SUN AND SKIN
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The sun's radiation varies depending on the position on Earth and is strongest around the equator, where early human development took place. In response to this strong exposure,
skin pigmentation
developed. Dark skin filters UV radiation and protects against its adverse effects. When humans moved from the equatorial region to less sunny areas, strong skin pigmentation prevented them from absorbing enough sunlight. Neanderthals, however, who had lived in these areas for 150,000 years, had developed lighter skin in response to the less sunny conditions. It is through procreation with the Neanderthals that homo sapiens was able to adapt and survive. It makes the modern European a human with the genetic solar adaptations of the Neanderthals . ...
- Agricultural revolution: a turning point in the relationship to the sun -
In 365.265 days, Planet Earth orbits the sun. The orbit and specific inclination of the Earth's axis on this orbit determine the rhythm of the seasons, climate, vegetation, resources and agriculture peculiar to each location.
8500 B.C.: The agricultural revolution marks a turning point in the relationship between human beings and the sun. Climatic conditions in the so-called “Fertile Crescent” were opportune for agriculture, with a suitable, relatively dry climate and plant and grain species suitable for domestication.
Food-gatherer-hunters settled in permanent settlements and daily activities changed from a search for food in a vast area to hard labor in an open field. An important consequence of agrarian society was that over the centuries, those who did not have to work in the field spent most of their time indoors and considered themselves privileged. Sun-tanned skin was associated with intense labor on the field. Upper-class women did not go outside
without completely covering their bodies
so that not a single freckle or blush had a chance. Ranging from
parasols
to hats, gloves and visards
- the sun protection industry flourished like never before. It was only when working class jobs moved indoors during the Industrial Revolution that tanned skin in Western Europe gradually lost its social recognition as a sign of the lower class. - Sun and health -
The first report of the sun's negative effects dates only to the 19th century. It was the female mountaineer
Henriette d'Angeville
who first described the negative effects of the sun in 1838. In the travelog of her ascent of Mont Blanc, she speaks of her gritted, purple-colored skin, black lips covered with blisters and white of eyes crisscrossed with dark red veins. A century later, the disciplines of photobiology and photodermatology emerged. The therapeutic benefits of sunlight were discovered too. Heliotherapy
was the answer to several conditions due to lack of sunlight. Exposure to artificial as well as natural sunlight was prescribed against psoriasis, rickets and tuberculosis, among others. The latter left a great impression in modernist architecture, Architectural historian Colomina describes in the book X-Ray Architecture how modern architecture was primarily related to a health campaign. In response to the tuberculosis epidemic, a solar architecture emerged in which sanatoria - such as Alvar Aalto's Paimio Sanatorium
- were designed to maximize the amount of light that could enter
.- Skin color and the perception of class, gender and race -
Around the same time, the first passenger planes and cruise ships were taking affluent families to
sunny destinations
. Sun-tanned skin became a status symbol, a sign of the ability to spend vacations abroad. Under the influence of Coco Chanel, who returned sun-tanned from the South in 1920
, sunbathing in the West became a permanent desire. A tanned skin became a beauty ideal in the Western world, which a woman had to comply with in the first place. Countless objects, ranging from bikinis
to sun mirrors
promoted this new ideal. In other parts of the world, however, snow-white skin remains coveted. The facekini
facilitates well-to-do women a day in the sun without affecting their light complexion - and status. In contrast, tanned skin in men is often associated with outdoor work or prolonged athletic endeavors. Extreme tanlines
are then considered a sign of their impressive, heroic achievements.Late 1970s: the introduction of
the tanning bed
. A sun-tanned skin is now possible all year round. A
fake orange glow
as a sign of health. In sports culture, this artificial sunlight is then coveted by the highly tanned tint that athletes make their muscles look more toned
. Knowledge of the health risks and strict legislation on artificial sunlight caused the popularity of tanning beds to decline - thankfully. Self-tanners, spray tans and distant trips to the sun maintained the perception of the sun tan as a sign of prosperity, health and gender.With the rise of social media and greater awareness of cultural appropriation and racial identity issues, the phenomenon of blackfishing has received an increasing attention. Following the example of influencers, countless people are appropriating a darker skincolor in favor of beauty ideals. At the same time, they are able to maintain their whiteness. It makes sun-tanned skin a symbolic capital, reserved for white people.
We need to think about how we value sun-tanned skin, in a world where people of color are still discriminated against because of their natural dark skin color.
- Sun and skin: deficiency and overexposure -
People have been moving faster and more frequently over longer distances in recent decades. As a result, the melanin levels of most are most likely no longer compatible with sun exposure conditions. Regardless of the time of year, we work year-round in a 9-to-5 rhythm cooped up in offices, workplaces, shopping malls, indoor transportation and thus spend more and more time indoors. A vitamin D deficiency is thus a reality for about 80% of the Western European population at the end of winter, potentially resulting in osteoporosis, muscle pain, a weakened immune system, dejection and depression. Winter blues are also a result of lack of sunlight. The perception of daylight on our retinas impacts our biorhythms and eliminates restlessness and fatigue. Although ideal sun exposure depends on individual factors, geographical location and weather conditions, it is essential for a healthy and happy life. It is important to protect ourselves from its harmful effects, but at the same time we should also give ourselves adequate sun exposure.
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