Sun – an underrated medicine? Tanning facts according to Swedish scientists

What does the research say?

A team of scientists in Sweden, led by Dr. Pelle Lindqvist and Dr. Elisabeth Epstein, analysed data from over 30,000 women over more than 20 years. It’s one of the largest studies on how sunlight affects health. The results? Surprising.

Less sun, more disease

Women who avoided the sun had a significantly higher risk of premature death. The main causes were cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clots, and other non-cancer-related illnesses.

In some cases, the risk of death was even twice as high as compared of women who regularly spent time in the sun. What’s more, non-smoking women who avoided the sun had a similar risk of death as smokers who sunbathed daily.

Why is sunlight healthy?

Most often, we hear about vitamin D, which the skin produces when exposed to UVB rays. But that’s not the whole story. Sunlight also:

• lowers blood pressure through the activation of nitric oxide,
• improves glucose metabolism and reduces the risk of diabetes,
• regulates the immune system and circadian rhythm (melatonin),
• may have anti-inflammatory effects.

This means the health benefits of sun exposure go far beyond just vitamin D production.

But what about skin cancer?

UV radiation does increase the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers, especially for people with very fair skin. However, women with the highest sun exposure who developed skin cancer had better survival rates and were less likely to die from the disease.

In practice, this means that while sun exposure raises the risk of developing skin cancer, it may also improve the chances of survival.

Sunscreen – not always protective

The study found that people who used sunscreen in order to stay in the sun longer were up to eight times more likely to develop melanoma. Likely because sunscreen can create a false sense of security and lead to overexposure.

Conclusion? Sunscreen is worth using – but not as an excuse to sunbathe longer.

Fair skin – higher risk, but also an advantage

People with very fair skin, red hair, or freckles are more at risk of skin cancer. But they also produce vitamin D faster, meaning they need less sun exposure than people with darker skin. The researchers suggest that exposure time should be tailored to each person’s skin type.

How to enjoy the sun safely

Instead of avoiding the sun entirely, it’s better to use it wisely:

• get sun exposure daily, for 10–15 minutes – the best time depends on your geographic location,
• skip sunscreen for short periods in the sun,
• avoid sunburn – it’s the most dangerous,
• fair-skinned individuals need less exposure than those with darker skin.

Summary

The sun isn’t just a threat – it’s a natural source of health that can influence lifespan, the risk of many diseases, and the body’s overall condition. In our climate, avoiding the sun may do more harm than good: “Avoiding the sun may be more harmful than smoking,” say the results of the Swedish study.

So instead of total protection, it’s time for smart exposure. Just a healthy, daily dose of sunlight: a walk in a short-sleeved shirt, a meal on the balcony, or a few minutes of gardening. Simple everyday habits that, as research shows, can help us live longer and feel better.