Who doesn't love the sun? It's a beautiful, powerful star that humans have worshipped since the beginning of time, and its presence lifts our moods and makes everyone look a little bit better.
It can also cause a lot of damage if we're not careful. While most of us know to wear sunscreen on beach outings and that we're supposed to reapply every 45 minutes, many of us forgo the lotion or avoid reapplying in order to catch a quick tan because we don't understand the real short and long term effects of not doing so.
Well, let me hit you with a shocking statistic: While most of us know the sun's rays cause damage to our skin, we may not understand just how much. According to a 2013 study published in the medical journal Clinical, Cosmetic And Investigational Dermatology, the sun's UV rays account for 80 percent of visible wrinkles -- 80 percent.
There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about being in the sun and the precautions we should take. For example, there are no proven benefits of SPFs above 30, and no sunscreen is “waterproof.” Also, sun damage doesn't just occur when you've made the conscious decision to sunbathe basically in your undies in public and forget to reapply after you went for a light swim. It can happen on your lunch break. After about 20 minutes in the sun without sunscreen on, your skin can be negatively affected by the sun's UV rays.
UV exposure doesn't just affect your skin. It affects almost every part of your body, both positively and negatively. For example, the Vitamin D found in UV rays can lower our cholesterol levels and can make our bones stronger. It creates endorphins, which is why we're often happier on sunny days, but it can also dehydrate our kidneys and, in the long run, cause kidney stones.
Watch the video above to learn more about the positive and negative effects of being in the sun. Then go enjoy the rest of the summer because it's more than halfway done!
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