Lyme Reactivation by Dr. Lindsley

How Sunlight and Immune Health Affect Lyme Reactivation

For most people, March Madness means basketball. But if you live with Lyme Disease or work with patients who do, you know there is another kind of madness that hits every spring. And it has everything to do with the return of sunlight.

Lyme Disease symptoms often reappear in March and April, long before tick season kicks off. This is not because of new exposure. It is due to something deeper… reactivation from within.

Why Spring Triggers Lyme Reactivation

During the fall and winter months, especially in the northern United States, our exposure to full-spectrum sunlight drops significantly. Without this natural light and the vitamin D it helps produce, our immune system becomes less responsive. As a result, dormant bacteria, including Lyme pathogens, begin to reactivate as early as March.

March 21 marks the spring solstice. For those living north of Atlanta or Los Angeles, it is the first time in about six months that full-spectrum sun is available again. Our bodies feel this shift. I often tell patients that sunlight around noon is especially helpful because it begins to awaken the vitality we lost over the winter.

When that purple-spectrum light returns, it helps reset the immune system and improve mental health, energy, and resilience.

Building Your Immune Shield

Cold and flu season is not about new viruses. These viruses exist year-round. What changes is our body’s ability to fight them off. When vitamin D and purple light disappear in late fall, we see a drop in immune defense and a rise in chronic, low-grade infections.

That is why creating a shield of resistance is key. Dr. Lindsley recommends a combination of vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc along with regular sun exposure when possible.

We also advise our patients to repeat their use of Lyme Support Formula (LSF) products in both spring and fall. These formulas are designed to support immune function against Lyme-related pathogens during seasons when the body is more prone to reactivation.

A short four to six week protocol in early spring can help the body stay ahead of symptom flare-ups. I often recommend repeating this again in late October or early November to match the body’s seasonal changes.

Take Control of Your Health

We’ve even had patients share that 15 minutes in a tanning bed helped them feel better during these low-sun months. While that is not a replacement for real sun, it is a reminder of how much light and vitamin D influence our immune system.

So no, March Madness is not just about college basketball. It is about protecting your body from the silent return of Lyme symptoms.

Let your body work with the season, not against it!