Vitamin D-Lightful: Why Vitamin D Is Beneficial To The Skin

by Jennifer Rock February 11, 2018

Vitamin D-Lightful: Why Vitamin D Is Beneficial To The Skin

Vitamin D is something that’s in high demand in Ireland, thanks in large part to our gloriously sunny weather, or lack thereof. The big D is a fat-soluble vitamin, essential for several things.

For one, it plays a huge role in boosting your body’s immunity. For another, it promotes good bone and heart health. But of course, the reason we’re discussing it here today is because of its positive effects on skin. Among the many ways that the vitamin we get from the sun benefits our skin, improving psoriasis, hair growth, nail stimulation, skin renewal, improved pigment, skin health, DNA repair and skin volume are all included. In short, it’s the answer to the holiday ‘glow’ without the tan (about which, by now, you know how I feel!).

Vitamin D, as you know, is produced naturally within the body when your skin is exposed to UVB rays (which, remember, are the rays we’re exposed to from April through to September due to our geographical location), along with the necessary SPF. But the one question I get asked so much, especially considering how little exposure we have to the sun here, is how to get your daily dose of Vitamin D in a skincare product. After a long, dark winter and a fairly miserable spring, we all want to stumble upon a serum laced with this elusive sunshine vitamin.

Alas, though dermatologists are still determined to unearth some topical form of Vitamin D that’s clinically proven, the truth is that currently, your best bet is to ensure adequate Vitamin D levels via your diet and oral supplements.

Foods rich in Vitamin D?

Choose fatty fish packed with essential fatty acids. Salmon is worth having in your diet several times per week. You’ll also get it in milk, fortified orange juice, egg yolks, ricotta cheese, mushrooms and even in apricots, melons, and avocados. Supplements are a great way to keep your vitamin D at an optimum level - Advanced Nutrition Programme's Skin Vit A+ is fortified with vitamin D, as is their Skin Complete 2 pack!

What If You’re Lacking in Vitamin D?

If you think you’re lacking in Vitamin D, the quickest way to know for certain is to drop by your doctor. You can request a blood test to see if you’re deficient in vitamin D - or any others, for that matter. If you are, there are plenty of internal options to choose from, whether it’s supplements or a simple diet change.

But maybe, they may not be the only options for you! Pretty soon, it may be a common option to give your skin a “sunshine boost” even during the darkest of days! Whatever you do, know that sunburn and sunbeds are not the answer. They’re never the answer. As and when a topical Vitamin D product emerges, you’ll hear it here first.

Vitamin D-Lightful: Why Vitamin D Is Beneficial To The Skin

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