It’s winter in Northeast Ohio. The snow piles up and days of dull gray skies are often reflected in the cold, dry, stressed, lackluster skin poking out from our parka hoods. It can be a challenging time of year for health overall, especially skin health since our skin most directly encounters these challenging cold, dry conditions.
Although this seems like a perfectly dreary recipe for vitamin D deficiency, one of Apex Skin’s Physician Assistants, Madysen Wilcox, helps patients in our Solon location. She is here to talk about getting your vitamin D sunshine from the inside and why vitamin D and skin health are so deeply intertwined
“Vitamin D is considered a hidden ally because its absence may not cause immediate skin issues,” explains Wilcox. “But, over time, deficiencies can lead to dryness, inflammation, and other problems. Addressing winter-specific challenges and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels ensures your skin stays healthy, hydrated, and resilient during the colder months.”
So, settle in as we explain why one of our biggest winter skincare tips is to get vitamin D deficiency treatment right away to get that healthy, radiant skin while possibly treating several other health concerns! We can get you in for a same-day appointment if you have an urgent skin need at one of our 14 Apex Skin dermatology clinics throughout Northeast Ohio.
What is Vitamin D, and Why Does Your Skin Need It?
Vitamin D isn’t like all the other vitamins because it’s actually a “fat-soluble prohormone steroid” that your body can make from sun exposure to the skin, which dermatological science will tell you is somewhat problematic (sun exposure = vitamin D, but sun overexposure also = premature aging and skin cancer… more on that in a bit).
Your body needs vitamin D for several essential functions. Your bones can only absorb calcium with vitamin D’s help. Vitamin D also regulates several cellular functions in the skin, immune system, brain, muscles, and so much more. It’s a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent too. In short, your whole body needs it, but if you’re deficient the symptoms will often appear in your skin first.
Vitamin D and Skin Health: What the Science Says
Vitamin D is crucial for overall health and specifically for skin health, right down to its cellular regeneration, inflammation regulation, immune, and repair functions. Wilcox shares a long list of exactly what vitamin D does for skin health:
- Cell Growth & Regulation: It regulates cell growth, differentiation, and turnover, especially for keratinocytes, which are the most common skin cells. Keratinocytes manufacture skin-barrier-protecting keratin in the deep, basal-cell skin layers. If keratinocyte growth and differentiation go haywire, skin cancers can develop.
- Hydration & Skin Barrier Protection: Vitamin D also fights irritated, dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining the skin’s protective moisture levels.
- Immune & Antimicrobial Defense: Vitamin D protects the skin barrier’s antimicrobial, immune, and anti-inflammatory processes.
- Relief for Skin Conditions: Because of its immune and anti-inflammatory properties, good vitamin D levels are important for reducing symptoms of skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
- Collagen & Anti-Aging: Vitamin D also promotes collagen synthesis and protects against oxidative stress, which helps skin maintain its elasticity and reduces the visible effects of aging.
- Sebum Balance for Healthy Skin: Vitamin D plays a role in balancing sebum production, which can help protect the skin’s moisture barrier and prevent excess sebum from clogging pores.
- Wound Healing & Tissue Regeneration: Vitamin D and skin health extend to wound healing and skin tissue regeneration too. It promotes and regulates the growth and maturation of new skin cells and blood vessels. “Vitamin D plays a multifaceted role in the skin’s healing process,” says Wilcox. “From regulating inflammation and promoting cell growth to supporting collagen production and preventing infection, vitamin D is crucial for fast and effective wound healing. Ensuring you have adequate vitamin D, through sunlight, diet, or supplementation, can help your body repair itself more efficiently, reduce the risk of infection, and minimize scarring when cuts, scrapes, or other skin irritations occur.”
- Photo Protection & UV Repair: Vitamin D can also provide photo-protection against UV damage. Fascinatingly, the skin can manufacture vitamin D from sunlight, and vitamin D can repair DNA damaged by excess UV radiation from the sun. It’s a delicate balance where vitamin D modulates the skin’s response to the sun’s UV rays by regulating inflammation. We know that chronic inflammation from excess sun exposure can speed up aging and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Northeast Ohio Vitamin D Deficiency Causes
At least half of the world’s population experiences some level of vitamin D deficiency due to factors like limited sun exposure, certain medical conditions, or environmental influences. Here in Northeast Ohio, our northern latitude and long, cloudy winters make it even harder to maintain healthy vitamin D levels.
“Northeast Ohio winters can have a significant impact on both skin health and vitamin D levels due to several factors associated with the region’s cold, cloudy, and long winters,” explains Wilcox. “The reduced amount of sunshine during Northeast Ohio winters can affect vitamin D levels in a few ways. In winter, the angle of the sun is lower, and there is less direct sunlight exposure due to cloud cover and shorter days. As a result, UVB rays are less intense, reducing the body’s ability to produce vitamin D. This lack of sun exposure can contribute to lower vitamin D levels, especially if people aren’t compensating with dietary sources or supplements.”
The lack of consistent sunlight during Northeast Ohio winters is compounded by other factors such as dry indoor air and the necessity of bundling up in heavy layers to stay warm.
“During winter, the cold, dry air in Northeast Ohio can strip moisture from your skin, leading to several skin health issues including dry cracked skin, chapped lips, flare-ups of eczema and psoriasis or other skin conditions,” says Wilcox. “Since it’s so cold outside we spend more time indoors with the heat on,” says Wilcox. “While indoor heating helps keep homes warm in the winter, it also lowers the humidity, further drying out skin. The combination of heated indoor air and outdoor cold air can lead to the skin feeling tight, itchy, and irritated.”
This combination of low sunlight, skin discomfort, and vitamin D deficiency can also lead to other complications. “Lack of sunlight is also linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can affect mood and overall well-being,” says Wilcox.
In addition to the challenges of winter in Northeast Ohio, certain medical conditions can exacerbate vitamin D deficiency. Obesity, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, kidney and liver diseases, as well as some medications and weight loss surgeries, can hinder the body’s ability to absorb or synthesize vitamin D. Biological and environmental factors also play a role: people over age 65, those with darker-toned skin, or individuals who are home-bound are at higher risk.
A Word of Caution about Vitamin D and Sun Exposure
Vitamin D and skin health are intricately linked. Although it’s true that some sun exposure prompts the skin to generate vitamin D, it’s important to understand that extended sun exposure or relying on tanning beds to get vitamin D is incredibly dangerous.
“Both extended sun exposure and tanning beds increase the risk of skin cancer, particularly melanoma and other types of skin cancers,” warns Wilcox.
And it’s not only skin cancer—as if that wasn’t bad enough. Excessive sun exposure can add years to your face through premature aging, explains Wilcox: “Prolonged exposure to UV radiation leads to DNA damage, which can result in cancer. Excessive UV exposure accelerates the breakdown of collagen and elastin, causing premature wrinkles, sagging, and other signs of aging (photoaging).”
Tanning beds should be avoided. Wilcox explains that they are not a safe alternative to natural sunlight as they primarily emit UVA radiation, which can accelerate skin damage and increase skin cancer risks, even without visible signs of a sunburn.
So, what is the healthy balance of sunlight for vitamin D generation without causing skin damage? “Brief, controlled sun exposure—around 10-30 minutes a few times a week—is generally enough for your body to produce vitamin D without risking skin damage. This can be combined with other methods, such as diet and supplementation, to ensure healthy vitamin D levels.” And, as always, wear an SPF 30+ sunscreen every day to keep your skin safe, even during the darker winter months.
It’s also very important to get your skin checked on a regular basis by a dermatologist. Apex Skin dermatologists have the advanced tools and training necessary to identify moles, spots, or lesions on the skin that may be cancerous. And the faster we identify and treat skin cancer, the better the survivability rate. If you see a spot on your body now that concerns you (it’s changing or painful or growing in any way), schedule a same-day SPOT check now.
Signs You Might Be Vitamin D Deficient
Signs of general vitamin D deficiency often manifest differently in people of different ages. For children, it often shows up as “rickets”, which is rare, but often includes symptoms like incorrect bone growth patterns (bowed bones), bone pain, weak muscles, and joint deformities.
For adults, vitamin D deficiency can also include bone and muscle pain and weakness, but it can also manifest through muscle cramps, fatigue, and depression. Increased pain sensitivity and pins-and-needles tingly feelings in the hands and feet might also result.
Vitamin D Deficiency Skin Symptoms and Conditions
While those are some pretty stark vitamin D deficiency symptoms, clues often first show up on the skin. “Dryness, eczema, psoriasis flare-ups, slow wound healing, and an increased risk of infections are all common signs that may point to a vitamin D deficiency,” says Wilcox. If you already have a chronic skin condition like the ones below, a vitamin D deficiency can make the condition worse:
- Dry Skin: Vitamin D helps the skin retain moisture, and a deficiency can lead to cracking and flakiness, so it’s important for winter skincare. “Vitamin D-enriched moisturizers can play a role in strengthening the skin’s barrier function,” says Wilcox. “A healthy barrier reduces water loss and helps the skin retain moisture, which is key for combating dryness. Many vitamin D-enriched products are formulated with other hydrating ingredients, which can further improve skin hydration.”
- Eczema: Deficiency can weaken the skin barrier, leading to increased sensitivity and flare-ups. Vitamin D, however, can help reduce inflammation and restore and strengthen the skin barrier. “Vitamin D supplementation and topical treatments can be highly beneficial for managing chronic skin conditions like eczema,” says Wilcox. “Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system, promote skin cell differentiation, reduce inflammation, improve the skin’s barrier function, and calm itching—all of which contribute to healthier skin and fewer flare-ups.”
- Psoriasis: Vitamin D plays a role in regulating skin cell turnover, reducing scaling and plaques because it slows the rampant overproduction of skin cells. “Vitamin D products are commonly used to manage psoriasis plaques because they regulate the growth and differentiation of keratinocytes (skin cells),” says Wilcox. “If you’re considering vitamin D therapy, it’s important to consult with a dermatologist or healthcare provider for the right dosage and application method based on your specific needs and condition.”
- Acne: Anti-inflammatory effects of Vitamin D can calm redness and swelling in acne-prone skin.
- Wound healing: A vitamin D deficiency can slow the healing of cuts, scrapes, or skin irritations, which can lead to vulnerabilities in the skin barrier, which can lead to infections. The right amount of vitamin D can speed wound healing and protect the skin from infection and irritation.
Science continues to find more and more connections between vitamin D and skin health. “While normal winter dryness is often seasonal and resolves with a proper winter skincare routine, vitamin D deficiency can manifest as more persistent, widespread dryness accompanied by systemic symptoms,” explains Wilcox. “Systemic symptoms often associated with vitamin D deficiency include fatigue, bone or muscle pain, frequent infections, mood changes (depression or irritability), hair loss, and poor wound healing. Addressing both with a combination of lifestyle adjustments and medical advice ensures optimal skin and overall health during the winter months.”
Take Control and Boost Your Vitamin D Levels: Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment
You can treat vitamin D deficiency at home by following your dermatologist’s recommendations on brief sun exposure, nutrition, and supplementation.
Wilcox suggests the following simple things you can start doing today to boost your vitamin D levels:
- Get 10 to 30 minutes of direct exposure when the sun is out. It doesn’t take much. If you get three minutes here and five minutes there, you’re doing well.
- Incorporate vitamin-D-rich or enriched foods into your diet. Some great sources include:
- Fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, salmon, sardines)
- Fortified dairy (milk, kefir, yogurt, cheese)
- Plant-based milk alternatives fortified with vitamin D
- Fortified orange juice
- Eggs (with the yolks)
- Mushrooms like shiitake and portobello
- Cod liver oil
- Ask your dermatologist about daily vitamin D3 supplementation so you can get the right dose for you. “The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is 600-800 IU for most adults,” says Wilcox. “Some individuals may need higher doses, especially if they have low levels. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting supplements to ensure you’re taking the correct dosage for your needs.”
- Do NOT use tanning beds.
The Connection Between Vitamin D and Winter Skincare Tips for Northeast Ohio
Apex Skin is located right here in Northeast Ohio, so all of us understand what it’s like to endure these gray, dark, freezing, dry skin days. And we often recommend, as part of our winter skincare tips protocol, investigating vitamin D as a systemic help for winter skin problems. At all of our 14 Apex Skin locations, we provide expert consultations and dermatologist-recommended skin treatments, which often include some extra vitamin D to help. These solutions include:
- Topical Solutions: Explore our dermatologist-recommended vitamin D-enriched creams and moisturizers to restore your skin’s barrier and combat winter dryness.
- Custom Skincare Plans: For patients with eczema, acne, or other conditions aggravated by vitamin D deficiency, we offer personalized treatment plans tailored to your skin’s needs.
- DiamondGlow: A great treatment for tired, dull skin. “In-office treatments like DiamondGlow can play a significant role in revitalizing winter skin that may lack vitamin D or exhibit signs of dehydration, dullness, and irritation due to cold weather,” explains Wilcox. “While DiamondGlow doesn’t directly replace vitamin D, it helps restore skin health and radiance by addressing common winter skin concerns. To maximize its benefits, we pair DiamondGlow with vitamin-D-enriched skincare products and recommend oral vitamin D supplementation to maintain optimal levels for overall skin health.
Visit Apex Skin for Personalized Winter Skincare Tips
Navigating a Northeast Ohio winter with healthy skin is tricky, but Madysen Wilcox, PA-C, as well as other Apex Skin providers, can help you navigate whether you need vitamin D deficiency treatment or other skin health treatments to get you through the winter with smooth, vibrant, comfortable skin. So, if your regular skincare regimen has not improved persistent dry, flaky skin, or if your eczema or psoriasis symptoms have flared up, we can help evaluate your vitamin D levels. Even simple changes like increasing your dietary intake or adding a vitamin D supplement can support your overall health and your skin health systemically. Vitamin D may just be your secret weapon against your winter skin issues! If you’re unsure about your vitamin D levels or struggling with winter skincare issues, schedule a consultation with Apex Skin today. We have same-day appointments available, and we’re here to help you glow year-round!
Madysen Wilcox is a Physician Assistant certified by the National Commisission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She was raised in Mansfield, Ohio and graduated with honors from Hillsdale High School. She continued her education at Kent State University where she majored in biology with concentrations in cellular and molecular biology. After graduating Cum Laude from Kent State University, Madysen attended University of Mount Union’s Physician Assistant Program and graduated with her Master of Science degree in 2023. Madysen started off her career as a Physician Assitant in dermatology with University Hospitals while learning under Dr. Michael Mancuso in Solon, Ohio. She also completed her Diplomate Fellowship from the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.
