Sun Healing Benefits for Menopause: Is the Sun Really the Enemy?
Your body is run by hormones.
They are the chemical messengers that tell your body what to do, when to do it and how to respond.
- Every hot flush.
- Every night waking.
- Every craving.
- Every mood change.
- Every shift in body composition.
- Every change in your skin.
These are all responses to changing hormonal signals.
The challenge is that hormones don’t work in isolation.
They rely on healthy communication systems throughout the body.
Your liver helps process and clear hormones.
Your gut helps remove what your body no longer needs.
Your nervous system influences hormone production and stress responses.
Your cells need nutrients to receive and respond to hormonal messages effectively.
When these systems become overloaded, communication can become less efficient.
This is why supporting the body as a whole can be so important during menopause.
Not because hormones don’t matter.
But because they matter so much.
The question is: are we supporting our hormones or creating more work for the body?
Why Toxic Load Matters
No single product causes menopause symptoms.
But every day your body processes:
- Food additives
- Household chemicals
- Fragrances
- Plastics
- Skincare products
- Environmental toxins
Think of it like filling a bucket.
One drop isn’t the problem.
It’s the cumulative load that matters.
Now summer has finally arrived, and with a gorgeous heatwave many people are reaching for sunscreen to protect their skin from the sun’s rays and reduce the risk of skin damage.
We’ve had it drilled into us for more than 40 years that protecting our skin is essential.
And it is.
But what if we’re asking the wrong question?
Instead of simply asking whether we should use sunscreen, perhaps we should be asking why skin health seems to be declining despite an ever-growing market of products promising to protect it.
Despite decades of public health campaigns promoting sunscreen use, rates of skin cancer continue to rise.
This doesn’t mean sunscreen is causing skin cancer. It does suggest there may be more to the story than simply blocking the sun from our skin.
Factors such as overall health, nutrition, environmental toxins, sunburn history and even the types of fats we eat may all play a role.
I’ve written previously about the impact of seed oils and inflammation, and how the foods we eat can influence the body’s response to stressors, including sun exposure. You can read ‘Toxic Seed Oils To Avoid For Menopause Health HERE.
Protecting your skin and supporting your health should never be an either/or conversation.
Which brings me to something that may sound a little controversial…
The Sun Isn’t The Enemy
Somewhere along the way we’ve been taught to fear the sun.
Yet humans evolved outdoors.
Sunlight plays an important role in our health, influencing everything from vitamin D production and immune function to mood, sleep and circadian rhythm.
Getting sensible sun exposure can support:
- Vitamin D production
- Sleep quality
- Mood and wellbeing
- Healthy circadian rhythms
- Immune function
The answer isn’t to hide from the sun.
The answer is to respect it.
Sunburn is not beneficial and excessive UV exposure can damage the skin.
Whenever possible, I prefer to think about sun protection in layers:
- Seeking shade during the hottest part of the day
- Covering up with light clothing when needed
- Wearing a hat
- Building sun exposure gradually
- Avoiding burning
And when sunscreen is needed, choosing one that aligns with your health goals such as this one that I use HERE
If you’d like to learn more about my approach to sun exposure and the different types of sunscreen available, I’ve linked some of my previous articles below.
- How to Be Safer in the Sun (written back in 2020 when I first started blogging!)
- Simple To Make Homemade Sunsreen Recipe
- Guide For The Worst Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid
Do You Wear Sunglasses?
One other thing I find fascinating is our relationship with sunglasses.
Our eyes aren’t just for seeing. They also help the brain interpret information about the environment, including light levels, time of day and seasonal changes.
At the same time, our skin has its own remarkable ability to adapt to sunlight.
One of those adaptations is increased melanin production, which is what creates a tan.
In simple terms, tanning is one of the body’s natural responses to increasing sun exposure.
This raises an interesting question.
If our eyes and brain are constantly receiving information about the amount of light around us, what happens when we spend much of the summer looking at the world through dark lenses?
I’m not suggesting sunglasses should never be worn. I love my sunglasses, especially as a fashion accessory and often use them as a hairband!
They can be important for comfort and eye protection, especially in very bright conditions.
However, I do wonder whether many of us have lost touch with the body’s natural relationship with sunlight.
Personally, I try to allow my eyes to experience natural daylight whenever it feels safe and comfortable to do so, particularly in the morning and later in the day, while still using sunglasses when conditions call for them.
As with sun exposure itself, I believe the answer lies somewhere between fear and common sense.
Reading Labels Beyond Food
Many women are starting to become quite good at reading food labels.
But very few of us read the labels on our sunscreen. Mostly becuase you need a chemistry degree to understand it!
If menopause has taught me anything, it’s that everything we do either adds to the body’s burden or helps reduce it.
That doesn’t mean striving for perfection.
It simply means becoming more aware of what we’re exposed to every day.
Some sunscreen ingredients have raised concerns regarding hormone disruption and environmental impact.
Others may be better tolerated by sensitive menopausal skin.
Rather than turning this article into a deep dive on ingredients, I’ve already created a detailed guide covering the specific ingredients I personally choose to avoid and what I look for instead. You can read it in full HERE.
Sunlight, Cholesterol and Vitamin D
Another fascinating reason not to fear the sun is its relationship with cholesterol.
Cholesterol has had a bad reputation for decades, but cholesterol is an essential substance in the body.
It’s used to make hormones, support cell membranes and help produce vitamin D.
When sunlight reaches your skin, your body uses a cholesterol precursor to begin the process of creating vitamin D.
Vitamin D plays an important role in immune function, bone health, mood and overall wellbeing.
This doesn’t mean spending all day in direct sunlight or allowing your skin to burn.
It simply reminds us that our bodies were designed to interact with the natural world, including sunlight.
The goal isn’t fear.
The goal is balance.
The Bigger Picture
Menopause isn’t about finding the perfect sunscreen.
Or the perfect supplement.
Or the perfect diet.
It’s about creating the conditions that allow your hormones to communicate clearly.
That’s why I use the Menopause SHIFT Framework with my clients.
Because hormone health doesn’t sit in isolation.
It is influenced by:
- The food we eat
- The health of our gut
- How effectively we process and eliminate hormones
- The environmental chemicals we’re exposed to
- Our sleep, stress levels and nervous system
Whether we’re talking about hot flushes, fatigue, weight gain, mental health or skin health, the goal is always the same:
👉🏼 Reduce unnecessary burden.
👉🏼 Support the body’s natural communication systems.
👉🏼 And help your hormones do the job they were designed to do.
Next Week: What About Chlorine?
As the weather warms up, many of us spend more time outdoors, swimming, relaxing in spas and enjoying summer activities.
But chlorine isn’t something we’re only exposed to on holiday.
It’s commonly found in swimming pools, hot tubs and even our drinking water, making it another everyday chemical that contributes to our overall environmental load.
This doesn’t mean chlorine is something to fear or avoid completely.
Just like sunscreen, it’s about understanding where exposure comes from and making informed choices where we can.
Next week I’ll be sharing some simple ways to reduce chlorine exposure, support your body’s natural detoxification pathways and protect your skin without giving up swimming, holidays or the simple pleasures of summer.
Make sure you’re on my email list so you don’t miss it.
