More and more studies show that people don’t
have enough vitamin D, which is produced when sunlight hits our skin.
Does this mean we should stop using sunscreen? Should we decrease the
SPF (sun protection factor)? Or should we continue using sunscreen and
take vitamin D supplements?
The truth about vitamin D and sunscreen is
complicated. I don’t believe the heated rhetoric of this debate, and I
believe that moderation is the best approach. Humans have evolved to
live outside and get sun. The problem is that our skin has evolved in
several parallel pathways so that it can get more or less sun depending
on the latitude it has adapted to live in. Darker skin has evolved for
more sun exposure, while lighter skin has evolved for more northern
latitudes. If a light-skinned person is put in a sunny environment,
their skin won't have the protection it needs and will tend to get
burned. Over the long term this exposure will manifest as skin cancers,
precancers, and premature aging including wrinkles.
Very few light-skinned Americans are getting
enough vitamin D. This can and should be measured on an annual basis,
especially for those that live in a climate that does not expose them to
much sun light. If you have a low vitamin D level, you can plan a
strategy that supplements it with oral vitamin D, and this can be done
with your physician. There are a few different forms of vitamin D, and
the one that you should monitor is called 25 (OH) D. According to the
National Institute of Health, a level of about 20 ng/ mL is appropriate
for most people. Having a level higher than this can predispose to
formation of kidney stones because vitamin D will increase calcium
absorption. Less than this level can affect bones and other vital
structures.
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