Some worry it robs you of the benefits of sunshine, like vitamin D. We asked experts to weigh in.
Sunshine seems to make a strong case against daily sunscreen.
When we step outside on a clear day, the sun’s ultraviolet light triggers the body to produce endorphins that lower stress and boost mood. UV rays also tell our skin to make vitamin D. And when we look up at the morning sun, our bodies recognize daytime and adjust our sleep-wake cycle accordingly.
That might be enough to tempt some people to skip the sunscreen — indeed, dermatologists say their patients often worry they’ll miss out on these benefits.
“This is one of the biggest obstacles in people’s minds: the idea they shouldn’t use sunscreen for fear they won’t get vitamin D,” said Dr. Steven Q. Wang, the director of dermatologic oncology and dermatology at the Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Calif.
Recent surveys reflect this fear: In one poll of more than 1,000 adults in the United States, 11 percent of respondents said they thought wearing sunscreen was more harmful than direct sun exposure. In another, 15 percent said they thought sun exposure was the only way to get vitamin D.
But sunscreen also is our best weapon against skin cancer, which can be deadly. The sun’s UV rays damage the DNA in your skin cells, and that damage can add up over time. Every time DNA repairs itself, there’s a chance it develops a mutation that turns into cancer.