Importance of Sun Bathing in Winters

Life on the earth is unimaginable without sunlight. Natural light is important for our health.

Sunlight helps in regulating our body’s natural rhythms and not getting enough of it can disturb our health in surprising ways. 

You might have heard that excessive vulnerability to sunlight can leave an impact on our skin.

But do you know that exposure to the warm rays of the Sun at a specific time and in a subsequent manner can be quite beneficiary? 

It heals various skin diseases and helps in the uplifting of mood. High exposure to sun rays is a sunbath therapy.

This has been in use since ancient times because of its disease-fighting properties.

Before knowing the importance of sunbathing, let’s know first what sunbathing is. 

What is Sun bathing? 

Even on cloudy days and in winter, with so much talk about wearing SPF and seeking shade, it is hard to believe that sun exposure in small doses can be beneficial. 

Sunbathing is an act of lying or sitting in the sun, sometimes with the intention to tan, which provides some sunbathing benefits too, if done properly. 

To be sure, there’s a huge difference between going outside for 10 minutes without applying sunscreen and spending time regularly on a tanning bed.

Too many sun exposure risks are well-documented. Among other conditions, spending time in the sun without SPF is one cause of melanoma. 

Meanwhile, when high vitamin D doses are because of sunlight exposure, our skin turns the cholesterol to vitamin D which has been shown to help prevent certain common diseases and ailments. 

What’s the Science Behind Sunbath Therapy 

The natural way to heal different health problems is sunbath therapy.

Sunlight helps in regulating melatonin production in the body, which is essential for maintaining the body’s circadian rhythms. 

Melatonin is an essential hormone that releases the pineal gland of our brain. It regulates our daily sleep-wake cycle.

The sunlight intensity affects Melatonin production. It falls during the daytime and increases during the night. 

Sunbathing therapy helps in keeping the disorders at bay and keeps the hormonal level in check.

Furthermore, research says that a decrease in sunlight exposure may develop psychological and physical disorders. 

Sun exposure doesn’t mean burning your skin, you just have to be exposed to the sun rays hastily, depriving yourself of healthy sun exposure causes vitamin D deficiency in the body. 

Also Read: 8 Incredible Benefits of Cycling for Women 

Health Benefits of Sunbathing in Winter 

Exposure to sun rays helps the body in making vitamin D naturally. It is essential, but most people don’t get most of it.

Deficiency of this Vitamin is common, and it is estimated that around 1 Billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency. 

To deal with that, sunbathing plays a major role. The sunbathing benefits include: 

Helps in Checking Blood Pressure 

Specifically, it is helpful for those who deal with hypertension. As per researchers, taking a sunbath helps activate the nitric oxide, i.e., found on the skin’s topmost layer.

It helps in improving blood circulation by broadening the blood vessels. This helps in keeping the blood pressure in check. 

Sunbathing improves blood circulation in the body and removes the toxins present in the body. It is also essential for calcium absorption by the bones.

The UVB rays also promote Vitamin D3 synthesis in the human body, which is important for increasing blood pressure.

Even babies have been given exposure to sunlight for strong teeth and bones. 

The sunlight penetrates deep into the skin for blood vessel cleansing. 

It Induces the Sleep and Fights Insomnia

If you suffer from insomnia, instead of taking pills, go sunbathing. Sunbathing helps in melatonin production which helps in improving sleep quality.

It helps in regulating the circadian rhythm and your body will get reliably dozy when the sun sets. 

Heals the Skin Issues 

If you think that sun rays will affect your skin, then think about it again, as bathing in the early morning sun is beneficial.

According to the study published in the Climatotherapy of psoriasis journal, sunbathing helps in dealing with skin issues too. 

These sun rays have unique healing power and are also beneficial for the treatment of skin disorders like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. 

Boost Immunity 

Sunlight is a traditional method for treating autoimmune diseases and also a great method to boost the immune system of your body.

Vitamin D helps in fighting diseases, including muscle sclerosis, heart disease, the flu, cancer, and some autoimmune diseases.

Keeps Diabetes in Check 

It is because of the presence of vitamin D, which is everlasting in insulin production in the body. This helps in avoiding or controlling diabetes. 

Sunbath Helps in Relaxing 

It calms the muscles of our body and helps in the development of the brain. 

Lowered Preterm Labor Risk 

Vitamin D protects against preterm infections and labor associated with birth. 

It is better for your Bone Health 

As you go sunbathing, vitamin D plays a big role. It helps in calcium absorption in the body which makes your bones stronger than before.

This absorption of Calcium helps in preventing arthritis and osteoporosis. 

Fights with Depression 

Sunbathing helps in fighting depression by boosting your mood, specifically in winter.

When the seasonal affective disorder signs are found in a person, a 15-20 minute sunbath makes a person feel much more energized. 

Also, it is reported by people, suffering from depression, that regular sunbath helped them to manage symptoms of depression, and they are feeling active and energetic.

Sunlight prompts the brain for releasing the serotonin hormone, which helps in boosting your mood and makes you feel calm.

Even if there is no depression, spending time sunbathing will help to boost your mood. 

Great for your Eyes 

The vision vitamin D plays an important role. You are not supposed to stare at the sun to get your vision better.

Just take a sunbath or stand in the sun for 15 minutes and improve your vision.  

Reduces the chance of Getting Alzheimer’s 

According to the study published in the American Medical Association Journal, it states that Alzheimer’s patients who were exposed to the bright light of the sun had very few symptoms of forgetfulness and depression. 

Methods of Sunbathing 

Ensure to take a sunbath in strong sunlight. When you start to sweat, instantly move away from the rays of the sun.

If you wonder how to take sunbath, then consider the following points. 

First, cover your head with a wet towel. Then, ensure to wear comfortable clothes or light cotton clothes that can let your skin absorb sunlight well.

Either sit somewhere or lie down in the sun and relax in the sunlight for a while. When you start to sweat, go away from the sun and have a bath in cold water. 

Duration of Sunbathing 

In winter, sunbathing duration should be 20-30 minutes. While in summer, it should be 10-15 minutes.

The best time to take a sunbath in summer is before 8 am and after 5 pm as the sun rays at this time are not so harsh. 

Precautions and Tips to Follow while Sunbathing 

Sunbathing is easy, but ensure to keep sunbath techniques in your mind.

There are a few important points you should keep in mind to take a sunbath safely. 

• Avoid eating anything 2 hours before taking a sunbath.  

• Wear SPF 30 or more and apply it on your body 15 minutes early before going outside. Ensure to cover your body with at least a full ounce of sunscreen. It should be the full shot glass or the size of a golf ball. 

• Apply SPF on your hands, lips, feet, and top of your head if there’s no protection by hair. 

• During sunbathing, cover your head with a wet towel. 

• Avoid tanning beds. They are not only dangerous, most of the tanning beds also contain UVB light for stimulating the production of vitamin D. 

• When it gets hot, take breaks in the shed. 

• If you’re spending a long time sunbathing, drink water. Ensure to keep yourself hydrated. 

• Eat tomatoes because they contain a large amount of lycopene, which helps in preventing skin redness from UV rays. 

• Avoid sunbathing for more than one hour. 

• Don’t eat instantly after sunbathing. 

• After sunbathing, have a bath with cold water. 
• If you are the one who suffers from heart ailments or faces quick allergies to light, then don’t take a sunbath. 

Final Words 

There is a lot of research that shows the sunbathing benefits and the benefits of spending time in the sun's rays.

Sunlight exposure helps to boost your mood, makes people sleep better than before, and helps in the production of vitamin D, which strengthens your bones along with helping your body to fight certain diseases. 

Meanwhile, despite the sunbathing benefits, there include some risks that happen because of too much exposure to sunlight.

Ensure to wear sunscreen SPF 30 or above and limit your exposure to sun rays.

If sunbathing is done in unprotected ways, it results in sunburns, rashes, and a  greater chance of the development of melanoma.