Got itchy, dry, cracked skin fromeczema? You may need more of the sunshine vitamin, akavitamin D. We’re digging into the connection between vitamin D andeczema, why it can help, and some of the best ways to get more of it.
Vitamin D for eczema: Does it work?
Eczema (aka atopic dermatitis) is the most common skin condition worldwide. It affects around20 percentof children and 5 percent of adults, causing symptoms that can range from an occasional annoyance to a major bummer that impacts yourconfidence.
Meds are often used to combat discomfort, but there’s also a growing interest in natural ways to help with symptoms, andvitamin Dcould be part of the solution.
Vitamin Dsupplements and direct sun exposure are linked to improvedeczema symptoms, likely thanks to its ability to support yourskin barrierandimmune system.
Researchersnoticed the connection between vitamin D and eczema when they found that people living in areas with less sunlight hadhigher ratesof eczema and vitamin D deficiency.
One studyfound that when kids spent more time in the sun, their symptoms improved compared to kids who stayed in a colder, darker environment. More recently,a meta-analysis(a high quality review of a group of studies on vitamin D and eczema) concluded that vitamin D significantly improved the severity ofeczema symptomsacross the studies they included.
Several studieson adults found that taking vitamin D for 2 months lessened the severity of eczema. Combining vitamin D with other skin-supportive nutrients likevitamin Eor taking it along with eczemamedicationscould lead to even better results, especially for severe symptoms.
How does it help?
How exactly can vitamin D help ease eczema symptoms?
Vitamin D deficiency and eczema
Vitamin Ddeficiencyis pretty common in the U.S. today.
Some studieslink lower vitamin D levels with increased rates of eczema, especially in children. Kids with moderate to severe eczema are more likely to havelower vitamin Dlevels than those without skin conditions, especially if they have lighter complexions.
So making sure you aren’t vitamin D deficient could help with your symptoms and reduce the risk of eczema in the first place.
How to get more vitamin D to ease eczema symptoms
Sunshine is theprimary wayto increase vitamin D levels, but you can’t control the weather. Realistically, supplements are necessary for many people, at least for part of the year.
Even when the sun is out, wearing protective sun clothing andsunscreenit can block UV rays and prevent vitamin D production.
Even your skin color can impact vitamin D production.Darker skinhas moremelanin, a pigment that can interfere with how much vitamin D you produce.
Another important source of vitamin D is food, but there aren’t very many foods that naturally contain vitamin D (unless they’re fortified). Foods that have somevitamin Dinclude:
But since these sources don’t provide very much, vitamin Dsupplementsare usually recommended, especially if you’re deficient.
How much vitamin D should you take?
If you’re not sure whether you need a vitamin D supplement, ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels. This involves a blood draw, but it’s the only way to know for sure what your levels are.
Keep in mind that vitamin D is afat-soluble vitamin, so any extra gets stored in your body. Taking very high doses without a prescription from your doctor could have potentially serious side effects.
If you may’t get a lab draw, it’s worth noting that themeta-analysismentioned earlier concluded that vitamin D dosages ranging from 1,000 to 1,600 IU a day were effective. This dosage is slightly more than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 600 IU for adults but still doesn’t exceed theupper limit(the amount you shouldn’t exceed without talking with your doctor) of 4000 IU a day.
Studieson folks who are nursing have found that increased sunlight exposure and vitamin D supplementation can increase your little one’s vitamin D status. Still, it’s usually recommended to supplement withinfant vitamin Dat 400 IU a day (but always check with your doctor).
Other natural supplements to ease eczema symptoms
If you’re looking for otherholistic optionsto support your symptoms, here are a few more options:
Bottom line
Vitamin D can help with eczema symptoms, especially for people with a vitamin D deficiency. you may get vitamin D from the sun and a little bit from food, but supplements are a safe and easy way to make sure you get enough.
You may need to experiment with dosages or consider combining vitamin D with other natural therapies or medications, but relief from the itchy, uncomfortable symptoms is absolutely possible.
