Safe Sun - Part 2

Written By Ashley Asberry

Does wearing SPF hinder the ability of your body to covert UV rays to Vitamin D?

This is a really controversial topic in the low tox community, so let’s discuss:

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a hormone that can be generated in the skin upon UV light exposure or ingested through supplementation.

There are 2 types of Vitamin D:

* Vitamin D2 (produced in plants and fungi)

* Vitamin D3 (produced in animals and humans, often called the sunshine vitamin)

Sunshine produces 2 types of rays:

  • UVA rays – causes Aging

  • UVB rays – causes Burning

Our ability to produce Vitamin D is reliant upon exposure to UVB light. The problem is - this is the same UV light that causes your skin to burn - one of the key accelerators to skin cancer.

Does SPF Impact Vitamin D Production?

Studies say no.

Studies have shown that even people who apply high SPF to their skin every day still manage to maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D. Increasing UV exposure without causing sunburn maximizes vitamin D production.

An Australian study that's often cited showed no difference in vitamin D between adults randomly assigned to use sunscreen in summer and those assigned a placebo cream.

can you get enough vitamin d from the sun?

Studies say probably not. Here’s what can impact this:

1

the latitude of where you live. At higher latitudes, the amount of vitamin D–producing UVB light reaching the earth's surface goes down in the winter because of the low angle of the sun. In Boston, for example, little if any of the vitamin is produced in people's skin tissue from November through February. Short days and clothing that covers legs and arms also limit UVB exposure.

Studies show more than 50% of our population are unable to absorb enough sun.

Due to the angle of the sun, except during the summer months, the skin makes little if any vitamin D from the sun at latitudes above 37 degrees north (in the United States, the shaded region in the map) or below 37 degrees south of the equator. People who live in these areas are at relatively greater risk for vitamin D deficiency.

2

The color of your skin. Melanin is the substance in skin that makes it dark. It "competes" for UVB with the substance in the skin that kick-starts the body's vitamin D production. As a result, dark-skinned people tend to require more UVB exposure than light-skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D.

3

The health of your liver, kidneys and gut. The health of all of these depend on how well your body absorbs Vitamin D.

Alternate ways studies show to increase vitamin c

If you are concerned with your Vitamin D levels, please speak with your practitioner and request a blood test. My favorite practitioners for this are Joi and Blokes . It will give you the most accurate picture of how much you need, which is really important information. Vitamin D toxicity is a real concern-although the majority of us are deficient, taking supplements in high doses without knowing your levels can be dangerous.

Food high in Vitamin D:

salmon, herring and sardines, cod liver oil,

canned tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms

Favorite Supplements (currently):

  • Nordic Naturals

  • Wellements

  • Ancestral Supplements Fish Eggs

  • Energetix

conclusion + MY THOUGHTS

You’re likely deficient in Vitamin D and even high exposures of sun likely won’t make a difference in this.

Exposure to the sun without wearing an SPF increases your risks of sun damage, accelerated aging, the is #1 cause of skin cancer.

Most studies show wearing an SPF does not reduce your Vitamin D levels but does increase your above risks.

what do you think?

Sources:

Ashley Asberry
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Safe Sun - Part 3
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Safe Sun - Part 1