VITAMIN D AND YOUR SKIN : WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

Hey everyone! Today I want to delve a little deeper into the topic of Vitamin D,
how it works and why it’s important – especially when it comes to your skin.

Some topics we’ll be covering –

  • Importance of Vitamin D
  • What happens to your skin when you’re deficient
  • Oral supplementation vs. topical application
  • Free radical damage
  • Best way to ensure you’re getting enough

VITAMIN D AND YOUR SKIN : WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

We know that adequate amounts of Vitamin D are important for strong bones and overall health, but what about our skin? Many factors such as the overuse of sunscreen, working mostly indoors, and overall decreased sun exposure over decades has resulted in a global epidemic, leaving 3 in 4 people deficient in Vitamin D. If you avoid the sun, are extra diligent with applying sunscreen, and spend most of your day indoors, unfortunately like most people your levels probably aren’t where they should be – meaning your skin is probably suffering.

As we age, we lose our skin’s natural ability to produce the vitamin on it’s own, resulting in premature aging, lines, wrinkles, and weakened immunity to free radicals. Who wants that?  Research has shown that treating the skin with Vitamin D topically can not only prevent premature aging, but reverse the signs of existing damage.

Personally, I’ve found that making topical Vitamin D oil a staple in my skincare routine  has helped immensely with hormonal breakouts and calming my annoyingly sensitive skin. It’s insanely hydrating and anti-inflammatory, so it’s a game changer for conditions like eczema and rosacea too. Here’s the one I use if you want to experiment for yourself! : https://tinakskin.com/product/hydratantk/

Is Your Skin Thin, Wrinkled, or Saggy?

This post comes heavily inspired by this article : https://lifespa.com/is-your-skin-thin-wrinkled-or-saggy/ by Dr. John Doulliard. A great resource

for all things health and science, he makes some great points about the importance of topical Vitamin D in particular.

Did you know that your skin loses about 75% of its ability to produce Vitamin D3 between the ages of 20 and 70?  Inadequate Vitamin D in the skin causes it to become thin, saggy, wrinkled, and weak. Your skin is your largest organ, so making sure it’s strong and healthy is incredibly important in preventing premature aging.

Dr. Doulliard isn’t the only professional pushing the power of topical Vitamin D.

“It’s another tool in the toolbox,” says dermatologist Mona Gohara. It’s been known traditionally to treat conditions like psoriasis, and has a similar anti-inflammatory effect on healthy skin. According to a 2004 study, applying it topically to hairless mice was found to significantly ward off wrinkles and protect against free radicals like UV radiation by promoting skin cell turnover. “Just like antioxidants work to reverse and prevent sun damage, that’s the theoretical mechanism of this type of topical vitamin D,” Gohara explains. (https://www.vogue.com/article/vitamin-d-skincare-anti-aging)

Oral Supplementation vs. Topical Application

While ingesting Vitamin D is important for overall health, if you’re looking for skin benefits in particular, popping a supplement won’t exactly do the trick. Like I mentioned, your skin is your largest organ. It’s also the last place to receive nutrients and antioxidants from food and supplements, which means these provide nearly zero benefits by the time it’s reached. See the issue here?

Applying Vitamin D topically means that you’re pushing the nutrients directly into the skin cells – meaning your skin absorbs it first rather than last. The result is healthier, stronger, more hydrated, rejuvenated skin from the outside in. A combination of both methods is best!

There’s a reason why they call it the happy vitamin  Hope you enjoyed a little more of a science-based topic and can apply it to your own skincare and supplement routine! 🙂