Teens: To Soothe Dry Winter Skin, Get Enough Vitamin D

There’s plenty of good things about the winter, but seasonal eczema isn’t one of them. You’ll recognize this common skin condition by itchy, inflamed, red patches of skin that tend to get worse as fall turns to winter. The good news is winter eczema is no match for the soothing effects of a simple vitamin, say dermatology researchers. If this pertains to you, read on.

Usually, eczema is treated with ultraviolet light therapy, which stimulates vitamin D production in the body. The researchers had a hunch vitamin D supplementation could have a similar effect.

Turns out, it does. In one study with more than 100 kids and teens with winter eczema, those who took a daily vitamin D supplement (1,000 IU per day) for one month reduced the severity of their eczema significantly more than those who took a dummy pill (placebo).

Soothe winter skin from within

If you suffer from winter-related eczema, combining a daily vitamin D supplement with your regular skin care routine may be just what you need for healthy looking, itch-free skin all winter long. 

When choosing a supplement, look for vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) rather than vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Why? Research shows that the D3 form is a more bioavailable form. 

You’ll find D3 in a wide variety of high-quality multivitamins as well as in single-ingredient supplements. 

In addition, it’s important to know that, when skin is exposed to the sun, the sunlight stimulates vitamin D production in your body. It’s why vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin.

So, spend some time in the sun. Aim for about 5 to 30 minutes, daily or least twice a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. without sunscreen, exposing your face, arms, legs or back to the sun. This is often enough to trigger sufficient vitamin D synthesis to meet your basic vitamin D needs.

You’ve Got This!

Lorna & Kathleen (The EatingFor Team)