Sunbathing is especially popular this year. When the sun comes out, you can see the “sunbathing tribe” everywhere in the park, on the grass, and on rooftops. Many people are half-naked or wearing only underwear, covering their faces and lying on the ground to sunbathe. Some people say, “Sunbathing is a free ‘moxibustion’.” “Sunbathing can help with weight loss, moisture removal, and detoxification,” and some even believe that “getting tanned, turning red, or developing a rash means it’s effective.” Online, there are businesses selling “sunbathing clothing,” which exposes the back.
So, does sunbathing really have all these benefits?
The “sunbathing tribe” can be seen everywhere in the park, on the grass, and on rooftops.
Don’t expect “sunbathing for weight loss”
Recently, “Sunbathe for 10 days and lose 4 pounds” has become a hot topic online. In reality, prolonged sun exposure can lead to dehydration. Short-term weight changes may be due to water loss rather than fat burning, so the claim of “sunbathing for weight loss” is not reliable.
Although research has found that the blue light in sunlight can activate ion channels in fat cells, thereby activating signal pathways that regulate lipid metabolism within the fat cells, initiating lipid breakdown metabolism. However, this only shows that “sunlight helps maintain normal fat metabolism in the body” and cannot be used as a basis for weight loss.
Beware of heatstroke when sunbathing during the dog days
Zhou Yang, director of the Preventive Treatment Department at Yueyang Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, stated that in traditional Chinese medicine, the human back consists of the Governor Vessel and the bladder channels of the foot Taiyang meridian. The Governor Vessel governs the body’s yang energy, while the bladder channel of the foot Taiyang meridian is prone to external invasion of pathogenic factors such as wind, cold, and dampness, leading to illnesses. Sunbathing can help invigorate yang energy, dispel cold, and remove dampness, but this does not mean that everyone should sunbathe. It is especially not recommended to sunbathe at noon when the sun is strongest during the dog days. Shanghai has recently issued red warnings for high temperatures. At this time, many people are still sunbathing in parks, which can easily lead to heatstroke or even heat exhaustion, such practices are strongly discouraged. In addition, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause dehydration. Under the sun for a long time, the body sweats a lot. If fluids are not replenished in time, dehydration can occur, which may even be life-threatening.
“Turning red, developing a rash” means sunburn
“Sunbathing for health” has become popular, with some internet users openly sharing problems like skin redness, swelling, and itching after sunbathing, believing that achieving these effects indicates effectiveness. However, the claim that “getting tanned, turning red, or developing a rash means it’s effective” is purely a rumor.
Some internet users experience problems like getting tanned, turning red, itching, and developing a rash after sunbathing.
Dr. Yuan Chao, director of the Skin and Cosmetics Research Laboratory at Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, pointed out that photosensitive individuals are not suitable for sunbathing. Strictly speaking, before sunbathing, a skin phototest should be conducted. If the result is positive, sunbathing is not recommended; only with a negative result can sunbathing be considered. Doctors will use the minimal erythema dose (MED value) of the skin to determine if a patient is suitable for sunbathing. For photosensitive individuals, sunbathing forcefully can lead to problems such as sunburn, polymorphous light eruption, and solar urticaria.
The summer sun is intense, and even for healthy individuals not sensitive to sunlight, it is not advisable to be persistent in sunbathing for health benefits. UVA in sunlight can cause skin photoaging and skin cancer, while UVB can lead to sunburn and pigmentation issues. Therefore, even healthy individuals should sunbathe in moderation.
What is the correct way to sunbathe?
Yuan Chao believes that certain individuals should avoid excessive sunlight exposure: patients with skin diseases or cardiopulmonary diseases; individuals taking medications prone to causing photosensitivity reactions.
Sunbathing recommendations for healthy individuals
The ideal time for sun exposure is from 8:00-9:00 in the morning and after 15:00 in the afternoon, avoiding the strongest sunlight hours. Sunbathe for a maximum of 15 minutes per day, gradually increasing exposure, such as starting with 5 minutes on the first day and adding a minute each day to allow the body to adapt gradually.
Pre-sunbathing preparation:
1. Drinking water.
Adults should consume 1500-1700ml of water per day. During the summer, it is recommended to drink 1.5 times the normal amount, around 2250-2550ml. After sweating profusely, rehydrating with electrolyte solutions is preferable, avoiding alcohol, coffee, and high-sugar drinks.
2. Sunscreen.
Ensure proper sun protection measures, especially for the head, face, and eyes, which should not be directly exposed to sunlight. Sunbathing aims to absorb solar heat energy, so wearing light clothing or applying sunscreen before sun exposure is recommended to prevent skin damage caused by UV rays.
[Note]
Once you start sweating slightly, avoid prolonged exposure or overheating. Pay close attention to signs of dehydration, heatstroke, etc. If you experience profuse sweating, abnormal body temperature rise, weakness, dizziness, or thirst while sunbathing, it could be a sign of heatstroke and requires prompt medical attention.
Avoid consuming photosensitive foods before sun exposure, such as amaranth, celery, rapeseed, spinach, bok choy, pomelo, lemon, mango, fig, chicory, buckwheat, and snails, as they can increase sensitivity to UV radiation and potentially trigger sun-related skin conditions.
Actually, as long as the sun is out, you can sunbathe all year round, not just limited to summer. Sunbathing in winter can also boost mood. People should adopt a scientific approach to sunbathing for health benefits and not follow trends.
Source: Shanghai Network Rumor Refutation
