It’s Not the Sun Causing Melanoma — It’s Time to Reclaim Our Relationship with Nature

For decades, we’ve been warned about the dangers of the sun — told to avoid it, cover up, and slather ourselves in sunscreen. But emerging research is turning this narrative on its head. Could it be that sunlight is not the villain it’s been made out to be? And if not, what is contributing to rising rates of melanoma?

What the Research Actually Says

A 2024 study published in the British Journal of Dermatology challenges long-standing assumptions. The researchers found that:

• Melanoma mortality is not highest in the sunniest regions, contradicting the idea that UV exposure is the primary driver of deadly skin cancer.

• The most aggressive melanomas are increasingly appearing on areas of the body not regularly exposed to the sun, such as the torso.

• Melanoma rates have risen, despite decades of increased sunscreen use and reduced time spent in direct sunlight.

📖 Read the full study here:👉 British Journal of Dermatology, 2024

Supporting this, researchers from the University of Edinburgh concluded in a 2020 paper that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is not the major cause of melanoma mortality. Their review highlighted that people living in areas with higher natural sunlight exposure tend to have lower rates of melanoma deaths.

📖 Read the Edinburgh study here:👉 University of Edinburgh Publication

So What’s Really Going On?

As Dr. Weston A. Price documented in his global studies during the 1930s, traditional communities who ate nutrient-dense, ancestral diets thrived in the sun without issue. Their skin, bones, and immune systems were naturally strong — fortified from within by foods rich in fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and what he called Activator X (now known as vitamin K2).

When these communities adopted processed, modern foods (white flour, sugar, and canned goods), they began to experience tooth decay, chronic illness, and greater vulnerability to environmental stressors — including sun damage.

It’s not the sun that’s failing us. It’s our internal resilience that’s been lost.

The Vital Role of Sunlight in Human Health

Sunlight is not just beneficial — it’s essential.

• Vitamin D synthesis: Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, crucial for immune health, hormone regulation, calcium absorption, and more.

• Circadian rhythm support: Morning sunlight helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle, balancing hormones like melatonin and cortisol.

• Mental health: Exposure to natural light increases serotonin production, lifting mood and reducing the risk of depression.

• Metabolic health: Sunlight on the skin influences nitric oxide production and insulin sensitivity, supporting cardiovascular and metabolic function.

• Cellular healing: Full-spectrum sunlight contains red and near-infrared light, which can promote mitochondrial health and tissue repair.

When we avoid the sun, we’re cutting ourselves off from a vital source of nourishment and regulation.

The Importance of Natural Light Exposure to the Eyes

Our eyes are not just for vision — they also help regulate our body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. Specialised light-sensitive cells in the retina detect natural light and send signals to the brain, helping to control sleep patterns, hormone levels, and other vital daily rhythms.

Wearing sunglasses constantly, especially during the morning hours, can impede this natural process. While sunglasses protect against excessive UV exposure, overuse may disrupt the body's ability to synchronize with natural light cycles, potentially affecting sleep quality and hormonal balance.

To support optimal circadian health:

• Expose your eyes to natural light, particularly in the morning, without sunglasses for short periods.

• Limit artificial light exposure, especially blue light from screens, in the evening to maintain healthy sleep patterns.

  
  

What About Sunscreen?

Here’s where things get concerning.

Most conventional sunscreens are formulated with endocrine-disrupting, carcinogenic chemicals — substances that have been linked to hormone imbalances, allergic reactions, and even cancer. And they don’t stay on your skin. When you swim or shower, they wash off into the oceans, where they’ve been shown to damage coral reefs, disrupt marine ecosystems, and harm fish and other wildlife.

In short: mainstream sunscreen is toxic sludge — to your body and the planet.

Safer options do exist. If you need sun protection after building gradual exposure, look for mineral-based sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide — and always check the ingredients.

The Ancestral Approach to Sunlight

Our ancestors lived in sync with the seasons, gradually increasing their exposure to sunlight in spring, allowing their bodies to build natural defences like melanin. Their nutrient-dense diets gave them the internal protection they needed:

• Vitamin A from liver and butter

• Vitamin D from oily fish and fermented cod liver oil

• Vitamin K2 (Activator X) from grass-fed dairy and fermented foods

Today, we do the opposite. We spend months indoors, then suddenly head into intense sun with depleted bodies, seed-oil-loaded skin, and no adaptation.

What You Can Do

It’s time to rebuild our relationship with the sun — and with our own biology.

✅ Nourish your body with ancestral, nutrient-dense foods

✅ Avoid seed oils, refined sugar, and processed foods

✅ Gradually expose your skin to sunlight in spring

✅ Choose non-toxic, reef-safe sunscreen when needed

✅ Get outside every day and reconnect with nature’s rhythms

✅ Allow your eyes to experience natural light, especially in the morning, to support your circadian rhythm

The sun is not your enemy. It's your ally — in health, healing, and vitality.