Sunscreen doesn't block the sun from sending vitamin D and causing vitamin D deficiency. However, sunscreen use can lead to vitamin D deficiency if you don't expose your unprotected skin to sunlight. The sun emits ultraviolet light that activates vitamin D in the body. As little as 15 to 30 minutes of unprotected skin exposure to the sun will benefit your bones and general well-being.
Sunscreen Protection
With the increased rates of skin cancer, the medical community advises you to wear sunscreen to block harmful ultraviolet light, or UV. According to USAToday.com in "Vitamin D Research," doctors have been prescribing high-protection sunscreen for years to combat skin cancer rates. Skin production of vitamin D can be lowered as much as 95 percent with the use of a sunscreen as low as eight, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Despite knowing what wearing sunscreen can do to promote vitamin D deficiency, doctors still recommend using sunscreen.
Vitamin D Deficiency
For the elderly, wearing sunscreen and spending increased time indoors can raise your risk of being vitamin D-deficient. As it currently stands, the dermatological community has been unchallenged on recommendations regarding sun exposure and vitamin D deficiency. The problem with recommendations for sun exposure is that the elderly and African-Americans make less vitamin D with sun exposure, and both groups have higher cancer rates, according to USAToday.com. At this time, physicians aren't recommending increasing your sun exposure because no source of vitamin D is ideal for meeting recommended daily intakes of the vitamin as stated on USAToday.com.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure doesn't guarantee adequate levels of vitamin D production, according to USAToday.com. Various factors play into sunlight exposure and making vitamin D. Winter and fall seasons decrease sun exposure. The elderly aren't capable of making adequate amounts because of aging skin receptors. People of dark skin color need more sunlight to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D. The doctors in the article fear that people would go overboard on sun exposure and increase skin cancer rates to make enough vitamin D.
Food and Supplements
In the 1930s, all milk was fortified with vitamin D due to increased cases of rickets--bowing of the legs because of soft bones--as stated by the Office of Dietary Supplements. Small amounts of vitamin D can be obtained from egg yolks, beef liver and cheese. Most commercially made ready-to-eat cereals are fortified with vitamin D. The medical community is aware that fortification of foods doesn't provide adequate vitamin D to meet dietary guidelines, and supplements can be problematic for some people as stated in USAToday.com. Supplements and fortification often don't use the active form of vitamin D that your body needs anyway.
Cancer Link
Vitamin D may have protective effects against certain types of cancer and may participate in decreasing cancer cell proliferation. According to USAToday.com, 1,000 to 1,500 international units daily are recommended to protect against cancer. Nevertheless, this level is still being debated and studied, and more research is needed before higher or lower recommendations can be made.
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