction disorder, aka ADHD)

We've been lightly hibernating, it seems.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by kypro on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:21AM (#29484371)

Like with most things moderation is key. Your body doesn't need excessive amounts of sunlight, just enough to fuel it's biological requirements.

I don't have anything against sunscreen, but as someone who lives in the UK I find even on the hottest days of summer I rarely need it. However, this last year I was out in the sun during a heat wave and figured I should probably apply some sun screen on this particular occasion just to be safe. The only place I didn't apply sun screen was my ears and that was a mistake I won't be making again. My ears were extremely sore and peeling for weeks after that. Your doctor is giving good advice imo. Ears are surprisingly delicate and tend to be constantly exposed to direct sunlight from above.

I agree with you that it's good to get some sun exposure every day though. I'm aware in some skin care communities they take sun avoidance to the extreme and won't even leave the house on an over cast day without applying sunscreen. Some won't even go near windows. Again, it's all about moderation.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by Retric on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:06AM (#29484231)

In practice sunscreen use seems to have minimal impact on vitamin D production. There has been several studies looking into it and in a lab you can measure the difference, but at the population level it doesn’t seem important.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by willmw101 on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @07:59AM (#29484167)

Hunch is that the fashionable advice to cover yourself in sunscreen every day regardless of how long you'll be in the sun or how sunny it is will be looked back on as insane in a few years. It's amazing how many SPF products are now included in people's daily moisturisers regardless of time of year, proximity to the equator or life-style.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by the__alchemist on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:04AM (#29484212)

You've thought this through, and I don't mean to detract from your point. Something else to consider - photo-aging is real, and is easy and quicker to observe than skin cancer. It's a cumulative effect, and by the time someone's in their 30s, their relationship with sun and sunscreen shows.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by tinyhouse on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @09:08AM (#29484806)

I know. I once saw an interview with a women in California in her late 20s I think, who got kidnapped when she was a child and barely left the house for years. She looked so young because of her skin.

I'm aware and do it in moderation. I usually wear a hat to protect my head and part of my face. Also where I live (New England) the sun is not as strong as in some other places.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by lobocinza on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:17AM (#29484329)

Me too. I expend so little time on the sun that it seems pointless. It might make more sense for me to use a protective lotion to protect from screen burns.

But I'm cycling frequently lately and I do have a pretty clear contrast between my torso and arms colors. So...

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by pjerem on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:14AM (#29484291)

Is it a thing in the US (I assume) to use sunscreen every days or did I misunderstood ?

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by dwighttk on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:24AM (#29484405)

Not across the entire population, but there are some who claim to use constantly

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by pjerem on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:35AM (#29484485)

Ok, strange. Thank you :)

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by swader999 on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:42AM (#29484558)

Sunrise and sunset great and very safe times for sun exposure.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by willmw101 on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:55AM (#29484692)

Neither offer any vitamin D benefit in most geographies though.

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by swader999 on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @09:52AM (#29485380)

True but those wavelengths will maintain your circadian rhythm if you time it correctly. See the Huberman podcast on this: https://youtu.be/nm1TxQj9IsQ

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Re:Lack of sunlight makes our cells store more fat (2018) by micromacrofoot on Wednesday December 08, 2021 @08:13AM (#29484284)

sunscreen protects your skin, it doesn’t block vitamin D production

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