Do car windows, cloudy skies or geographical location affect the amount of sun exposure?
Most folks who are ill enough to be treated with the Marshall Protocol are photosensitive. That photosensitivity, especially in the first months of the protocol, can cause an increase in symptoms. If your symptoms increase during or after exposure to natural light, you are photosensitive.
When we talk about sun exposure, we mean ALL daylight (not just sunlight) occurring between dawn and dusk.
Even on a cloudy day or if you stay in the shade--even if you live far north of the equator or in a location know for its rainy days, you can get too much radiation in just a few minutes of exposing your skin if you are very photosensitive. Lingering outside or subjecting yourself to avoidable outtings may sabotage your chance of success on the MP.
UV and infrared rays are not completely blocked by sunscreen, clouds or tinted car windows and they are reflected off many surfaces (snow, sand, concrete).
Even if your house windows are shaded by trees or overhang, or are facing north, the windows in your home must be covered to block the light from entering. If you go outside you need to cover up completely. Dark coloured and densely woven fabric is the most effective. Wear shirts with high collar and long sleeves, trousers or a long skirt, socks and shoes, a wide-brimmed hat and gloves.
Windows, including cars
Riding in a car, even with the best tinted windows, is an excellent way to get too much natural light.
-My UV meter shows only one drop in SPF-equivalent levels inside and outside the car window when parked in the California sun. So if Auto Safety Glass attenuates UV, it doesn't absorb very much. Of course, you don't need UV to make 1,25-D in the keratinocytes of the skin.
Direct sun (UV) light is the worst, although light reflected from the ground, and buildings, is also intense enough to cause severe problems.
Window glass which blocks UV spectrum (car front windows typically absorb 95+% of UV light), can still make Th1 patients very sick from the light which comes through them... (even if it has to reflect from a surface such as floors and walls).
..Trevor..
Failing to protect the skin from radiation may result in an increase in symptoms that may make continuing the protocol very difficult.
Some people can get by with cheating on sun exposure without feeling too bad. Others cannot continue because they become too symptomtic. If you are having problems, assess your light exposure frankly. You might diligently avoid all light by staying indoors in 30 lux lighting for a week or more to see if symptoms decrease. You may need to find a way to avoid sun exposure in order to continue the protocol.
Cloudy skies
The scattering and absorption of light (visible and invisible rays) by clouds, much like tinted car windows, does not provide protection from the effects of natural light exposure. All wave lengths of natural light (infra-red to ultraviolet) can provide enough solar electromagnetic energy to cause the creation of the secosteroidal hormone 1,25-D within the skin cells and light to be transmitted to the brain (amygdala) via the eyes. The length of time (exposed to natural light) needed to exacerbate Th1 symptoms will vary depending on the level of photosensitivy of the individual but overcast skies should not be regarded with less caution than a cloudless day.
Dawn and dusk
If you are photosensitive, you are only safe in low light. The light level at dawn and dusk may be low enough to allow you to be outdoors during that limited time.
How Long Is Sun and Light Avoidance Necessary?
The excess generation of 1,25-D in the keratinocytes is caused by the inflammatory cytokines (like TNF-alpha). As you begin to recover, you’ll become less sensitive to these chemical changes, due to the reduction of pathogens. Both the eye sensitivity and the skin sensitivity gradually drop as the overall inflammatory load drops. Eventually both return to 'normal', or very close to it."
Typically, care must be taken to avoid sun and bright lights for 6-18 months. The good news is, that this improvement gradually takes place, so you’ll notice a decrease in sensitivity to light sooner, but you’ll still be susceptible to a sun or light reaction.
As your body heals, you’ll be able tolerate an increase in light exposure without having symptoms. You may always want to take some extra care, as you may notice increased fatigue after increased sun exposure, but this would be mild, compared to the initial reaction in the first few weeks or months of following the Marshall Protocol.
It can be very difficult (mentally and/or physically) to make lifestyle adjustments that facilitate avoiding natural light to reduce symptoms. For some, these symptoms are the price they have to (or want to) pay for recovery.
See:
The Effect of Sunlight/daylight and Bright Lights
The effect of light on the brain (amygdalla)
How to Avoid Sunlight and Bright Lights
Incident Radiation Tutorial
Does sunscreen prevent the production of Vitamin D?
Testimonials to the need to avoid light
Why are my symptoms more intense after exposure to light &/or Vit D?
Protecting Your Eyes
30 Lux
Why does exposure to natural light increase symptoms?
Last edited on Wed Feb 20th, 2008 07:10 by Foundation Staff
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