Vitamin D is a hormone produced naturally when skin is exposed to UVB in sunlight or indoor tanning beds. Scientists through thousands of studies now recommend vitamin D blood levels of 40-60 ng/ml.
Only those who get regular UV exposure have those levels naturally:
Indoor Tanners………………………42-49 ng/ml………………………Sufficient
Non-Tanners………………………….23-25 ng/ml………………………Deficient
Dermatologists………………………13-14 ng/ml………………………Severe Deficiency
Maintaining optimal Vitamin D levels is linked to a reduction in 105 diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and most forms of cancer. It is believed that vitamin D deficiency contributes to nearly 400,000 premature deaths and adds a $100 billion burden to our health care system.
77 percent of Americans are considered vitamin D deficient according to government data and overzealous sun avoidance is the only plausible explanation for the 50 percent increase in that figure in the past 15 years.
For those individuals who can develop tans, the cosmetic and vitamin D-related benefits of non-burning exposure to ultraviolet light in appropriate moderation outweigh the easily manageable risks associated with overexposure and sunburn. Many doctors agree: “I believe the health benefits of exposure to UVA and UVB rays greatly outweigh the disadvantages, even if that means using a sunbed during winter months.” -British Oncologist Dr. Tim Oliver