Comments on: Surprising Benefits of Sunbathing and Tanning

By: Tonatiuh

Tonatiuh — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:29:00 +0000

This is dangerous misinformation! Yikes!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 16:38:01 +0000

In reply to Brien. Brien, What is the foam product you use? I also go brakes, usually just with a built in shelf tank.

By: Jamie Larrison

Jamie Larrison — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 16:40:13 +0000

In reply to Julia Crouch.

That seems to be a theory from over a decade ago, but there isn’t a lot (if any) of research behind it yet. This answer comes from a molecular biologist at Cambridge and covers the science behind sunglasses and sunburns pretty well. https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/do-sunglasses-cause-sunburn

By: Julia Crouch

Julia Crouch — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:35:42 +0000

I’ve recently read a post about how wearing sunglasses can increase our sunburn-ability. In other words, our eyes getting the true amount of sun out there in them in turn signals to the boys and skin how much natural protection it needs. Wearing sunglasses interferes with that process.

Have you heard anything about this Katie? I’m very curious.

By: Tracy Day

Tracy Day — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 21:04:54 +0000

In reply to Rosa.

Exactly! You’re NOT a sunbather and have skin cancer…that is what the article is saying…sun exposure actually helps prevent cancer! Get out in the sun the way God intended! Healing vibes your way…

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 19 Feb 2020 03:23:08 +0000

In reply to Shawna. My question is, what about indoor tanning salons during half the year and then to help prep your body for the summer? (I live in northeast Ohio)

By: Rosa

Rosa — Thu, 02 May 2019 22:58:02 +0000

PLEASE do not encourage people to be in the sun without protection!!!!! I have stage 3C melanoma, was not a sunbather, and am not even 40 yet. This is deadly advice!!!!

By: Yvette Green

Yvette Green — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 12:14:35 +0000

Well if you believe in that you are a fool to yourself. This comment is from someone who has incurable metastic melanoma stage 4.
Who eats correctly, takes vitamin D & other supplements but did not regularly put on suncream. You might not be a doctor but in supplying & voicing this information you are playing a silly game with vulnerable people’s lives.
May God watch over you, you uneducated lady …..

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 02:09:27 +0000

I never used sunscreen and never really worried. I worked out daily, and ive always been a complete healthnut. Two years ago, i was diagnosed with Melanoma. It couldve been prevented, but i was ignorant and loved the sun. Tan as well a burn damages the skin… my advice never take chances. I take vitamin D supplements and protect my children. I can’t go back and protect my skin, but I plan to educate as much as I can. I hope i can save at least one life. I have terminal cancer because I thought like you that it wouldn’t happen to me. Please don’t so sad this false advice. There are too many scientific studies that confirm the extreme danger of the sun. Do you really want to be responsible for possible melanoma deaths because of an opinion that is completely been disproved. Please talk to the experts. I live her in Arizona too!

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 22:03:34 +0000

Tanning beds have more carsingens then smoking!!! Tanning beds cause melanoma. Which kills more ppl then any cancer out there today. I’m appalled at this article!!! I’m dying of melanoma guess how I got it?! Tanning beds!!!!

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Thu, 31 Mar 2016 00:57:51 +0000

In reply to jbs. I love this comment and absolutely agree! And you are right, there is so much emerging research about both the light from the sun and the Vitamin D it generates being important for health and avoiding disease.

By: jbs

jbs — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 23:46:03 +0000

The Sun is healthy and is our friend. I feel so sad how the Sun, and the natural elements in general, have been demonized in our world. It is far more likely that the various products we are using and ingesting, that contain chemicals and toxins, have systematically weakened our bodies and skin over time…..thus making us weaker and less efficient at handling the natural world…of which we are part. We have EVOLVED in response to the sun and the sun’s light. If the sun were to die out tomorrow, so would we. Instantly.
The TRUTH is, we are actually genetically wired to handle exposure to the sun. Not in a lay-out-all-day-and-bake-in-it manner, but in a manner that allows us to move and function and be active without issues or concerns, alternating light exposure and seeking shade accordingly.
A genetic modifying program that exists in our make-up is triggered when we are exposed to sunlight. The program both protects us and simultaneously utilizes the healing power in the light. It is not that “vitamin D” is given to us by the sun….rather it is that the light touching our skin and entering our body sets off a biochemical process that affects our hormonal and physiological internal processes. The production of Vitamin D being one of them.
The others process that are triggered? Still being explored by “science”.
Would it be any surprise to me that balanced sun light exposure actually fights sickness and disease and imbalance light exposure actually creates it? It would not. Imbalance means “too much” as well as “too little” and the research is now revealing the those completely blocking sunlight from touching their skin are fully suffering as well.
And here I pause, for I am ever mystified that the majority of humans cease to grasp the value of balance, consistency and moderation. Life is not an either/or. The Sun is not all bad or all good. It is an element that we need and have evolved in relationship to….and it is our relationship to it in every moment that determines our health and well-being and how it will effect us.
I encourage everyone to release this dated doom-and-gloom, fear-based living and live in the presence and the truth of love and natural light. Thank you for reading.

By: Janey

Janey — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 20:34:27 +0000

I’ve recently returned from a 2-week holiday in Greece (lucky me)! I usually wear SPF30 and get through 600ml of SPF30 plus 200ml aftersun in 2 weeks.
I read this article a few months ago and was very interested in the idea of sunbathing either with a natural sunscreen or none at all, for short periods. I started to sit outside when it was sunny (usually at lunchtime) for up to 30 mins with no sunscreen, exposing my legs and arms. A little colour starting to build up but more importantly I felt better for it and looked healthier.
For holiday I bought a mineral-based SPF15 but didn’t like the feel of it or the chalky look on my skin so bought a chemical sunscreen SPF15. I built up to 90 mins in the sun without sunscreen before cooling off and putting on SPF15. There were a couple of days when I didn’t wear any at all (weather had cooled and I was in and out of shade). I used less than 200ml in 2 weeks with approx 50ml aftersun (Aloe Vera based), didn’t burn once and it’s the most tanned I’ve been in years!

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:50:50 +0000

In reply to Megan Cottrell. Because our ancestors usually died from other diseases or accidents before cancer gets the chance to kill them.

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 19 May 2015 12:53:23 +0000

Have you seen this? It makes me so sad.

https://www.adweek.com/creativity/giant-shady-tower-tricks-beachgoers-avoiding-sun-offering-free-wifi-164840/

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:10:42 +0000

In reply to Meghan L..

Yes, I discussed it here: https://wellnessmama.com/5946/natural-breast-health/

By: Meghan L.

Meghan L. — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:34:29 +0000

In reply to Wellness Mama. Did you ever write this post? I haven't found a way to search your website by keyword lookup.

By: Megan Cottrell

Megan Cottrell — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 01:13:00 +0000

In reply to Wellness Mama. That totally makes sense. I just don't understand how our ancestors, who were exposed to the elements so much, could have survived if sun exposure was so terrible for us, you know? Thanks for your reply!

By: Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 20:35:00 +0000

In reply to Megan Cottrell. I am yet to see any actual scientific evidence that a tan is bad. It is evidence of sun exposure, but not necessarily of damage. I've also seen skin darken naturally with a better diet even with no or minimal sun exposure, and of course some people have naturally tan/dark skin unrelated to sun exposure. I definitely agree that burning is harmful, but from my research, it seems that the "any tan is bad" comes from more of a marketing tactic to sell sunscreen than any actual sound advice… just my two cents though :-)

By: Megan Cottrell

Megan Cottrell — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 15:24:00 +0000

Hi Katie – I love your site so much. Thank you for all the great information and insight.

We decided to give it a go and try out Vitamin D supplementation instead of sunscreen this summer, and it’s going great. I have always burned, but this summer, I haven’t at all. We don’t spend a ton of time in the sun – maybe an hour each day. My 1 and a half year-old son has a tan now from being outside, but has never burned, even though he is very fair-skinned. We are still nursing, I think he is benefiting from my extra vitamin D, and I have also been putting CLO with extra vitamin D in his applesauce.

One question: I have always been told that having a tan is bad because any tan is sun damage to your skin. I understand that a tan is the skin’s way of protecting itself from the sun, but is it really always bad? I see all these moms slathering sunscreen on their very pale kids at the playground and putting them in giant hats, while my kid has a tan and a couple of freckles, and I worry a bit. Do you have any insight into this idea that any tan is bad?

Thanks so much again for your website.