Vitamin D Is An Important Nutrient For Skin. Nutritionists Explain

The sunshine vitamin aka vitamin D is often celebrated for its role in bone health, but where are we talking about its contribution to good skin? At SheThePeople Mind and Body, we go a layer deeper to get to the real story of why Vitamin D can improve your skin texture and add glow.

1. Skin Cell Growth and Repair

Our skin stories are determined by Vitamin D, which plays a vital role in the life cycle of skin cells, aiding in their growth and repair. 

According to Dr Neha Sharma, a Mumbai-based clinical nutritionist, adequate vitamin D ensures your skin cells regenerate efficiently. "This helps maintain a youthful and radiant appearance,” she says. 

Simple things vitamin D-enriched creams can do include healing your minor wounds or scars.

2. Age Reset  

Longevity is the biggest hunger of every generation. One way to look and stay young is to focus on skin and suppleness. As an antioxidant, it is said, vitamin D neutralizes free radicals, reducing oxidative stress that leads to fine lines. 

Meera Joshi is a dermal in Gurgaon and she talks about incorporating vitamin D into your diet or skincare routine. In fact she goes to the extent of saying it acts as a shield against environmental damage and pollution. "Foods like fortified dairy products and fatty fish can help boost your vitamin D levels. And else there are supplements in the form of tables, little syrup bottles and even gummies."

3. Reduces Inflammation

Skin is our largest organ but we seldom think of it like that. Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne are common among Indians and often involve inflammation. 

Vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory properties can help calm irritated skin. 

4. Immunity 

Who talks of skin immunity? We are so busy with lung and heart immunity that we hardly focus on the importance of building skin immunity and taking skin nutrition. 

Vitamin D enhances the skin’s natural defenses, protecting it from infections and environmental aggressors. 

If the skin acts as a barrier, and vitamin D helps strengthen it against pathogens then it's important for us to pursue efforts to improve our skin's immunity. "This is particularly crucial during colder months when skin is more prone to dryness and cracking," says Dr Jayshree Sharad.

5. Acne Sorter?

It's the biggest concern and it's across ages. Skin issues at the end of the day are about regulating sebum production and reducing inflammation. Vitamin D reportedly can play a supportive role in managing acne-prone skin. “Many of my patients with chronic acne have found relief by increasing their vitamin D levels.”

It's not clear however who all can do this because many people suffer from conditions that do not permit sun exposure to the skin. 

6. Improves Skin Hydration

Flaky skin and dryness are your skin's biggest enemies. Vitamin D supports the skin’s ability to retain moisture. “Hydrated skin is healthy skin, and vitamin D helps maintain that balance,” says Dr Sharad. 

Incorporating vitamin D-rich foods like mushrooms and fortified cereals into your diet can contribute to softer, more supple skin.

Vitamin D is not just a nutrient for overall health but a cornerstone for radiant, resilient skin. Whether through dietary sources, supplements, or topical applications, ensuring optimal vitamin D levels can transform skin health. As Dr Meera Joshi aptly puts it, “Think of vitamin D as your skin’s silent ally, working behind the scenes to keep it at its best.”