Most of us know that our body can get Vitamin D from sun exposure. However, we must understand that we need limited and safe sun exposure during the right time of the day to get the right amount of Vitamin D - which is important for absorbing calcium and phosphate from our daily diet.

Having too much sun exposure is bad for our skin for the following reasons:

1. It can cause premature aging, due to the sun’s ultraviolet light damaging skin elasticity and causing wrinkles.

2. It can also cause skin discoloration and facial brown spots or commonly known as sun spots.

3. Up to 80% of the sun’s harmful rays can penetrate through cloud, meaning it can damage your skin without you even realising it.

4. It can cause skin burn, with your skin becoming red and extremely painful to touch.

5. It is the primary cause of skin cancer.

Moreover, sun exposure is not the only source of Vitamin D. In order to ensure that we get enough Vitamin D while protecting our skin (and health), it is important to limit our exposure in the sun and find other alternatives.

So, here are 4 tips to get Vitamin D without harming your skin from the sun’s UV rays:

Tip #1 : Get Some Shade

To get the right amount of sun exposure for Vitamin D, you should spend short periods of time (10-15 mins) under the sun early in the morning and move into the shade just before your skin feels hot turns pink. But make sure to avoid sun exposure from 12pm to 3pm or when the sun’s burning ray is intense to avoid sun damage. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can help to shade your face, when there are no larger areas of shade available.

Tip #2: Always include Sun Protection in your Skin Care

Getting limited amount of sun exposure to get Vitamin D for your body may also affect your skin. This is why wearing sunscreen everyday should be an essential part of your skin care routine.

If you have dry skin you’ll need to look for something creamier that provides moisture but if you have oily or combination skin then you’ll need to choose an oil-free and lightweight product. The best sunscreen for face and for all skin types usually do not block pores and can protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. An excellent choice for your daily skin care routine is the Oil Free Sun Protection SPF 30 from Dr Sylvia Skin Care.

This sunscreen is an oil-free, multi-active and UV-defence formula with broad-spectrum protection designed to block harmful UVA and UVB rays, as well as protecting the skin against premature aging. Active antioxidants and vitamin rich hydration fight free radicals and nourish the skin, leaving you with a youthful, healthy and moisturised complexion.

This can be used on all skin types but is especially good for those with oily skin and those who are prone to acne breakouts. You should wait at least 30 minutes after application before sun exposure and always re-apply after swimming or perspiration.

For those that do not like the feel of a cream, the Sun Screen Spray SPF 29 is a lovely alternative. It is quick to apply and leaves an almost transparent coating on the skin. It is recommended for normal, oily, sensitive and mature skin types and offers an excellent level of sun protection.

The Titanium Dioxide’s high refractive index helps to deflect and scatter light particles over a wider surface area, which then increases the extent of the Octinoxate and Oxybenzone UV absorption capabilities.

Tip #3: Add Vitamin D in your Diet

According to Skin Cancer Foundation in the US, certain foods are also a good source of Vitamin D. Get your daily source of Vitamin D by eating fish (salmon, tuna and mackerel), egg yolk, cheese and beef liver. And also, try looking for food labels that contains “for bone health” and “with calcium” to find food that are fortified with Vitamin D such yogurt, milk and orange juice.

Tip #4 : Avoid Tanning Salons

An important point that Skin Cancer Foundation in the US highlighted is that a tanning salon or booth will not be able to provide the Vitamin D that your body needs. What the body need is actually UVB rays to get Vitamin D however, tanning booths emit mostly UVA rays which penetrates deep in the skin damaging the skin cells and causes aging.

An alarming fact that you may not know is that more people get skin cancer from tanning, than the number of people who get lung cancer from smoking. Hence, we must avoid risking our skin’s health in order to gain a tan skin tone. Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and it takes a life every 50 minutes. Furthermore, what other people do not realize is that tanned skin is actually damaged skin.

Fortunately, you can use bronzers or sun-tanning products as a safe alternative to have a healthy glow or sun-kissed tan. This will not only help you avoid getting sun damage, it will also give you control to have the tanned skin that you prefer.

With these 4 tips, getting Vitamin D while avoiding sun damage is easily attainable - whether it is eating your way to get Vitamin D or enjoying limited safe sun exposure. The use of sunscreen for face and body is also very important as it does not only protects you from harmful UV rays but it also prevents signs of aging and unwanted wrinkles, keeping your skin youthful and healthy!

Tags: Sun Care Products