Can sunlight kill the varicella-zoster virus?

Sunlight does have a certain inhibitory and destructive effect on the varicella-zoster virus, but its effectiveness is not absolute. On one hand, the varicella-zoster virus typically survives for about 30 minutes under sunlight, indicating that ultraviolet light in sunlight can reduce the virus's activity to some extent. On the other hand, although sun exposure may help in the recovery of patients with herpes zoster, prolonged exposure to sunlight may cause skin irritation, worsen symptoms, and even lead to other skin problems such as sunburn or dryness. Therefore, patients with herpes zoster can have moderate sun exposure but should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. When sunbathing, it is best to choose periods when the sunlight is relatively mild and to limit the duration of exposure to avoid unnecessary harm to the skin. At the same time, patients should also actively follow their doctor's treatment plan to promote recovery as soon as possible.