A study out of the University of Edinburgh and presented at the International Investigative Dermatological Conference in May of 2013 reported that sunlight on skin lowers blood pressure by increasing the release of nitric oxide. They exposed 24 people to a tanning lamp for two 20 minute sessions where in one group the UV light was blocked and in the other it was not. Results showed that only in those people getting the UV light was there a drop in blood pressure.
Other reported benefits of sunlight include treating seasonal affective disorder, lowering melatonin production, protection vs melanoma, healing psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and helping in scleroderma and multiple sclerosis. Keep in mind that burns increase the risk for squamous and basal cell skin cancers. Just the right dose is what we need!
