A influência da luz solar na saúde do adolescente

Introduction: there is controversy regarding the risks and benefits related to exposure to sunlight. Objective: to identify in the literature the influence of sunlight on adolescent health. Method: the research platforms were used: PubMed and Virtual Health Library - VHL, with the descriptors "Adolescent health" AND "Sunligth''. The following filters were applied: full articles available, published from 2015 to 2019 in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and age of study, between 10 and 19 years old. Results: after applying the filters, 172 articles were extracted, excluding those that did not answer the guiding question in question, were not available or repeated, leaving 14 references that were grouped by thematic areas: knowledge and behaviors related to sunlight; parents' role in children's knowledge; assessment of vitamin D status; relationship between obesity and lack of vitamin D; relationship between exposure to sunlight and other diseases. Conclusion: It appears from this study that photoprotective care is essential for longer exposure to sunlight, especially from 11 am to 3 pm in tropical locations. On the other hand, safe and effective exposure promotes vitamin D biosynthesis, bringing unquestionable health benefits to adolescents.