Sun exposure has many health benefits for the body. Ultraviolet (UV) rays in the sun can stimulate blood circulation and are important for the body's production of Vitamin D, which has an important function in increasing calcium and phosphorous absorption from food and plays a crucial role in skeletal development, immune functions, and blood cell formation. Just 5 to 15 minutes of exposure to the sun per day is sufficient for maintaining healthy Vitamin D levels.

However, excessing exposure to the sun can lead to sun poisoning. Exposure to the sun causes the body to gain heat. Rapid increases in heat can prevent the body from self-regulating its temperature and cause illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cataracts and hyperthermia. Exposure to very high temperatures as a result of direct exposure to the sun can also make chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease worse. Aside from these immediate impacts, exposure to the UV rays that make up sunlight can also cause skin cancers which kill over 60,000 people every year.

Health experts indicate that over 80% of skin cancers are preventable by regulating the amount of time spent exposed to sunlight. The World Health Organization recommends that people limit the amount of time spent in the midday sun, use shading such as umbrellas, trees and canopies, wear protective clothing, and use sun screen whenever possible to mitigate the effects of UV exposure.