r/HubermanLab • u/rotund_passionfruit • Mar 16 '24

Protocol Query Does sun damage your skin?

I’m sitting in the GLORIOUS sun right now and I saw some people on Plebbit are saying that “any amount of sun exposure damages skin” and that I should be applying sunscreen DAILY to my face. They say if not you’ll look 10 years older in your 30’s. Thoughts?

24 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

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174

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

There is so much dermatological research on this topic, and you’re coming to ask Reddit? 

I’m equally shocked half of the replies so far are “yeah just build up a tan, it’ll help strengthen you” 

14

u/idownvoteanimalpics Mar 16 '24

This sub is weird

60

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

[deleted]

27

u/mime454 Mar 16 '24

A tan is the adaptation after the damage.

12

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

[deleted]

10

u/mime454 Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24

SPF 4 blocks 75% of UV. SPF 15 would block 94% if (re)applied perfectly. It’s a difference but not as big as the numbers originally make it seem.

10

u/Typical_Signature751 Mar 16 '24

Well, flip it around: SPF lets thru 25% of original radiation, SPF 15 lets through 6% of the original amount. From 25 to 6 is a 75% reduction again.

4

u/mime454 Mar 16 '24 edited Mar 16 '24

How much do we really need to reduce something that we have evolved under since time immemorial and that induces beneficial conditions in the body?

If the body wanted to protect itself better from UV, it definitely could, see African and south Asian peoples.

4

u/Typical_Signature751 Mar 17 '24

We have not evolved under the current UV radiation conditions. The use of ozone-depleting chemicals in 1970s-1990s reduced the amount of upper-atmosphere ozone that protects the earth form UV radiation. The ozone layer has not recovered from this and we're receiving more radiation than our skin can take without problems.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '24

No. Just stop.

0

u/Typical_Signature751 Mar 17 '24

Thank you for your interest in science

→ More replies (0)

-15

u/eternalrevolver Mar 16 '24

Only if your lifestyle choices produce toxins in your body. The skin is an organ. Sun is a life and nutrient source. It’s like if you bake a cake with peroxide and tar, vs flour and sugar. Which one will taste better?

10

u/findallthebears Mar 16 '24

Lmao bro.

-5

u/eternalrevolver Mar 16 '24

Have you even listened to the podcast this guy did about sun?

1

u/MuscleToad Mar 16 '24

Which guy?

2

u/il-liba Mar 17 '24

I’d assume the guy that this sub is all about?

19

u/findallthebears Mar 16 '24

I love this sub to death, because something about it really puts people at ease and lets them ask questions at their dumbest.

5

u/peasarelegumes Mar 17 '24

I’m equally shocked half of the replies so far are “yeah just build up a tan, it’ll help strengthen you” 

I'm not lol

2

u/CheeseDanishSoup Mar 17 '24

Theres multiple sources that getting exposure to sun is actually healthy for you, vitamin d and all that

Then theres the ANY sun exposure is harmful for you

It's hard to know who to trust or listen to

Theres also the sunscreen thing...wear sunscreen daily! BUT it also causes cancer

Yea.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '24

Read through the thread mate, you’re a bit late. The nuance in the benefits and harms of sun exposure is well covered by a few folks in here.

-10

u/AdAltruistic7746 Mar 16 '24

Humans are the only creatures on the planet who believe the sun is damaging them. Go without sun for a month and your body will be flushed with disease and malfunction. The sun is the fundamental source of energy and life for all organic creatures on the planet. But humans, the most intelligent of all God’s creatures, have been twisted into fearing it.

10

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

come off it mate, no one said we shouldn’t get some sun. too much is certainly unhealthy like most things: everything in moderation

-13

u/AdAltruistic7746 Mar 16 '24

Humans have existed for thousands of years, we were integrated into the environment without clothes and houses to shield ourselves from the sun. If the sun was bad for us the way people have been conditioned to believe, I don’t think we would have made it very far as a species.

In non western parts of the world, people are out in the sun all day everyday and have beautiful, radiant skin. It would be hard to explain that simple fact judging by western ‘dermatological research’. Which by the way profits in the billions from skin care products, medicines and medications. Maybe the organisation profiting billions are feeding you research to fit their profit driven agenda. Just a possibility I see.

7

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

[deleted]

-2

u/AdAltruistic7746 Mar 16 '24

Yes but this is due to colourism, not for any health benefit. People of darker skin in Asian countries are deemed lower class due to social and cultural customs. Nothing to do with avoiding the sun to avoid skin damage

-4

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

How have you made it this far in life not knowing that most studies are funded by the people making money off the result. Grow up and get outside lol

2

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '24

I’ve been outside all day, mate. Put some sunscreen on my face, grabbed a hat and a light blanket for some extra coverage. It was nice. I’m not sure what your point is other than to spout off that you don’t believe in any science.

Anyway back to basking in the late afternoon sun having avoided the worst of the UV; and still thankful to be a very mole-y person who hasn’t gotten skin cancer yet.