Nature - Spring equinox 2026 - Sun Wisdom: 100x More Lives Saved Than Lost
In a nutshell
In the northern hemisphere today, daytime equals nighttime
This is the perfect moment to reflect on sunlight’s benefits…
…and safely prepare for the full health effects of northern sunlight – even in Scotland
I’ll keep this short:
Perspective from past articles
New insights worth sharing
Now is the time to safely prepare for the benefit of northern sunlight – even in Scotland
Perspective from past articles
I’ve written about the benefits of natural sunlight a few times over the past two years. At this point, I’m convinced that the advantages of sensible sun exposure far outweigh the risks – including those from UV and infrared light.
From earlier articles:
All life on earth absorbs sunlight for energy…including humans
March Seasonal Update: The Return of Full Sunlight and a Waking Garden
New insights worth sharing
A couple of new pieces caught my eye.
Sunlight signals – how our bodies “read” the sun
A recent article I enjoyed describes very well how our bodies use spring sunlight as a seasonal signal to prepare for stronger summer rays. When UV light hits the skin, it triggers a slowly accumulating defense process:
“The skin reads the UV, registers it as a challenge, and begins building its own defences. Gradually, across days and weeks of exposure. Melanin accumulates, positioned precisely above the nucleus of each skin cell like a tiny parasol, angled to intercept the next dose of radiation before it reaches the DNA. The outer layers of skin gradually thicken, attenuating UV penetration independently of pigment. Antioxidant defences are upregulated. The skin is being trained into a tan.”
This is the solar callus.
Outside the tropics, the slow ramp-up of UVB from February to June allows the skin to build its defenses before intense summer sun arrives. Sunburn is usually a sign of skipped preparation - the body simply wasn’t ready.
Spring is when you build the callus.
The net benefits of UV light
This from another online article entitled Fear of Skin Cancer Will Reduce Your Lifespan. The author makes a striking point:
“…there is about a 1:100 ratio between deaths caused by UV exposure and deaths saved by UV exposure.”
In other words, for every one death linked to UV exposure, roughly 100 deaths are prevented by it.
This quantifies what I’ve long suspected: avoiding the sun out of fear may be far more dangerous to long-term health than sensible exposure.
The key, as always, is safe exposure Here’s what I do.
How I practice sensible sun exposure
Start now, in March, with 10–15 minutes of exposure on your face, forearms, and legs. The goal isn’t to tan quickly - it’s to prepare sensibly.
Reduce as much as possible dietary seed oils (they increase skin damage and sunburn risk)
Build a solar callus – increase exposure gradually like training for a sport
See the sun within 30 minutes of waking and before looking at screens
Tailor time in the sun to previous exposure, skin type, and latitude (Apps like DMinder and MyCircadian may help)
Avoid sunglasses in the morning
Use hats, clothing, and shade instead of heavy sunscreen when possible
Get outside as much as possible, safely
Summary
The spring equinox represents a transition from long nights to long days. It represents to me a perfect time to safely prepare for the full health benefits of the sun.
Start building your solar callus now. Practice safe, gradual exposure… and never forget the profound difference between daytime and nighttime.