Vit D from tanning beds?

orange1

I was thinking of using a tanning bed to up my vit D levels.  I would cover my face, chest and hands and try to get mainly my torso and only go once a week for short periods to avoid excessive skin aging.  I figured this would be an easy way to really increase levels of D in the winter here in Chicago without relying so much on oral supplements.

Does anybody know of any studies that have demonstrated that tanning beds stimulate vit D production in skin as sunlight does?

Thanks

Nan56143

Dear orange1,

I found a few articles for you.

http://www.pamelaegan.com/articles/vitamin-d3.htm

www.womenshealthnetwork.com/nutrition/vitamind.aspx

To get vitamin D3 you really need to be in the sun, almost nude, and with your face exposed. D3 enters through your eyes also, and this is not possible when using a tanning bed, as you would receive damage to your eyes.

BTW...what are your D3 levels?

Edited by Mods to update link

orange1

Thanks for the articles Nan.

After supplementing with 1000 - 2000/day IU/day for about 6 months my level is 39 nM/L.  I don't know what the level was before I started supplementing.

Nan56143

Orange1,

In order for you to get your levels in the upper range, (32ng-100ng considered normal, and within the upper range for optimal health, nearer 100), many articles recommend that for every 10ng/ml, you must add 1000 IU's of D3 a day. So, since your levels are 39, and you take 2000 IU's a day, you would then need to take probably 5000-6000 IU's daily. Look back for the threads on Vitamin D3 and there are many links which I know will help.

Member_of_the_Club

If you've had radiation, tanning beds can be very dangerous.  Your radiated skin is at increased risk for skin cancer.

Yazmin

Nan and Member are right, in my opinion: I would not trust tanning beds to increase D3  levels.

CrunchyPoodleMama

I wouldn't use a tanning bed, but I have been looking into lamps that specifically emit the type of rays that help the body produce vit D, like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Sperti-UV-Vitamin-Supplement-Lamp/dp/B001JGHYXA 

If I were to get something like that, needless to say I would NOT stop supplementing with D3. Honestly, I would probably use it for a few minutes each day more to combat seasonal affective disorder than anything else.

I thought of this a few weeks ago when I was exiting a Whole Foods Market... instead of a regular heater vent over the exit, they had a sun lamp type thing. I was dreading going back out into the cold, rainy, dreary winter weather, but just passing underneath that warm, bright lamp for a moment really lifted my spirits. So I was thinking that maybe I could buy a vitamin D lamp and bask in it for a few minutes first thing in the morning... to help wake me up and give me a mood boost to start the day... and if it gives me a bit of extra naturally-produced vitamin D, so much the better.

orange1

Thanks all for your replies.  I guess I won't be heading off to the tanning salon.  I may check into the vit D lamp - it might be nice for a few minutes when I stop out of the shower in the morning.

Yazmin

Julia, you wrote: "....So I was thinking that maybe I could buy a vitamin D lamp and bask in it for a few minutes first thing in the morning.."

I agree: the blizzard that looked like it was never going to get out of here got me down.Frankly, I think it might be worth having a lamp like the one you mentioned, and just pass underneath it every now and them......

deni63

Julia - Thanks for the lamp info. My daughter suffers from SAD and i do too to some extent. Having the lamp might certainly give us a boost.