Vitamin D

There is currently a real and trumped up controversy over vitamin D. Exposure of face and arms to the sun’s UVB rays for fifteen minutes a day will result in conversion of all the Vitamin D that the skin will convert in a 24 hour period.

However, over the last several decades, the overall Vitamin D level in the US has declined and is not explained by difference in testing or sun exposure. During the winter months, you will have even less incidental sun exposure so Vitamin D supplementation is even more important. The US Preventative Services Task Force recommends taking at least 2000 international units of Vitamin D per day (D2 or D3 probably does not make that much of a difference).
The tanning bed industry currently promotes that exposure to tanning beds will improve Vitamin D levels even though most tanning beds are UVA NOT UVB. UVA ages the skin and causes skin cancer. UVB causes the burning and tanning effects of the sun. I recommend that my patients take at least 2000 units of Vitamin D per day, and more if they are homebound, restricted to a nursing home or have heavily pigmented skin.