Sunscreen use does not cause vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is essential to bone health. People need to get enough vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis (a condition that causes weak bones) and bone fractures in older adults, but our bodies only need a little sun to make enough vitamin D to meet daily needs. Studies show that “normal usage of sunscreen by adults” does not hurt the body’s ability to produce sufficient amounts of vitamin D and that “patients should not be discouraged from normal usage of sunscreens.” This is because sunscreen protects against ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which can increase the risk of skin cancer.

However, if you are concerned that you are not getting enough vitamin D from sunlight, you can eat more foods that contain vitamin D or take vitamin D as a supplement. Vitamin D is found in fatty fish, egg yolks, spinach, and vitamin D–fortified milk.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Cleveland Clinic – Vitamin D and Vitamin D Deficiency

• Institute of Medicine – Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D (2011)

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – Health and Medicine | Topic

• National Institutes of Health – Vitamin D