You should not fear the sun …

Instead, be careful and tan mindfully. While also considering all the lifestyle factors which influence how your body responds to sun exposure. Also, if you have problems getting tanned in the face, The Invigo Face Balm might help!😎

Cool fact: Our Face Balm was fundamental to the formation of Invigo Health Sweden - the idea of truly Revitalizing, Natural and Organic skincare. 

For example: The Sun is the most easily accessible source for an abundance of Vitamin D, which is amongst the most important vitamins for your body. Why would it be hazardous and dangerous if it has that incredible benefit? One hour in UV4 likely gives you more Vitmain D than you currently get from your diet, over a whole week…

Don’t forget - The Sun is the Source of Life!
Exposing yourself to The Sun with careful thought, and without getting burned, will only have positive effects on your health… actually very much positive impact… more than you might think … Read more on why this is the case, later in this article.

Getting burned in the sun is obviously what you want to avoid… you also want to avoid the use of unnatural, artificial, chemical, synthetic SPF sunscreen products, as they will damage your skin barrier, and enter your bloodstream, which will then cause havoc in the rest of your body …

The vast majority of all sunscreen products on the market today contain many artificial compounds, chemicals which are proven to be hazardous, when applied to the skin. A large portion of them enter your bloodstream, through the skin, and then other parts of your body. For instance, your organs, which you can imagine isn’t a good thing …

They contain compounds which are linked to an increased risk of cancer, amongst other diseases… Isn’t it ironic, they tell you to wear sunscreen to avoid skin cancer, but really all it does (if it’s not a natural & mineral based sunscreen), is increase your risk of getting cancer (provided you are not in the habit of burning yourself in the sun) …  

This wide spread problem with artificial sunscreen being hazardous is the exact reason why we have plans on releasing a fully natural, mineral based and non-toxic (also very effective🫡) sunscreen in the near future.

Tan mindfully, and maybe use the mobile app Dminder to track your Sun Exposure & Vitamin D levels, to easily keep track of your sun exposure and maintaining on a healthy level. If you are to use sunscreen, get a mineral based sunscreen, with as little unnatural ingredients as possible in it.

When you have no tan (in spring or on a winter vacation for example), the key to healthy sun exposure lies in slowly exposing yourself more and more to the sun, until you have built a ”base tan”. As time goes by we will put out more information on lifestyle and diet tweaks you can make to increase your tanning ability.

Did you know? 

Getting really tanned is equivalent to: a natural SPF protection (up to SPF 4/5) and potentially even a reserve source of energy for your body, as some studies suggest melanin could have the capacity to absorb energy from light and convert it to a form usable by the body. Imagine your gradual tanning in the spring, or on a semester, as a way of building up your own SPF, naturally, without the use of any sunscreen products.

When having built your maximum natural SPF (you're fully tanned), it will then be much harder to get burned in the sun… although, you should of course always be mindful of the amount of sun you expose your skin to. You don’t need sunscreen unless you're gonna be in the sun for an extended period of time (of course depending on several factors), during peak sun hours - you instead need to know how much sun your skin can tolerate without getting burned.

Me, the author of this blog post, have had chronic sun eczema since I was born, so I know… before my skin would get burned in the spring, I would always get eczema through red rashes on my hands and forearms, primarily, but also in places like my knee bands, when i was younger (yes, it’s possible to get rid of chronic eczema🫢) …

More Positive Benefits of The Sun

The sun has a significant impact on various biological processes.

Moisture to The Skin

When in the sun long enough, so that your body gets warm, your body will produce sebum, which moisturizes your skin, and thus helps prevent burned skin, and much more. 

When tanning in the sun without getting burned, all while getting natural sebum production thanks to the sun - you are part taking in one of the easiest and greatest activities there is for your health. The Sun is Your Friend!

This sebum production serves as a protective mechanism for the skin. Not only does it naturally moisturize your skin so that it stays hydrated, it even acts as a barrier function which protects the skin from excessive UV damage and other environmental factors. The sebum also contains antioxidant properties. This can help neutralize free radicals generated by UV radiation, thereby reducing oxidative stress and potential damage to the skin. Some components of the sebum has anti-inflammatory properties which can help to soothe and protect the skin from irritation and inflammation caused by sun exposure - 

All of these positive and protective effects which your own sebum has on the skin, are the same effects which Our Face Balm Universa Cutis Crema Anytime will have on your skin (among other positive effects)! Why you might ask… well, because the ingredients in it have very similar composition to that of your skins own sebum (above 95%). 

On a side note: sebum production is not the same as sweat, it’s more of an oily substance (primarily fats) as opposed to sweat being primarily water. Sweating is also good as it detoxifies your body. If your sweat smells bad - you don’t have Homeostasis (balanced and optimized biology, hormonal harmony). For instance, you likely don’t have adequate Mg levels, as they contribute to sweat not smelling bad.

Skin Reparation on a Cellular Level

The sun, particularly UV radiation, can both damage and help repair skin cells.

Damage: UVB radiation can cause direct DNA damage in skin cells, leading to sunburns and increasing the risk of skin cancer.

Repair: The skin has a natural repair mechanism where it can produce enzymes like photolyases that help repair UV-induced DNA damage. Sun exposure can also stimulate the production of Vitamin D, which is essential for skin health and repair.

Cellular Repair, Regeneration & Renewal

The sun plays a dual role here.

Light (red) Spectrum Effects

Red and near-infrared light have specific biological effects that are beneficial for cellular functions.

Mitochondrial Activity

The sun, particularly its red and near-infrared light components, affects mitochondrial activity.

Enhancement: Red and near-infrared light can penetrate cells and stimulate the mitochondria, increasing ATP production. This boosts cellular energy and can improve overall cell function and repair processes.

Oxidative Stress: UV radiation, on the other hand, can cause mitochondrial damage and increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress and potential cell damage.

Hormonal Balance

Conclusion

It's all about balance. Moderate and controlled sun exposure has several beneficial effects on biological processes, including skin repair, cellular regeneration, mitochondrial function, and hormonal balance. However, excessive exposure, particularly to UV radiation, can lead to harmful effects such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and an increased risk of skin cancer. Seeking shade during peak sun hours can be the key for not getting burned, and instead building up to a healthy tan, if you: have sensitive skin, if you don't have a naturally built up SPF protection in the skin or (natural, mineral based) sunscreen applied. These methods can help mitigate the potential negative effects of excessive sun exposure, and instead allow the body to benefit from the sun's positive influences.

If you struggle with feeling “overheated” from being in the sun for an extended period of time - this is likely because you stress yourself up to much, feel anxious over sweating, and have bad breathing habits… all leading to your sympathetic nervous system getting activated, which in turn increases body temperature and has you sweating even more than if you had been in your parasympathetic nervous system (the “calm part” of the autonomic nervous system). Ironically - as you just read, your care for feeling of being overheated, or excessively sweating, only gets worsened by you being worried and negatively set on the issue… so stop complaining about it being “too warm”… and instead: be calm, relax, and Enjoy The Rays of The Sun!☀️☀️

But remember, none of this is health or medical advice. Always consult with your professional health expert, or medical professional, before making any decisions regarding health or medicine. If you were to implement any of the information given in this blog post, or on our website, you do so at your own risk.  

Hope you have a great time in the sun!

All the good, 

The Invigo Health Team 

Author: Invigo Health Expert