Our skin is the natural factory for Vitamin D, and it needs healthy levels for some key functions. These include:
Controlling cell division
Vitamin D controls how cells divide in the layers of our epidermis, so it’s very important for maintaining the thickness of our skin. Healthy Vitamin D levels means a plumper epidermis with a lower risk of hyperkeratinisation (which would lead to rough skin and congestion).
Maintaining barrier function
Vitamin D works to maintain multiple elements of skin’s barrier. With healthy Vitamin D levels and the good barrier function that follows, skin loses less water (leading to more hydrated skin) and protects us better from external stressors (which reduces sensitivity and inflammation).
Supporting a healthy microbiome
Vitamin D allows our skin to produce more antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are important substances that keep harmful microbes at bay while respecting our beneficial skin microbes. This allows skin to cultivate a healthier microbiome, which is a foundation of our overall skin health.
Reducing inflammation
Chronic inflammation in skin is a major driver of premature ageing. Vitamin D plays a very important role in regulating our skins’ immune systems. With healthy levels, our immune responses can be controlled and inflammation can be resolved, which slows ageing rates and improves underlying skin health.
Vitamin D has some other key benefits, including anti-cancer activity – our chances of skin cancer increase when our skin doesn’t have enough.
Your skin will be healthiest if you give it the chance to make the Vitamin D it needs with short, safe sessions in the sun. And always remember – don’t burn.
