How many times have you heard about the detrimental effects the sun has on the skin? Quite a few, we're sure, because every skin care page you scroll through emphasizes the damage that the scorching ball of fire in the sky does to it. Namely, premature ageing, tanning and skin damage.
So this may come as a surprise to you - your skin actually needs the sun. Well, at least a bit of it. Hear us out. Due to the UVA and UVB rays which the sun gives out, overexposure to it can cause a host of skin troubles and in severe cases, even skin cancer. But here's the tricky part. Too little sun exposure isn't good for your skin either because that causes a lack of Vitamin D.
There's been a rise in cases of the lack of Vitamin D. We'd write that down to not spending enough time outdoors. Thanks a lot, smartphones and laptops. When your skin is exposed to sunlight, your body produces Vitamin D in abundance. Rightly so, it's known as the 'sunshine vitamin'. Besides aiding in weight loss, reducing body aches and lifting your mood, Vitamin D also helps a great deal with the skin too. It calms irritability and inflammation while driving away troubles like eczema, psoriasis, itchiness and redness.
So how does one maintain the fine balance of getting enough sun for their Vitamin D quota without overdoing it and ending up with sunburnt skin? It's simple really. For one, short bursts of sun exposure with sun protection for 20 - 30 minutes is ideal. Another easy way to get it is by opting for Vitamin D supplements and food that is rich in it, like egg yolk, shrimp, milk and yogurt.
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