Vitamin D Is Essential For Your Skin

Even as winter wanes, New Jersey is still covered in cloudy spring skies, blocking out that life-giving sun and dampening our vitamin D intake! Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that can be in short order during the winter and early spring months. The vitamin not only keeps your skin young and vibrant; it also helps combat depression and anxiety, and keeps your immune system in check.

What does vitamin D do for our bodies?

Vitamin D does good work inside and out, mitigating issues like diabetes, infectious diseases, bone-related diseases, depression, and mitigating skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and more.

What’s preventing me from getting vitamin D?

There are many reasons we don’t get enough vitamin D. Up here in New Jersey and other northern areas tend to have long stretches of gray days with little sunlight. Not to mention, all the layers we wear during the winter helps to block out the sun.

Here are some other ways you might be missing out on vitamin D:

  • Spending long stretches of time indoors
  • Darker skin tones make vitamin D creation more difficult
  • As you age, your natural vitamin D creation slows down

How can I get more vitamin D?

As with most vitamins, check your diet to ensure you’re getting the right amounts of vitamin D. Here are some foods that have plenty of vitamin D:

  • Fortified milk or alternative milks
  • Fortified cereals
  • Yogurt
  • Mushrooms

Since the sun helps our skin layers produce vitamin D, dermatologists recommend that you get at least 30 minutes of sun exposure a few times a week to keep your levels up. During winter, especially further from the equator where sunshine can be scarce, a vitamin D supplement is a great substitute.

Vitamin deficiencies can cause a myriad of skin issues, some temporary, and some long-lasting. If you’re dealing with any skin or hair issue, give us a call here at Old Bridge Dermatology. Our dermatologist, Dr. Juan Vaillant, has the expertise to help address any dermatological issue you might be experiencing. Contact our Old Bridge, NJ office at (732) 679-0222 for an appointment today!