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Aug 27, 2023

Can Wearing Sunscreen Make You Vitamin D Deficient? Experts Say No.

People online are

People online are obsessed with getting enough vitamin D. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing! Known as the "sunshine vitamin," it's crucial to bone health and a healthy immune system, and low rates of vitamin D are linked to depression and fatigue.

But some fixations can go too far — and in the new backlash against sunscreen, some online influencers are claiming that wearing sunscreen can make you vitamin D deficient. In one TikTok video with over 1.2 million views, a user claims her doctor said she was vitamin D-deficient because she stays indoors a lot and uses sunscreen all the time.

Dr. Alexander Witkowski, an assistant professor of dermatology at the OHSU School of Medicine, told Insider that there are no peer-reviewed studies that prove sunscreen blocks vitamin D production.

"Practicing safe sunscreen use considerably outweighs any belief that sunscreen blocks vitamin D," he said. According to a 2019 study, there is "little evidence" that sunscreen reduces vitamin D production and that "concerns about vitamin D should not negate skin cancer prevention advice."

Witkowski previously told Insider that SPF 30+ mineral sunscreen, which physically blocks UVA and UVB rays, is the best option to keep your skin safe.

Witkowski said the best way to get enough vitamin D is through regular sun exposure.

The nice part is that it's not as much as you — or some anti-sunscreen TikTokers — might think. He said "15 minutes of sunshine exposure several times a week" is enough to get all the vitamin D you need.

Obviously, there are many health benefits to being outdoors for longer than 15 minutes. So go forth and slather on that magical substance that will keep your skin from burning and let you stay outside all day.

And if you're really worried about vitamin D deficiency, you can also get vitamin D easily through your diet by eating foods like fish, mushrooms, and eggs.

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