Dear Sugar,
I know the sun is super scary these days - even more than ever, but it feels soooo good to lay on the beach and soak up the sun. Don't get me wrong, I totally wear sunscreen, but I also do like to get a little bit of a healthy and natural glow so I am not so pasty white in the summertime. If the sun's rays are so harmful, why does they feel so good? Sunshine Sandy

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Dear Sunshine Sandy
The sun does feel great, I second that. And that is why they put bad prisoners in dark and dreary jail cells with no sunlight; it's depressing.

Ultraviolet (UV) light exudes endorphins (those feel-good hormones). The problem with taking in a little bit of sunshine is the same sort of problem we have with anything else that we love but that 's bad for us. Too much junk food and we get fat and unhealthy; too much smoking leads to lung cancer etc...

Bottom line is that we always want more of what's bad for us. Sunbathing for a prolonged period of time is extremely damaging to your skin and can cause skin cancer along with premature aging.

If you are going to make that choice to be out and about having fun in the sun, then protect yourself with 30 SPF. You'll still get a little bit of color (you do realize any color at all can be damaging) and you will also get to enjoy the release of those wonderful endorphins that you love!