It’s not true that sunscreen stops you from absorbing vitamin D — and in fact, that myth is dangerous.

Today, I’d like to bust a myth. This particular myth is not only completely detached from any kind of clinical evidence, but it’s also very dangerous. If you believe it, you could end up with serious skin damage or disease. 

The myth: SPF lotions stop you from absorbing vitamin D through your skin

This is not true. It’s an idea that’s shared on social media; on YouTube channels; and in everyday conversation. And it puts people off using sunscreen — because we know vitamin D is essential for our health, so we want to make the most of our time in the sun and soak up those rays.

Several studies have proven that wearing high SPF sunscreen doesn’t stop you from topping up your dose of vitamin D. Just last year, scientists tested vitamin D levels in a study group during a week of wearing high SPF in cloudless weather; and found that vitamin D levels increased at a steady rate in all participants.

Using SPF protection whenever you’re in the sun comes with lots of benefits.

• Vital protection against skin disease, including life-threatening skin cancer

• Less skin damage, so your skin stays healthy for longer

• Reduced wrinkles, marks, and other signs of aging

• An overall clearer, fresher and younger complexion

There is some evidence that some people with darker skin types may be more prone to vitamin D deficiency if they always use sunscreen. But even in those cases, a high SPF doesn’t stop the absorption of vitamin D completely; it just reduces it.

Why The SPF Myth Is Dangerous

But there’s another important angle here. Even if sunscreen did prevent the absorption of vitamin D (which it mostly doesn’t), the risk of skin cancer would still be higher than the risk of becoming slightly more vitamin D deficient.

In Australia in 2016, an estimated 13,280 people were newly diagnosed with skin cancer. And in the same year, around 1,770 people died from the disease. The number of people suffering from skin cancer is increasing every year.

And while vitamin D deficiency does carry health risks, it’s also easily solved with a daily vitamin D supplement, cheap and easy to find at any pharmacy.

So this is me, asking you to look after your skin and look after yourself. It’s not just about beauty (although of course, too much sun without SPF protection will speed up your skin’s aging process). This really is about staying well.

We recommend a physical sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen and we love O’Cosmedics Mineral Pro in Tinted and non-tinted it is super lightweight and gives instant protection.

Available at HB Beauty Palmwoods

3/10 Little Main Street

Palmwoods Qld 4555