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Many people are now afraid of the sun and think it causes skin cancer. That is not totally correct. There may be an increased risk for skin cancer in people who have had a severe burn, especially when they were younger. This does not apply for the casual sunbather who protects himself after good sun exposure of 20 minutes between 10 and 2. In fact, vitamin D DEFICIENCY is associated with skin cancer. Vitamin D can help skin issues like psoriasis or pityriasis rosea and is sometimes prescribed in a a cream for those conditions. Vitamin D can help prevent sunburns.

It has been reported that bathing can influence your vitamin D levels. Humans were not made to bathe every day, at least not with soap. Vitamin D is made from cholesterol, which is fat-soluble. This means that it will dissolve in soap but not plain water. Vitamin D takes 24 to 48 hours to be made from cholesterol in the skin. Therefore, after sun exposure, do not wash sun-exposed parts with soap for 24-48 hours afterwards. That doesn’t mean don’t bathe, just don’t wash with soap where the sun DOES shine.

How long do you need to be out in the sun? You should be out in the sun between 10am and 2pm only until your skin turns pink. Longer than that and you could burn, but less than that and you will be deficient in vitamin D unless you supplement. You do not make vitamin D to any significant extent when your shadow is longer than you. It’s time for a ‘sun lunch’ outside!

It’s reassuring that people are getting their vitamin D levels checked and taking vitamin D as needed. Yet they wonder if they are in the sun and taking vitamin D also, can you get too much? The answer is yes and no. If your vitamin D level is over 100, that is too much. However, being out in the sun will never put the vitamin D level over 100. Your body will regulate it at around 80, which is the optimal level. That is the level that Peruvian lifeguards have. They do not have levels higher than that, and you won’t either. If you don’t need vit D, your body won’t make it, kind of like cholesterol….