So, you know your A, B and C’s – but do you know your D’s? Because vitamin D is equally important – in fact it’s one of the lesser talked about but most important vitamins.
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Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin”, plays numerous important roles in the body and how it functions. It’s called the sunshine vitamin because, you guessed it, the body produces it as a result of sun exposure. But, add this to the list of things you learned today: Australians and New Zealanders often do not get enough of it. With our harsh sun, we tend to over-protect ourselves with sunscreen, which is definitely wise – in fact essential – but, it can impact your vitamin D levels. Combined with the nature of modern life (less time outside) and restrictive diets that exclude fatty fish and dairy products, it’s common to be deficient in vitamin D these days.
From serious conditions like heart disease and skin cancer to an abundance of beautifying benefits, Vitamin D is a proven all-rounder. The good news though, you can easily increase your vitamin D intake through a supplement.
Not only does vitamin D boast a wealth of benefits for the body – from bone density to immunity to even mental health, it’s also been found to support skin health, which we’ll delve into here.
Benefits of vitamin D for skin
You’ll find vitamin D in re.skin’s re.vive supplement due to its multi-tasking benefits for body and skin. It’s been found to reduce skin inflammation and irritation.
Stimulates skin cell growth
Vitamin D2 and D3 are said to be the most effective when it comes to skin health. Their antioxidant capabilities prevent skin damage and premature ageing when taken as a supplement, and vitamin d also aids in cell repair and growth.
Reduces incidence of acne
Vitamin D also has an anti-inflammatory property. Having adequate levels of vitamin D in your system may help address the inflammatory symptoms of acne. Taking vitamin D supplements could also be an alternative way of treating recurrent acne that appears red and inflamed.
Prevents premature skin ageing
Healthy levels of vitamin D have been demonstrated to slow down the natural skin ageing process.
How to get more vitamin D
Think you’re lacking on the vitamin D front? Testing for vitamin D deficiency is super straight-forward, it just involves a simple blood test.
Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:
- Regular sickness or infection
- Fatigue
- Bone and back pain
- Low mood
- Impaired wound healing
- Hair loss
- Muscle pain
In addition to the sun and a supplement, you can obtain vitamin D from a few food sources, like fatty fish (including salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines) and mushrooms (some of which are exposed to ultraviolet light).