Did you know not wearing your sunglasses for at least a few minutes in the sun could protect you from sunburn? This comes from 3 different studies, all on mice that will take a little unpacking to see what they all say together but I want to say at the top that these are all mice studies. It seems to me that these ideas would hold over to humans but human studies haven’t been done and probably won’t be because one of them involved removing pituitary glands and I can’t imagine anyone agreeing to do that to study sunburns.
Study #1: UV-B on Our Eyes is Anti-Inflammatory
The first study was done in 2003 and looked at the effect of UV-B radiation on the eye and they discovered that it stimulated Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a peptide hormone that plays a role in various physiological processes, most notably in skin pigmentation and inflammation. α-MSH is a key regulator of melanogenesis, the process of melanin production. It stimulates melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, to increase melanin synthesis and dispersion.
So exposing your eyes to UV radiation actually stimulates your skin to get darker, protecting you from burns. α-MSH is also known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, especially in the skin, eyes and gut. Very interesting to find out our sunglasses may be harming our health instead of protecting our eyes.
Study #2: UV-A on Our Eyes Protects From Skin Cancer
The second study was published in 2009 and found that UV-A radiation on our eyes stimulated the Langerhans cells in our skin. Langerhans cells are specialized immune cells residing in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. They act as sentinels, playing a crucial role in the skin’s immune response by detecting and processing antigens, then presenting them to other immune cells.
This is probably related to other studies that found that sunlight doesn’t cause skin cancer, that it’s actually artificial light that causes cancerous melanomas. But again, the most fascinating thing about this study is that it is the sunlight hitting our eyes that triggers natural responses that protect us from cancer.
Study #3: UV-B on Our Eyes Releases Dopamine
Finally, a third study done in 2013 showed that UV-B radiation on the eye had a greater dopamine response than sunlight on the skin. So letting sunlight hit your eyes not only potentially protects you from skin cancers but it also could make you feel better. Isn’t that nice!
So what does all this mean together? I think it means that when you first go out into the sun, don’t wear your sunglasses for at least a few minutes. Give your body a chance to respond to the sun’s radiation and let it stimulate your natural hormonal protections from the effects of the sun on your skin. It also might make you a little happier!
