During these cold winter months, it’s normal to be cooped up indoors and bundled up when you’re outside. It is not surprising that people frequently report feeling more depressed, and suffer from dry skin and other changes in their bodies. One major reason is that you are not getting enough direct sunlight, a major source of vitamin D. Often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is a hormone that plays an important role in calcium and phosphorous absorption, as well as in supporting the immune system.

Benefits

In addition to preventing a variety of bone-related diseases, diabetes, infectious diseases and depression, vitamin D has been known to help with inflammation, acne, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, and other types of skin conditions. It is recommended that you get 5-10 minutes of full body exposure 2-3 times a week to maintain sufficient levels in your body.

Are You Deficient?

If any of the following applies, you are probably deficient:

• You live in Northern latitudes like New Jersey
• You spend your days indoors
• You cover your skin or use sunscreen when outdoors
• You have a darker skin tone, which makes it more difficult to synthesize vitamin D
• You are aging, since the skin slowly loses its ability to create vitamin D

Sources

Aside from direct sunlight, it’s possible to get vitamin D through foods and supplements. Mushrooms, fatty fish, and fortified cereals, milks, and yogurts are common sources. For those who have to endure long cold winters like us in New Jersey, taking supplements are recommended to ensure sufficient levels.

Although vitamin D may benefit a variety of skin conditions, it is usually not enough to completely eradicate your problems. That’s why having a skilled board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Juan Vaillant at Old Bridge Dermatology is extremely important in resolving your skin problems. Dr. Vaillant has been helping patients for over 30 years and has the expertise to treat anything from eczema to skin cancer. If you want healthier skin, contact us or call us at our office in Old Bridge, NJ at (732) 679-0222!