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Capturing Sunshine in a Bottle? By Celeste Hilling
There are several factors happening which are driving Vitamin D deficiency globally:
(1) Hormonal decline with age: The skin needs D to make D. Vitamin D production initiates in the skin when the skin exposed to UVB rays. The rays interact with the D present in the skin causing a chemical reaction which produces Vitamin D. Because D is more of a hormone than a vitamin, levels of D in our skin decrease as we age…making it harder to produce D naturally (even when exposed to the sun).
(2) Pigment: Color in skin acts like an SPF slowing penetration of UVB into the skin which slows Vitamin D production. Over 60% of our population is of darker skin types, and as the diversity of our population continues to grow, it is likely that deficiency will continue to increase with even darker skin types.
(3) Seasonality: Shorter daylight in seasons can create deficiencies at certain times of the year (Seasonal Associative Disorder).
While sunscreen use has often been discussed as potentially limiting Vitamin D production, recent studies show that Vitamin D is actually made in shorter timeframes than previously thought. Only 1 in 4 people wear sunscreen on a daily basis and when they do, it is mostly on the face so the numbers don’t match to the rising rates of deficiency.
Topical Vitamin D Plays Several Roles In Skin Health & Beauty
• Keeps skin moist and glowing
• Reduces photo aging and sun damage
• Protects from environmental aging
• Protects growth of hair and nails
Why apply Vitamin D topically? I like to advise our clients to think of it like a “nutrition sandwich”, you want to eat Vitamin D rich foods (salmon, mushrooms), take a supplement with at least 600 IUs D daily, and apply Vitamin D directly to the skin. Because less than 1% of what we ingest ever makes its way to the skin, you also want to apply it topically (in the same way that we now understand the power of applying C topically). The real power of topical Vitamin D is in its anti-inflammatory properties which address many persistent skin conditions like acne, eczema and reduce reactions like contact dermatitis and skin allergies. Skin Authority’s proprietary Vita D Topical Elixir supports building skin immunity to defend against environmental damage as it strengthens the skin barrier, repairs and regenerates cell function. So get your daily dose of skin sunshine!
