The Sun Scandal: How We’ve Been Misled About Light, Mental Health & Disease

By Georga Gorrell, Psychotherapist

For decades, we’ve been told one thing: the sun is dangerous. Public health campaigns warn of skin cancer, suncream sales have skyrocketed, and many of us now actively avoid sunlight. But what if we’ve got it all backwards? What if our fear of the sun is making us sicker, more depressed, and hormonally imbalanced?

The Forgotten Role of Sunlight in Human Health

Sunlight isn’t just about vitamin D, it’s a biological trigger for countless physiological processes. Exposure to natural light influences:

• Serotonin & Mood Regulation – Sunlight directly stimulates serotonin production, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood, focus, and emotional stability. Low serotonin levels are strongly linked to depression and anxiety. (Lambert et al., 2002)

• Circadian Rhythms & Sleep Quality – Morning sunlight resets the body’s internal clock, regulating melatonin production and improving sleep. Poor sleep is a direct contributor to mental health disorders. (Riemann et al., 2012)

• Hormonal Balance – UVB exposure triggers vitamin D synthesis, which plays a critical role in testosterone, estrogen, and dopamine production; key regulators of mood, energy, and motivation. (Holick, 2017)

So why are we constantly told to fear the sun?

The Dark Side of SPF Culture

We’ve been bombarded with messaging that any sun exposure is harmful, but the data tells a different story:

• Low Sunlight Exposure Increases Mortality – A 20-year Swedish study found that avoiding the sun was associated with twice the risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with high sun exposure. (Lindqvist et al., 2014)

• Vitamin D Deficiency & Disease – Over 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient, linked to increased risk of depression, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. (Holick, 2011)

• The SPF Paradox – Some chemical suncreams contain endocrine disruptors like oxybenzone, which may interfere with hormone balance. Many suncreams, including those with physical blockers, still prevent the skin from synthesising vitamin D.

So, How Much Sun Do You Actually Need?

Health experts suggest 20-30 minutes of midday sun exposure on bare skin (without suncream) for optimal vitamin D synthesis. This varies by skin tone, location, and time of year. If full sun exposure isn’t possible, vitamin D supplementation may be necessary, especially for those in northern latitudes.

Reframing the Fear: The Sun as Medicine

Rather than fearing the sun, we should be respecting it. Just like water, oxygen, and food, sunlight is a biological necessity. Without it, our mental and physical health suffer.

We need to rethink the fear-based messaging. Instead of mindlessly slathering on SPF 50 every time we step outside, let’s ask a different question: Are we depriving ourselves of one of the most powerful healing forces on Earth?

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