The Amazing Benefits of Vitamin D for Healthy Skin

Vitamin D for Skin: The Surprising Benefits and How to Get More

Who doesn’t love soaking up the sun? Sunlight boosts us with feel-good vibes, and vitamin D benefits skin in bountiful ways. But did you know that 1 billion of us are vitamin D deficient? Be right back… heading outside for a sunshine bath.

Donning the well-deserved title, “the sunshine vitamin,” this nutrient-dense hormone has plenty of fantastic benefits to offer.

But when is too much of a good thing… Well, too much? Is the risk of sun exposure – UV skin damage, sun spots, skin cancer – worth the reward? And is vitamin D good for your skin despite these risks? 

In this guide, we’ll clear up the static, share vitamin D’s many benefits, and teach you how to strike the perfect balance with vitamin D anti-aging skincare.

Pre-summer vibes, here we come!

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D isn’t a solo artist; it’s a group act containing fat-soluble steroids. Vitamin D is an essential hormone that enters the bloodstream and helps the body absorb much-needed calcium, phosphates, and magnesium.

There are several forms of vitamin D, including D3 in the skin and D2 in the gut. How is vitamin D3 good for skin? It creates a protective barrier against UV light damage. Think of it as built-in sunnies for your skin.

Conversely, when the body is deficient in vitamin D, you’re not getting enough sunlight and nutrients. Supplementing orally or topically can rectify this deficiency.

Other vitamin D anti-aging benefits? It keeps your bones strong and dense, boosts brain health, heart functioning, muscle strength, and – you guessed it – skin health.

So what happens when you don’t get enough sunshine?

Signs of Low Vitamin D

We know vitamin D is good for your skin, but how much of it do we actually need? 

Short answer: it depends. Everyone’s daily intake needs are unique. Factors like climate, diet, location, and time of year affect how much you need.

For people between 1 and 70 years old, we recommend 600 IU. If you’re over 70, you’ll want to bump that up to 800 IU.

Unsure if you're deficient? Look for these symptoms:

• Dull skin and complexion
• Dry, flaky, irritated, or inflamed skin
• Enhanced fine lines and wrinkles
• Breakouts and acne
• Excessive skin sweat
• Depression
• Bone weakness
• Lowered immunity
• Hair loss

Any of these look familiar? Then it’s a good idea to load up on eggs, tuna fish, mushrooms, salmon, milk, or foods fortified with vitamin D, such as OJ, cereal, or yogurt. 

 Are you wondering – ”can’t I just go outside for a bit?” Absolutely, but that’s not always enough. Integrating anti-aging foods and skincare will fill in the gaps and help your complexion thrive.

Ready for a sunshine-infused skin glow-up? Let’s walk through some of the incredible ways vitamin D benefits skin.

7 Benefits of Vitamin D for Your Skin

Is vitamin D good for your skin? Absolutely. Here’s why:

1. Protects your skin: Despite the confusion, dermatologists assert that sunscreen does not lead to vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, foregoing SPF can be life-threatening. The good news? A broad-spectrum UV sunscreen and vitamin D make the perfect partnership. SPF filters UV rays, ensuring only the good stuff gets through. Once they reach your skin, these rays unleash steroid mode within your skin cells and boost cell production. 
2. Regulates cellular turnover: A top vitamin D anti-aging benefit? Cellular regeneration. When dead cells build up, you can experience dryness and even psoriasis. Your skin must shed these dead cells to create younger cells. Vitamin D regulates cell turnover, constantly generating new ones. The result? Less fine lines, smoothed wrinkles, and a fresh, dewy complexion.
3. Hydrates skin: Is your skin dry, flaky, and thirsty? Research shows that topical vitamin D enhances your skin’s hydration state, acting as a soothing moisturizer. 
4. Tames inflammation: Eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo are all signs of inflammation. By regulating your immune system, vitamin D mildly to moderately reduces inflammatory triggers and restores calm to your skin.
5. Rejuvenates skin: Inflammation and lowered immunity weaken the epidermis, causing dryness, acne, rashes, skin discoloration, and signs of aging. Vitamin D is a great way to treat these issues and give your skin a youthful, healthy revamp.
6. Treats psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis occurs when skin cells compound and create dry, inflamed skin patches. The solution? Topical vitamin D. One study found that all 141 participants with a history of psoriasis experienced significant improvement from topical vitamin D after 12 months. 
7. Boosts immune system: With Covid floating around, it’s vital we all up our immune system strength. One easy way to do that? Ensure you’re getting adequate vitamin D. A weak immune system can invite a slew of unwanted skin issues like rashes, dryness, redness, and inflammation. 
8. Decreases harmful environmental damage: What our skin encounters on the outside is as influential as what we put into our body. Toxins like air pollution, UV rays, solar radiation, blue light, and even climate conditions can cause oxidative stress to the skin barrier, lowering collagen production. Vitamin D heads to the frontlines to protect the skin from environmental invaders.

The research shows that vitamin D benefits skin, but can you overdo it?

Can You Have Too Much Vitamin D?

 Turns out, going overboard on vitamin D is a possibility.

While daily application of topical vitamin D should be safe, you’ll want to consider your skin type. Oil-based products, for instance, could clog your pores.

In this case, you may want to opt for supplements; just be sure to take under 4,000 IU daily to avoid calcium buildup. When in doubt, consult your dermatologist or doctor.

What are the Best Ways to Take Vitamin D?

Vitamin D occurs naturally in three forms: sunlight, supplements, and diet. Meaning? You should get safe, SPF-protected sun exposure daily and eat a vitamin D-rich diet. If you lack either of these two, supplement orally or topically.

 To get brighter, more radiant skin, add a daily topical vitamin D anti-aging serum to your morning skincare routine. 

After you’ve applied your serum and moisturizer, adding a layer of sun protection is vital. 

Our Sunshout Sunscreen SPF 50 is your first line of defense against broad-spectrum UV damage. Those bountiful UV rays required for vitamin D intake are also the culprits behind sun spots, skin texture, wrinkles, and laxity. Sunshout to the rescue!

MD Glam: Your Key to a Safe, Sun-Kissed Glow! 

So, is vitamin D good for your skin? Yep! It’s no secret that vitamin D benefits skin in myriad ways, from protecting against toxic exposure to fostering collagen production and smoothing the signs of aging. Who doesn’t love that?

Want a fun way to boost your Vitamin D? Visit your local farmer’s market. Spend your morning basking in the sunshine and hand-picking vitamin D-packed treats your skin loves.

But before you head out, shield your complexion with Sunshout. From there, your skin will steer the way to luminosity. Happy glowing!

Shop MD Glam’s anti-aging skin care products today!