What every Midwesterner needs to know about sun damage, skin aging, and why vitamin D matters more than you think.
Here in the Midwest, we have a complicated relationship with the sun. We wait all winter for it, celebrate when it finally arrives and sometimes forget to protect ourselves from it. At Behold Aesthetics and Wellness, we think about this balance every day, because great skin and genuine wellness aren’t at odds with each other. They both start with understanding what the sun does to your body.
What Sun Exposure Does to Your Skin
The sun sends out two kinds of rays that affect your skin in different ways. UVA rays are the aging rays, sinking deep into your skin and slowly breaking down the collagen that keeps it firm and smooth. UVB rays are the burning rays, and they’re behind most skin cancers. The sneaky part? You can’t see or feel either one doing their damage.
That damage also doesn’t show up right away. It builds quietly for years before appearing as fine lines, dark spots or skin that’s lost its bounce. Sun exposure is also the number one trigger for uneven skin tone and sunspots, and those are notoriously hard to get rid of without a consistent SPF routine. Even after treatment, they tend to come right back without protection.
The Midwest Vitamin D Problem Is Real
Here’s the other side of the story: your body needs sunlight. It’s how you make vitamin D, a nutrient that supports strong bones, a healthy immune system, good energy and even your mood. Low vitamin D has also been linked to fatigue, seasonal illness and increased risk of certain chronic conditions.
For Midwesterners, this is a real issue. Our long winters and weak winter sun make it hard to produce enough vitamin D naturally, and studies show that deficiency is more common in our region than almost anywhere else in the country. Just 10 to 20 minutes of midday sun a few times a week can help during warmer months. Come fall, ask your health care provider about checking your levels, as supplementing through winter is widely recommended for people in our area.
Protecting Your Skin Without Avoiding the Sun
The goal isn’t to avoid the sun, it’s to protect your skin when it counts. Most sun damage comes not from beach days but from everyday exposure: driving, walking to your car, sitting near a window. That’s why consistency matters more than anything. Our Licensed Estheticians recommend SPF 30 every single day, rain or shine and to reapply every two hours when out in the sun.
Choose a professional-grade skincare that builds broad-spectrum SPF right into your daily routine. These aren’t heavy, greasy sunscreens. They’re moisturizers, serums and tinted products that protect while they nourish, so sun care becomes second nature.
The Bottom Line
The sun isn’t your enemy, unprotected exposure is. A little intentional sun supports your vitamin D and your wellbeing. Daily SPF protects your skin from damage that adds up over a lifetime. Do both, and you’ve got it covered.
Visit Behold Aesthetics and Wellness online at https://beholdu.com/ or in person at 401 S Banker Street, Suite C in Effingham to explore our SPF skincare collection and speak with our team about a routine that works for you.
