Recent reports about the importance of Vitamin D has caused many to be confused about whether or not they should be getting more sun exposure than they currently do. Some reports even go so far as to recommend the discontinuation of sunscreen in order to achieve adequate Vitamin D levels. Some physicians are advocating intentional sun exposure to elevate Vitamin D levels. But dermatologists have always (and still do) recommend that we wear a high-SPF sunscreen daily to prevent skin cancers and premature aging. So what is a person to do? Who do they trust?

While we agree that Vitamin D is indeed beneficial for calcium regulation, some sources are claiming that the vitamin has antineoplastic (anti-cancer) properties as well. It has also been postulated that it may have benefit for other types of cancers (including breast, colon, prostate, and melanoma), Multiple Sclerosis, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Great! But there are other ways to get adequate Vitamin D without exposing yourself to other risk factors at the same time. What good is cancer prevention if you are only exposing yourself to another type of cancer risk?

Vitamin D can be safely obtained by diet or supplements. Oily fish, eggs, and fortified milk and cereals are all full of Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements are now widely available as well. The next question is how much Vitamin D is enough. The answer to this question is not as easy, as the current recommendations are currently under review. As is stands, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a minimum intake of anywhere from 200IU to 600IU depending on your sex, age, and physiologic state (pregnancy, lactation etc.).

It is interesting to note that although colder, more northern climates may appear to be at a greater risk of Vitamin D deficiency due to increased skin coverage and less sun exposure, this does not necessarily correlate with actual serum Vitamin D levels. Most Canadians probably have adequate Vitamin D levels, despite wearing daily sunscreen, having little UVB exposure in the winter, and covering the skin with clothing (myself included). On the flip side, there are some Californians who wear little to no sunscreen, get lots of UVB, and have a higher surface area of their skin exposed, yet still have deficient Vitamin D levels. There must be other factors at play here, as sun exposure does not directly correlate to increased Vitamin D levels in all cases.

Finding out what is going on in your own body would be a good place to start. If you would like to know your Vitamin D levels, you can ask your doctor for a simple blood test to find out. Doing so, as part of your yearly physical exam, is a good way to promote health and wellness in your life. If your levels come back low, then you can look at increasing Vitamin D in your diet or taking a supplement. If your Vitamin D levels are normal, keep doing all the same things! And remember to wear your sunscreen!

Please read the full position statement from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) regarding Vitamin D and its safe attainment by clicking on the link below:

Click here to open an informational PDF.