Why is the winter sun bad for you?

Author: Dock Abshire  |  Last update: Friday, December 26, 2025

Winter Sunlight Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun's UV light, so the rays hit you twice, further increasing your risk of skin cancer and premature aging. UVA rays remain constant throughout the year and can penetrate through clouds and fog.

How long should you sit in the sun in winter?

In spring and summer, 25 percent of the body (the hands, face, neck and arms) is exposed to the sun, and in these seasons, about 8 to 10 minutes of sun exposure at noon produces the recommended amount of vitamin D. In the winter, only 10 percent of the body is exposed, and nearly 2 hours of sun exposure at noon is ...

Is it good to sit in the winter sun?

Sitting in sunlight during winter can feel surprisingly warm and comforting. The benefits include getting your dose of vitamin D, boosting mood and energy levels, and even potentially improving sleep patterns by regulating your body's internal clock.

Do you need sunscreen in winter sun?

Most of us think of sunscreen as something for summer, but you actually need it all year round, even during winter. Just because it's cold doesn't mean you're safe from the sun's harmful UV rays. In fact, winter comes with its own set of challenges, especially with sunlight reflecting off snow.

Is The Sun in the winter bad for your skin?

“In the right winter weather conditions, you can sustain sun damage just as easily as during the summer.” UVB rays, the main cause of sunburn, are the strongest in the summer. However, UVB rays can burn and damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice.

Can The Sun Give Us Enough Vitamin D In The Winter?

What is the word for winter sun on your face?

It's hard to beat the feeling of the warmth of the winter sun on your face. There's a word for it too: apricity.

Is winter sun good for vitamin D?

From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors. But between October and early March we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight.

What do 20 minutes of sunshine do to your body?

Research shows that spending time in the sun can increase your vitamin D levels, reduce your risk of certain health conditions, and improve your overall well-being. Experts recommend getting 10 to 30 minutes of sunlight most days of the week.

Are UV rays stronger in the winter?

Sun damage is still a risk during colder months

Ultraviolet (UV) levels (the amount of damaging rays from the sun) are lower in the winter because the earth tilts away from the sun. However, temperature and UV levels are less connected than you might think.

Is winter sun stronger than summer sun?

Winter sun isn't powerful enough to cause a burn

While the UV index, the scale used to measure power of the sun's ultraviolet rays at a given time and place, is lower in winter, the sun is still powerful enough to damage your skin. Depending on how long you spend in the sun, you can get a visible sunburn in the winter.

Why are sunsets prettier in winter?

“When it's cooler out, and less humid, there's less water vapor in the air,” said Noyes. Fewer particles in the air results in less light being scattered. “In turn, colors can look bolder,” she added. A storm rolling in can make for a beautiful sunset, too.

Why is the sun so weak in winter?

During the winter, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle. These rays are more spread out, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spot. Also, the long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up. Thus, we have winter!

Is winter sunlight good for hair?

Our hair happens to be in a very vulnerable situation during winters. The cold breeze takes away the moisture of the strands and makes it prone to breakage and damage. Above all this exposure to the sun make things worse. The harmful UV rays damage hair follicles, hair strands and sometimes the scalp.

Does sunscreen block vitamin D from the sun?

UVB wavelengths happen to be the specific wavelengths that trigger vitamin D production in the skin. Nonetheless, clinical studies have never found that everyday sunscreen use leads to vitamin D insufficiency. In fact, the prevailing studies show that people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels.

Can you get vitamin D in the shade?

You need to have some skin exposed, for example, your forearms, hands and lower legs. But you can still make vitamin D even if you sit in the shade. Sitting inside by a sunny window doesn't count because glass filters out the UVB rays – the type of light that is needed to make vitamin D.

Is sunshine good for losing weight?

Sunlight Aids Weight Loss

It provides vitamin D which boosts your metabolism for burning calories. The bright light gives you more energy and motivation to exercise.

What are signs of too much vitamin D?

What are the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity?
  • Decrease in appetite.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Constipation.
  • Dehydration.
  • Increased thirst (polydipsia).
  • Frequent urination.
  • Confusion, lethargy and fatigue.
  • Muscle weakness and difficulty walking.

Do white people get vitamin D deficiency?

Vitamin D deficiency was widespread in the U.K. Biobank cohort, particularly among non-White people. More specifically, about 50% of Asians, 33% of Black individuals, and 12% of Whites were vitamin D deficient.

What is the safest time to be in the sun?

This lead us to conclude that for optimal vitamin D synthesis at minimal risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), the best time for sun exposure is between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thus, the common health recommendation (that sun exposure should be avoided between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and postponed to the ...

What is an Apricity person?

Definition. : one who goes to a warmer region for the winter. Also, a cocaine addict.

Does winter sun tan you?

If you think tanning only happens in summers when your skin gets exposed to the sun for a longer time, you are wrong. Tanning can happen in any season be it monsoon or winters. The UV rays can affect the skin and cause tanning.

What do you call someone who loves winter?

Chionophile. Snow and cold weather lovers fall under this phile. Chion is from the Greek word khiōn, which means snow.

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