April 2026: Levy's research featured in a popular Israeli newspaper

For years, we’ve been rightly warned about the dangers of sun exposure. But biology, as always, is more complex. In a recent interview published in a popular Israeli newspaper, Prof. Carmit Levy, Edmond J. Safra affiliate (Medical & Health Sciences), presents a more nuanced scientific perspective on sunlight, based on her research at the intersection of skin biology, cancer, immunity, and fertility.

While studying the normal function of the skin and tanning, Prof. Levy and her team discovered that the skin operates according to a biological clock, with physiological processes unfolding over 48 hours following UV exposure. This led to broader and unexpected insights: sunlight does not act only locally on the skin; it affects the entire body.

Preclinical and clinical data revealed that moderate UV exposure influences hormone levels, metabolism, immune function, sexual behavior, and fertility. In animal models, gentle sun exposure increased reproductive hormone activity and fertility markers. In human data from health institutes and fertility clinics, clear seasonal patterns emerged, including higher testosterone levels and improved markers of ovarian reserve during the summer months.

Importantly, these effects are not explained solely by vitamin D. The research shows that sunlight has direct physiological impacts that supplements cannot fully replicate.

At the same time, Prof. Levy is careful to emphasize what this science does not mean. These findings do not cancel decades of evidence linking excessive UV exposure to skin cancer, nor do they translate directly into practical recommendations. Skin type, exposure duration, intensity, and timing all matter, and much more research is needed before moving from laboratory findings to public guidelines.

The key takeaway is balance: sunlight is neither purely harmful nor universally beneficial. It is a powerful biological signal, and understanding its full effect requires moving beyond slogans and fear toward evidence‑based complexity.