The Truth About These 5 Sunscreen and Vitamin D Deficiency Myths
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
In my job as a dermal therapist, I think I’ve heard every excuse under the sun for... not wearing sunscreen.
'They’re too thick, too sticky, too greasy, it causes eyes to sting and doesn’t sit well under makeup etc.'
Yaaaawn. Excuse my sassiness, but I beg to differ.
The best thing you can do for your skin is wear and reapply a generous amount of a broad spectrum sunscreen every single day.
Now, you can find a sunscreen formulation to suit your skin type and budget that solves every sunscreen excuse.
Side note, if you haven't found a sunscreen you love enough to use daily, I reckon you'll find one in our SPF best sellers YouTube video below.
A number of sunscreen myths have been debunked over the years, but one topic that still comes up a fair bit is sunscreen and vitamin D deficiencies.
You may have heard from someone or read on the internet that wearing sunscreen can contribute to a deficiency in vitamin D, which our bodies need to function.
Or, that it's 'better for you' to spend time in the sun without sunscreen, than it is to protect your skin from UV exposure and the risk of skin cancer.
It's a divisive topic and there are a lot of opinions and misinformation out there - but there's also little evidence to support these sunscreen vitamin D myths.
That doesn't mean vitamin D deficiency isn't a an important health issue - you just can’t go out and blame your sunscreen.
If vitamin D is something you’re worried about, there’s even a brand new sunscreen that was literally created to solve the whole vitamin D/SPF excuse.
It’s called Aesthetics Rx Face & Body Sunscreen SPF50 and it’s become my new obsession. More on that in a bit.
OK, but does sunscreen stop you from producing vitamin D? And is it better to wear sunscreen or not if you are worried about vitamin D deficiency?
They’re valid questions, so I asked Dr Deb Cohen-Jones, a General Practitioner specialising in cosmetic medicine, to help us break down the whole sunscreen and vitamin D conversation.
Here are the facts you need to know.
What Is Vitamin D?
Firstly, vitamin D is not a vitamin, but a hormone.
"[Vitamin D] is needed by the body to absorb calcium from our gut and into our bloodstream," Dr Cohen-Jones says.
It plays many roles within the body, but the most well-known is maintaining calcium levels to keep bones and muscles strong and healthy.
Vitamin D Deficiency Risks.
We all need the same amounts of vitamin D for our health, however different factors can make it more difficult to obtain it.
These include age, your Fitzpatrick skin type, where you live and your gut health.
Dr Cohen-Jones explains low levels of vitamin D may lead to issues including:
- Rickets in children.
- Osteoporosis.
- Skeletal deformities.
- Bone fractures.
- Fatigue, compromised immune system, depression, slow wound-healing, hair loss and pain in the bones.
If you are ever concerned about anything health related, always seek professional, personalised advice from your medical practitioner.
Can You Get Vitamin D If You Wear Sunscreen?
Short answer: Yes.
Dr Cohen-Jones's longer answer:
"Most people are aware of the body’s main vitamin D source: sunlight. We produce vitamin D through our skin in response to sun exposure."
According to Chemistry PhD and Skincare School podcast co-host Dr Michelle Wong from Lab Muffin Beauty Science, this vitamin D production occurs when skin is exposed to UVB radiation wavelengths between 270-300 nanometres.
The Cancer Council also states most people will reach adequate vitamin D levels through regular incidental exposure to the sun.
When the UV Index is 3 or above (such as during summer but year-round in Australia), most people will be right just by spending a few minutes outdoors on most days of the week.
Dr Cohen-Jones adds around 10 per cent of our vitamin D is absorbed through our diets.
Does Sunscreen Block Vitamin D?
Sunscreen doesn't 'block vitamin D' as such, and clinical studies have never proven that sunscreen usage is linked to vitamin D deficiency.
You can see how someone might come to that conclusion though, because the main job of a broad spectrum sunscreen is to protect the skin against UV rays.
“SPF sunscreens are designed to protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are the cause of sunburn and exposure can lead to skin cancers. They also happen to be the same wavelengths that trigger vitamin D production,” Dr Cohen-Jones says.
So while this doesn’t sound ideal when you’re trying to both protect your skin from cancerous rays and also avoid a nutrition deficiency, studies have shown sunscreen has little to no effect on vitamin D deficiency.
This is likely because most people don’t apply sunscreen sufficiently, and the spots you miss like your scalp and between your fingers get enough UVB exposure for maintaining vitamin D levels.
Lab Muffin breaks down sunscreen facts and myths in this YouTube video below.
Sunscreen & Vitamin D Myths.
Now for some rapid fire myth busting:
- Wearing sunscreen causes vitamin D deficiency - False, studies have never found this to be true.
- The risk of vitamin D deficiency is worse than the risk of UV damage - False. Both have their own implications and risks, but the health risks of skipping sunscreen far outweigh any possible benefits.
- I don’t burn, so I don’t need to wear sunscreen - False, sun damage and skin cancer can still occur without burning.
- You have to get unprotected sun exposure to be able to produce enough vitamin D - False, there are other ways to produce enough vitamin D such as diet and supplementation with advice from your medical professional.
- All broad spectrum sunscreens block UV rays that help produce vitamin D - OK, this is mostly true…
Sunscreen is safe for anyone to use, and vitamin D is certainly not a reason for people to avoid sunscreens altogether.
There are also sunscreen technologies that allow some UVB rays to filter through.
Which brings us to that aforementioned Aesthetics Rx Face & Body Sunscreen SPF50.
Aesthetics Rx Face & Body Sunscreen SPF50 Review.
Aesthetics Rx Face & Body Sunscreen SPF50 is a chemical filter-based sunscreen that provides broad spectrum UVA and UVB SPF50 protection, and is two hours sweat and water-resistant.
Here’s the exciting part - it also contains patented UVB filtering technology that allows the body to continue making vitamin D, without sacrificing on sun protection. Win, win.
How does it work? Nicola Kropach, General Manager of Aesthetics RX says:
"This SPF uses a revolutionary patented UVB filtering SPF technology that was specifically designed and formulated to prevent sunburn and sun damage, while allowing the passage of sufficient UVB light (specifically between 290 nm - 300 nm) that our bodies use to naturally produce Vitamin D."
As far as an Aesthetics RX Face and Body Sunscreen SPF50 review goes, this sunscreen isn’t greasy or sticky at all, rubs in easily and feels very lightweight on the skin.
It gives a glowy finish, has no white cast on my skin tone, and doubles as a primer under makeup.
Plus, it can be used on your face and on your body - I even use it on my kids! It’s beautiful.
If you have been on the hunt for a new everyday sunscreen for your whole family - especially if you plan on spending a lot of time outside - then this might be it!
Shop Aesthetics RX Face and Body Sunscreen SPF50 here:
The Final Verdict on Sunscreen & Vitamin D Deficiency.
Moral of this story is: Please, wear your SPF daily.
And not-so-pretty please don’t lie in the sun baking yourself in the name of vitamin D - or any reason.
Of course, SPF is only one part of sun protection! Always seek shade, and wear sunnies, a hat and protective clothing.
Use sufficient sunscreen for all unprotected areas and reapply sunscreen as directed. Always read the label. You know the drill.
Want more sunscreen content? Check out these stories below!
