So, apparently I've been doing it wrong: Vitamin D and sunlight

Ever since I found out I have a Vitamin D deficiency (like half the population), I've been trying to get a little more sunlight into my life, unblocked by sunscreen

This consisted mostly of me exposing my face and lower arms to the sun when I got a little chance to. (Not for extended periods of time mind you, I was shooting for 10 minutes.)

Well, apparently, my approach is all wrong. 

Thanks to this link from Jack Norris, RD, I got this very different advice about sun exposure from a Vitamin D expert, Dr. Michael Holick:

“I typically recommend people go out for a period of time—depending on the time of the year, the time of day, the latitude, and the degree of skin pigmentation—if you know you’re going to get a mild sunburn after 30 minutes, I typically recommend about 10, no more than 15, minutes of arms and legs exposure, or if you’re in a bathing suit, abdomen and back exposure as well, 2 to 3 times a week. Always wear sun protection on your face because that’s the most sun-damaged area and it’s only about 9% of your body surface, so it doesn’t provide you with that much vitamin D. Go out, enjoy yourself, get some sensible sun exposure, then put sunscreen on if you plan to stay out for a longer period of time. People with a higher degree skin pigmentation, such as African Americans, are walking around with an SPF of 8 to 15. That’s why they need to be exposed for much longer periods of time and why people of color are at especially high risk of having vitamin D deficiency.”

So yeah, "always wear sun protection on your face". D'oh.

I've been doing it wrong :(

Comments

[Mike]

if you are very deficient it can take a while to get your levels up. Take a look at www.vitaminD3world.com for some good summaries of the data. The site also offers a good newsletter

[Elisa Camahort]

Thanks for the tip, Mike, I'll check it out.

[Natural Cosmetics]

It is true that sunlight is a good source of Vitamin D but you have to remember that by exposing yourself to the sun rays you would get more of the harmful rays. I think you should take suggestion from your doctor how to fulfill this deficiency.

[memory foam]

Good tips ... it hadn't occurred to me either that the surface area of the face isn't large enough to be a major source. I do use sunscreen there as I burn easily.

About 3 months I began to take Vitamin D3 supplements in liquid form and it seems to have good effects. My energy level has been up and it seems that my resistance to c0lds and flu is also better.