Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsNegative EffectsRisksSafety TipsPhototherapy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
Negative Effects
Risks
Safety Tips
Phototherapy
Symptoms ofatopic dermatitis(eczema) often improve with exposure to sunlight. However, for some people, sun exposure may worsen—or in rare cases even trigger—the skin condition.
Whether you’re in the former or latter group, you should always take measures to protect your skin from the sun. This includes limiting your time outdoors during certain hours of the day and using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Libertad Leal Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Benefits of Sun for Eczema
Some people find that sunlight improves theirsymptoms of atopic dermatitis(eczema), a chronic skin condition that causes redness, dryness, and itching. The exact reason is unknown, but it’s likely a combination of increased production of vitamin D and decreased inflammation.
Vitamin D
Sun exposure increases the production ofvitamin Din the body. By doing so, it may indirectly modulate immune function in theoutermost layer of the skin(epidermis).
People with eczema often have low concentrations ofcathelicidins—compounds that are correlated to a lower risk of bacterial, viral, and fungal colonization—in their skin.When vitamin D increases, the immune system ups the production of cathelicidins, which may indirectly improve eczema symptoms.
Sun exposure may also provide a mood boost, which can help people with chronic conditions like eczema feel better.
Inflammation
Exposure to UV radiation from the sun may reduce skin inflammation, alleviating some of the dryness, itching, and rash that characterize eczema.
Prevention
Sunlight exposure may play an important role in the prevention of skin conditions like eczema. One study found that infants who received less UV light—regardless of whether or not they were taking avitamin D supplement—were significantly more likely to have eczema than babies who had moderate sun exposure.
For some people with eczema, sun exposure causes more harm than good.This may be because of one of the following factors:
Generally speaking, natural sunlight is considered safe for people with eczema when exposure is limited to 10 to 30 minutes several times per week. However, heat and sweat are commoneczema triggers, so anyone with the skin condition should avoid sun exposure during hot weather.
Even if sun exposure improves your eczema symptoms, too much of it can damage your skin, causing signs of aging and increasing your risk of skin cancer.
If your healthcare provider recommends sun exposure for your eczema, here’show to do it safely:
Phototherapy is typically recommended when the first-line treatments for eczema (such astopical steroids) fail to provide relief. Research suggests this treatment may be more effective than sunlight exposure in the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.
Summary
Sun exposure is one of many treatment options for eczema. Some people find it helps decrease their symptoms of the condition.
But even though it’s natural, that doesn’t mean sun exposure is completely safe. Be sure to take protective measures—such as using sunscreen—to prevent skin damage. Speak with your healthcare provider before trying this or any other therapy option.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nowicka D, Grywalska E.The role of immune defects and colonization in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Analytical Cellular Pathology (Amsterdam).2018.Piquero-Casals J, Carrascosa JM, Morgado-Carrasco D, Narda M, Trullas C, Granger C, Fabbrocini G.The Role of Photoprotection in Optimizing the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology Therapies. 2021.Yu, Cunjing et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLA+CD25_Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2017.Matsushima, Yoshiaki et al.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2019.Hoel DG, Berwick M, de Gruijl FR, Holick MF.The risks and benefits of sun exposure.Dermato-Endocrinology. 2016.Rutter KJ, Farrar MD, Marjanovic EJ, Rhodes LE.Clinicophotobiological Characterization of Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis.Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology.2022.Ellenbogen E, Wesselmann U, Hofmann SC, Lehmann P.Photosensitive atopic dermatitis—a neglected subset: Clinical, laboratory, histological and photobiological workup. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2016.Xiaoyou Tang, Tingyi Yang, Daojiang Yu, Hai Xiong, Shuyu Zhang.Current insights and future perspectives of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure: Friends and foes to the skin and beyond the skin. Environment International. 2024.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Practice Safe Sun.Patrizi A, Raone B, Ravaioli GM.Management of atopic dermatitis: safety and efficacy of phototherapy.Clinical Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology. 2015.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Treatment: Phototherapy.Additional ReadingManousaki D, Paternoster L, Standl M, et al.Vitamin D levels and susceptibility to asthma, elevated immunoglobulin E levels, and atopic dermatitis: A Mendelian randomization study.PLoS Med.2017;14(5):e1002294. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002294Matsushima Y, Mizutani K, Yamaguchi Y, Yamanaka K.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Mar;143(3):929-31. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.004Nutten S.Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors.Ann Nutr Metab. 2015;66 Suppl 1:8-16. doi:10.1159/000370220Palmer DJ.Vitamin D and the development of atopic eczema.J Clin Med. 2015 May;4(5):1036-50. doi:10.3390/jcm4051036Quirk SK, Rainwater E, Shure AK, Agrawal DK.Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2016 Aug;12(8):839-47. doi:10.1586/1744666X.2016.1171143Yu C, Fitzpatrick A, Cong D, et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLACD25Foxp3 regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2017;140(5):1441-1444.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.05.023
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nowicka D, Grywalska E.The role of immune defects and colonization in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Analytical Cellular Pathology (Amsterdam).2018.Piquero-Casals J, Carrascosa JM, Morgado-Carrasco D, Narda M, Trullas C, Granger C, Fabbrocini G.The Role of Photoprotection in Optimizing the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology Therapies. 2021.Yu, Cunjing et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLA+CD25_Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2017.Matsushima, Yoshiaki et al.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2019.Hoel DG, Berwick M, de Gruijl FR, Holick MF.The risks and benefits of sun exposure.Dermato-Endocrinology. 2016.Rutter KJ, Farrar MD, Marjanovic EJ, Rhodes LE.Clinicophotobiological Characterization of Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis.Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology.2022.Ellenbogen E, Wesselmann U, Hofmann SC, Lehmann P.Photosensitive atopic dermatitis—a neglected subset: Clinical, laboratory, histological and photobiological workup. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2016.Xiaoyou Tang, Tingyi Yang, Daojiang Yu, Hai Xiong, Shuyu Zhang.Current insights and future perspectives of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure: Friends and foes to the skin and beyond the skin. Environment International. 2024.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Practice Safe Sun.Patrizi A, Raone B, Ravaioli GM.Management of atopic dermatitis: safety and efficacy of phototherapy.Clinical Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology. 2015.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Treatment: Phototherapy.Additional ReadingManousaki D, Paternoster L, Standl M, et al.Vitamin D levels and susceptibility to asthma, elevated immunoglobulin E levels, and atopic dermatitis: A Mendelian randomization study.PLoS Med.2017;14(5):e1002294. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002294Matsushima Y, Mizutani K, Yamaguchi Y, Yamanaka K.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Mar;143(3):929-31. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.004Nutten S.Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors.Ann Nutr Metab. 2015;66 Suppl 1:8-16. doi:10.1159/000370220Palmer DJ.Vitamin D and the development of atopic eczema.J Clin Med. 2015 May;4(5):1036-50. doi:10.3390/jcm4051036Quirk SK, Rainwater E, Shure AK, Agrawal DK.Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2016 Aug;12(8):839-47. doi:10.1586/1744666X.2016.1171143Yu C, Fitzpatrick A, Cong D, et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLACD25Foxp3 regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2017;140(5):1441-1444.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.05.023
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nowicka D, Grywalska E.The role of immune defects and colonization in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Analytical Cellular Pathology (Amsterdam).2018.Piquero-Casals J, Carrascosa JM, Morgado-Carrasco D, Narda M, Trullas C, Granger C, Fabbrocini G.The Role of Photoprotection in Optimizing the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology Therapies. 2021.Yu, Cunjing et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLA+CD25_Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2017.Matsushima, Yoshiaki et al.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2019.Hoel DG, Berwick M, de Gruijl FR, Holick MF.The risks and benefits of sun exposure.Dermato-Endocrinology. 2016.Rutter KJ, Farrar MD, Marjanovic EJ, Rhodes LE.Clinicophotobiological Characterization of Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis.Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology.2022.Ellenbogen E, Wesselmann U, Hofmann SC, Lehmann P.Photosensitive atopic dermatitis—a neglected subset: Clinical, laboratory, histological and photobiological workup. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2016.Xiaoyou Tang, Tingyi Yang, Daojiang Yu, Hai Xiong, Shuyu Zhang.Current insights and future perspectives of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure: Friends and foes to the skin and beyond the skin. Environment International. 2024.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Practice Safe Sun.Patrizi A, Raone B, Ravaioli GM.Management of atopic dermatitis: safety and efficacy of phototherapy.Clinical Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology. 2015.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Treatment: Phototherapy.
Nowicka D, Grywalska E.The role of immune defects and colonization in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Analytical Cellular Pathology (Amsterdam).2018.
Piquero-Casals J, Carrascosa JM, Morgado-Carrasco D, Narda M, Trullas C, Granger C, Fabbrocini G.The Role of Photoprotection in Optimizing the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology Therapies. 2021.
Yu, Cunjing et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLA+CD25_Foxp3+ regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2017.
Matsushima, Yoshiaki et al.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2019.
Hoel DG, Berwick M, de Gruijl FR, Holick MF.The risks and benefits of sun exposure.Dermato-Endocrinology. 2016.
Rutter KJ, Farrar MD, Marjanovic EJ, Rhodes LE.Clinicophotobiological Characterization of Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis.Journal of the American Medical Association: Dermatology.2022.
Ellenbogen E, Wesselmann U, Hofmann SC, Lehmann P.Photosensitive atopic dermatitis—a neglected subset: Clinical, laboratory, histological and photobiological workup. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2016.
Xiaoyou Tang, Tingyi Yang, Daojiang Yu, Hai Xiong, Shuyu Zhang.Current insights and future perspectives of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure: Friends and foes to the skin and beyond the skin. Environment International. 2024.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Practice Safe Sun.
Patrizi A, Raone B, Ravaioli GM.Management of atopic dermatitis: safety and efficacy of phototherapy.Clinical Cosmetic Investigative Dermatology. 2015.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Treatment: Phototherapy.
Manousaki D, Paternoster L, Standl M, et al.Vitamin D levels and susceptibility to asthma, elevated immunoglobulin E levels, and atopic dermatitis: A Mendelian randomization study.PLoS Med.2017;14(5):e1002294. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002294Matsushima Y, Mizutani K, Yamaguchi Y, Yamanaka K.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Mar;143(3):929-31. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.004Nutten S.Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors.Ann Nutr Metab. 2015;66 Suppl 1:8-16. doi:10.1159/000370220Palmer DJ.Vitamin D and the development of atopic eczema.J Clin Med. 2015 May;4(5):1036-50. doi:10.3390/jcm4051036Quirk SK, Rainwater E, Shure AK, Agrawal DK.Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2016 Aug;12(8):839-47. doi:10.1586/1744666X.2016.1171143Yu C, Fitzpatrick A, Cong D, et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLACD25Foxp3 regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2017;140(5):1441-1444.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.05.023
Manousaki D, Paternoster L, Standl M, et al.Vitamin D levels and susceptibility to asthma, elevated immunoglobulin E levels, and atopic dermatitis: A Mendelian randomization study.PLoS Med.2017;14(5):e1002294. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002294
Matsushima Y, Mizutani K, Yamaguchi Y, Yamanaka K.Vitamin D is no substitute for the sun.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2019 Mar;143(3):929-31. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.01.004
Nutten S.Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors.Ann Nutr Metab. 2015;66 Suppl 1:8-16. doi:10.1159/000370220
Palmer DJ.Vitamin D and the development of atopic eczema.J Clin Med. 2015 May;4(5):1036-50. doi:10.3390/jcm4051036
Quirk SK, Rainwater E, Shure AK, Agrawal DK.Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2016 Aug;12(8):839-47. doi:10.1586/1744666X.2016.1171143
Yu C, Fitzpatrick A, Cong D, et al.Nitric oxide induces human CLACD25Foxp3 regulatory T cells with skin-homing potential.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2017;140(5):1441-1444.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2017.05.023
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