How to Get Vitamin D From the Sun, the Right Way

Clare McLoughlin
By Clare McLoughlin

Clare McLoughlin is an Independent Nurse Prescriber and advanced procedure aesthetic nurse and trainer with more than 16 years’ experience.


Most people feel better – emotionally and physically – when the sun is shining and the birds are singing, and with so much time spent indoors and in front of computer screens, it’s easy to want to get out and about whilst the weather is fine!

As a medical professional, I know that time outdoors is more likely to result in increased physical activity (another factor that can have a positive influence on our physical and mental wellbeing) and as long as people take adequate sun safety precautions when they are outdoors, I’m all for it!

We all need to make the very most of the 5.3 days of Summer we actually get in the UK…!

It’s easy to forget to apply the SPF when the weather is cloudy or overcast (though it is important to build this into your skincare regime all year round!), but I’ve heard some people hold off on the SPF application on a hot, sunny day ‘to help top up their Vitamin D levels’.

But does this really work?

Do we need to risk skin damage to take on sufficient Vitamin D?

Don't forget to apply Sunscreen

Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet to help build and maintain healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

Between October and March in the UK, it is difficult to get the daily required amount of Vitamin D from the sun alone, meaning that we have to rely on our diets (or foreign holidays) to provide us with sufficient Vitamin D.

Eggs, red meat and oily fish are all great sources of this essential vitamin.

During the Spring and Summer months in the UK, it is possible to get all of the Vitamin D we need from the sun, just by exposing certain parts of the body – like the face and forearms – to the sun, in short bursts throughout the day.

Sufficient Vitamin D

The amount of time needed to take on sufficient Vitamin D does vary, depending on skin colour and the amount of skin exposed1, but prolonged exposure to the sun in the heat of the day isn’t necessary, so make sure that you prevent sun damage by:

  • Regularly applying a good quality, broad spectrum SPF sunscreen
  • Wearing a hat, sunglasses, and long-sleeved lightweight clothing
  • Seeking out a shady spot when the sun is strongest between 11 am and 3pm.

So what do I say to those people who strongly believe that a tan makes them look good and healthy?

My response is always to ‘fake it’!

Long-term UV exposure can lead to reduced skin elasticity (contributing to the appearance of lines and wrinkles), and can also cause pigmentation and overall degradation of skin texture, as well as increasing your risk of suffering from Skin Cancer.

If you want to delay some of the physical symptoms of skin ageing, it’s definitely worth reaching for the fake tan rather than jumping into the sunbed – your skin will thank you for it!

1 https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Summerhealth/Pages/vitamin-D-sunlight.aspx

If you want to read more, the experts at Consulting Room really know what they're talking about and have put together some Sunscreen SPF treatment FAQs just for you. 

If you have more questions, you can use the Suncream SPF feature to talk to our panel of trained medical experts. 

If you're keen to get started with sunscreen right away then you're in luck - those clever folks also have a list of trusted, accredited Sunblock SPF in your area.

Thank you

Thanks to Clare, the skin expert from Appearance Based Medicine in Marlow.

Appearance Based Medicine Ltd is owned and run by Clare McLoughlin, a leading aesthetic nurse prescriber who has years of experience and hundreds of satisfied clients, giving you confidence in achieving an excellent natural-looking result. 


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