Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and bone metabolism. It helps with bone strength, heart disease, infections, and can help prevent certain cancers. Approximately one billion people in the world have a vitamin D deficiency, while 50 percent have an insufficiency. A deficiency can lead to muscle weakness, pain, fatigue, and even depression. It is recommended to have a 25-hydroxyvitamin D greater than 30 nanograms per milliliter to maintain a healthy level of vitamin D. “Vitamin D deficiency is related to decreased consumption of vitamin D,” says Alex Zuriarrain, M.D., FACS, plastic surgeon at Zuri Plastic Surgery (South Miami, FL). “This can occur in patients that do not receive enough sunlight and in those individuals who are not consuming a balanced diet. It can be harmful, as it can lead to brittle bones and osteoporosis. The majority of individuals do not experience symptoms when they are mildly deficient in vitamin D.”
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, about 50 to 90 percent of the vitamin is absorbed through the skin and 20 minutes of daily sunshine with more than 40 percent of exposed skin is needed to prevent a deficiency. The skin does not make vitamin D from sunlight through windows. Vitamin D can be absorbed through the skin, from diet, or through supplements. Spas can ensure clients receive a healthy dose of vitamin D by offering outdoor activities, such as beach yoga or by performing some services outdoors. Latonya Fore, a board-certified nurse practitioner, also recommends that spas educate their clients on the importance of using sunscreen regularly and if possible, offer vitamin D supplements. Says Fore, “With regular supplements, it can take two-to-three months for vitamin D levels to become normal.”