Let's face it, depending where you live, the winter can be painfully long and dreary. The sky is usually just starting to lighten when you arrive at work and by the time you leave, it's pitch-black, or pretty darn close at the least. The lack of sunlight is attributed to many problems, most completely depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), however there is so much in the news about the harmful effect the sun can have on your skin, that people are starting to develop "sun phobia," which is especially problematic now that the days are (finally!) getting longer.

The fact is, humans needs some exposure to the sun. It is an important source of vitamin D, which helps fight diseases such as cancer. Exposure to sun that contains UVB for fifteen minutes is significant enough to stimulate vitamin D synthesis. And though the exact cause of SAD is disputed, exposure to the sun (or other bright lights that mimic it) is known to boost the mood and help fight depression.

That being said, exposure to the sun needs to be controlled and safe. Tanning beds mostly have UVA and little to no UVB, which means the only thing you'll likely gain from them is premature wrinkles, or in a worst-case scenario, skin cancer. All exposure to the sun warrants protection by the way of SPF, the level of which required is determined by how long you'll spend in the sun and how sensitive your skin in. Many people end up with a nasty sunburn because they wrongly assume a high SPF level in sunscreen will protect them all day and do not re-apply. Sunscreens should always be re-applied according to bottle instructions and for any prolonged time spent in water.

So don't hide from the sun, especially now that you have long, gorgeous days to enjoy the warmth. At a minimum, 10 to 15 minutes per day is recommended to get the vitamin D benefits. Just make sure to put on that sunscreen (use a facial moisturizer in the morning that contains SPF), wear a hat and take any other necessary protection to prevent a burn.

» Scotsman.com