Sunlight Exposure and Phototherapy: Perspectives for Healthy Aging in an Era of COVID-19

Abstract

Most humans depend on sunlight exposure to satisfy their requirements for vitamin D3. However, the destruction of the ozone layer in the past few decades has increased the risk of skin aging and wrinkling caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which may also promote the risk of skin cancer development. The promotion of public health recommendations to avoid sunlight exposure would reduce the risk of skin cancer, but it would also enhance the risk of vitamin D3 insufficiency/deficiency, which may cause disease development and progression. In addition, the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic may further reduce sunlight exposure due to stay-at-home policies, resulting in difficulty in active and healthy aging. In this review article, we performed a literature search in PubMed and provided an overview of basic and clinical data regarding the impact of sunlight exposure and vitamin D3 on public health. We also discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical value of phototherapy with a full-spectrum light (notably blue, red, and near-infrared light) as an alternative to sunlight exposure, which may contribute to combating COVID-19 and promoting active and healthy aging in current aged/superaged societies.

Can vitamin D status influence seroconversion to SARS-COV2 vaccines?

“…Additionally, several studies on the relationship between sunlight exposure and the global COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted ( 6 – 8 ), with solar UV showing a direct effect on SARS-CoV-2 inactivation ( 16 , 17 ). Furthermore, COVID-19 transmission in South America was aided by cold, dry, and windless conditions ( 18 ).…”

“…UV radiation strength, exposure time, and skin colour are all known to influence vitamin D biosynthesis (5). Optimal conditions for vitamin D biosynthesis may differ in each individual, and seasonal changes in sunlight exposure may also have an impact (6)(7)(8)(9). Notably, previous research has also shown that vitamin D levels can drastically decrease from summer to winter in adult and young (apparently) healthy subjects of different ethnicities (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15).…”

Oxidative Stress and Phototherapy in Atopic Dermatitis: Mechanisms, Role, and Future Perspectives

“…In the last triennial, coinciding with the pandemic period experienced, the role of phototherapy has gained even more importance because of its therapeutic polyhedricity [ 53 ]. Assuming strict adherence to revised procedures for the effective and safe use of phototherapy along with new approaches that improve patient compliance in this historical era, probably the most interesting aspect investigated concerns its antiviral activity [ 54 ].…”

Dificultades de las personas mayores para desarrollar envejecimiento saludable durante la pandemia por coronavirus

“…Junto a esto, un menor grado de exposición a la luz solar, tanto por medidas de confinamiento como por decisión propia, para evitar el contacto social, disminuye la exposición a la radiación ultravioleta, que es fundamental para mantener los niveles de vitamina D en el cuerpo. Niveles menores de vitamina D están asociados a numerosas ECNT y a una mayor prevalencia de estas (Palmer, 2020;Nakano, 2021).…”