THE POWER OF THE SUN

We aren’t one to bash the sun’s healing rays. Known as the Apollo, the god of medicine and healing as well as medicine and light, It’s our literal life force, and one with powerfully therapeutic abilities. It’s vital to get some sun for many reasons, and equally vital to revere its power by being mindful about your exposure, and armoring up.

For those of us who reside in areas on the globe that get regular sun, lucky us! Exposure to sunlight actually helps generate the happiness neurotransmitter, serotonin, that makes us feel calm and focused. That doesn’t just happen in the brain (when sunlight hits your retina, it triggers the production of said happiness hormones, preventing depression and soothing anxiety)—studies show the skin might also be able to generate its own production of serotonin with a little help from our great big star.

Besides soothing, calming, and physically warming us, sun exposure in our eyes first thing in the morning helps jumpstart the production of melatonin. That doesn’t mean you’ll get sleepy right upon waking— in fact sun exposure will give us a sense of wakeful energy. That melatonin production is put into place to start activating 12-16 hours later, when it’s time to wind down for bed. A magical plan of action nature has intended for us, isn’t it?

A Danish doctor, Dr. Niels Finsen, famously founded concentrated light radiation for the healing of his patients with lupus, anemia, fatigue, and other ailments. He would place their beds in a sunroom with large skylights so that they could escape the fluorescent lighting of the hospital, and receive natural healing from the sun.

Of course, what’s true of everything under the sun (pun intended)? All things in moderation. Have a bit of chocolate before bed, don’t eat the whole cake. Put some kale in your smoothie, but don’t eat kale all day. Sun is good for us, and too much sun exposure is dangerous. Ultraviolet rays are responsible for premature aging, and even cancer if we don’t moderate our exposure and wear protective clothing, or SPF.

Having great skin is vibrant, novel, and thrilling to look at. But going in the sun too soon after getting one without the proper protection, and things can face quick, not to mention scarring and color-spreading. Plus, the skin barrier is compromised, and the delicate cells working hard to heal can be damaged in a dangerous way. 

Make sure to moisturize with a gentle multi-purpose balm like Savior Salve, and once absorbed, apply a full spectrum SPF to your body before extended time absorbing those healing rays. We never say no to serotonin and vitamin D.