I Was Addicted to Sunglasses.

Yes, you read it right: sunglasses.

For years, I wore them almost every time I stepped outside. It felt normal—even healthy. But I started questioning it when I learned what constant shade over the eyes does to the rest of the body.

Our eyes aren’t just for seeing. They’re light sensors, deeply tied to how our body functions. When sunlight enters through the eyes, it sends a signal to the brain that it’s daytime—triggering the circadian rhythm. That rhythm controls everything from your energy and sleep to your hormone levels and skin function.

But when we block that signal with sunglasses all the time, especially in the morning, the brain doesn’t fully “wake up.” Cortisol, the hormone that gives us energy and alertness in the early hours, doesn’t spike properly. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, gets confused later. It’s like our whole internal clock goes out of sync.

And here’s where it connects to your skin: that sunlight signal also triggers melanin production. Melanin is your body’s natural sunscreen. Without it, your skin becomes more vulnerable to sun damage. So ironically, wearing sunglasses constantly might make you burn more easily—not less.

I’m not anti-sunglasses now. I just stopped using them as a default. Morning light in the eyes is medicine—for your hormones, your mood, your skin. You don’t have to stare into the sun, but let it in. Your body knows what to do with it.

with love,

Rafaella.

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