Looking at Sunscreen and Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is essential for the body. This one is great for bone strength and also helps with digestion, immunity, circulation, and your nervous system. It is estimated by Mercy Medical Center that approximately 42% of Americans are vitamin D deficient. There are many signs that are linked to be low in vitamin D including fatigue, getting sick often, and depression. Since these also are signs for other illnesses, you won't know for sure unless your doctor checks your levels, generally through labs.
There are many ways to bulk up your vitamin D numbers. Eating a balanced diet, rich in fatty fish, seafood, mushrooms, and egg yolks is definitely recommended. You can use a UV lamp and even try adding in a quality supplement. One thing that each article you will read on google will agree on is that being in the sunlight will help your body absorb vitamin D. After all, vitamin D is called the "sunshine vitamin!"
With professions like dermatologist and estheticians passionately advocating for sunscreen usage to prevent again skin cancers, there are many (myself included) that don't leave home without our SPF! Is it possible to boost your vitamin D levels while protecting yourself from sun damage?
There are many debates on this topic and I have yet to find a clear yes or no. Here's what we know! UVA is aging rays and penetrates the skin deeper. UVB is considered burning rays. It is a short ray in the skin, but also accounts for the vitamin D. A broadspectrum SPF 15 protects against 93% of UVA/UVB rays. SPF 30 is 97% and SPF 50 is 98%.
The lighter skin you are, the less time that your body needs to absorb vitamin D. In a Healthline article, the study showed that light skinned individuals wearing shorts and a tank top for 10 - 30 minutes three times a week is adequate to supply the body of the right amount of sunshine vitamin.The darker you are, the more sun exposure you would need. In Shawn Stevenson's book, Sleep Smarter - 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success, he suggests getting sunlight between the hours of 6:00 - 8:30 am for at least 10 - 15 minutes when possible due to seasons.
When we are applying sunscreen to our bodies, the real truth is that generally we don't apply enough so some rays will be able to be absorbed. That sunlight is just what we need to produce more vitamin D. Yes, we need to protect ourselves from skin cancer. And yes! We need vitamin D. Be smart about your sun exposure everyday (as more often than not, sunburns come on cloudy days.) If you think you are low on vitamin D, consult with your doctor first and foremost! And consider adding in a quality supplement and beefing up your diet with things like fish and mushrooms.
Don't forget to
Breathe. Let Go. Relax.
Zoey Jolley, LE