Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Skin Not Staying Moisturized? You May Be Lacking This Vitamin

Hannah Frye
Author:
April 28, 2024
Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
By Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
Skin Care
Image by Milles Studio / Stocksy
April 28, 2024
We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.

Do you find yourself endlessly slathering on moisturizers, yet your skin still feels as parched as a desert? If so, you're not alone.

Dry skin isn't just a nuisance; it's an uncomfortable reality for many of us, leaving us scratching our heads (and our skin) in search of relief. And since everyone's skin is different, it can be hard to find which products and lifestyle changes will help your individual complexion.

But what if I told you that the culprit behind your perpetual dryness might not just be a lack of hydration, but a deficiency in something else entirely?

If you've tried time and again to keep your skin moisturized with little to no success, there's a surprising culprit you should keep on your radar. Let's dive into the relationship between vitamin D and hydrated skin.* 

The connection between vitamin D gaps & dry skin

Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient involved in nearly every single bodily system1 and function, including immune support, bone health, muscle function, and more—it only makes sense that the sunshine vitamin has a stake in the skin care game as well.* 

In fact, one randomized controlled trial in the journal Nutrients found a relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and dry skin2: Researchers discovered that participants with lower vitamin D levels also had lower average skin moisture.

"Our finding suggests a relationship between serum vitamin D3 levels and hydration of the stratum corneum [aka, the surface layer of your skin],"* the report reads. 

In terms of how, exactly, the vitamin affects skin health, we know that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help protect skin cells.* Plus, vitamin D plays a crucial role in thyroid health as it helps regulate the production of thyroid hormones3.* These thyroid hormones play a key role in keeping your hair, skin, and nails youthful and strong (in addition to influencing metabolism, mood, sleep, etc.). 

And while we're on the topic of hair health: "We know that vitamin D is very important for the hair follicle and therefore hair growth,"* says board-certified dermatologist and hair care expert Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D., on an episode of Clean Beauty School. "In fact, vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins needed for maintaining and creating functioning hair follicles."*

Add that to the vitamin's roster of beauty benefits. 

How to get enough vitamin D

You may be surprised to learn that most (93%4) Americans have a dietary vitamin D gap, and many are insufficient5 or deficient in vitamin D altogether (41 and 29% of U.S. adults5, respectively, to be exact).

The best way to find out if you're lacking vitamin D is to have your doctor order a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test, which is also known as the 25(OH)D test. This is the biomarker for vitamin D status in your whole body. The optimal (not just "normal") amount you want to see, is 50 ng/ml. In some cases, even higher levels may be appropriate. The point to avoid (because it's the cutoff for vitamin D insufficiency6) is 30 ng/ml. 

But it's pretty difficult to cross that 50 ng/ml threshold (and maintain it for life) without vitamin D supplementation.*

Supplementation can help keep your vitamin D levels steady, no matter what time of year it is and how much sun you get in your daily life.* Double-board-certified integrative medicine doctor Amy Shah, M.D., said it best in her review for mbg's vitamin D3 potency+: "Achieving vitamin D sufficiency isn't a seasonal need; it's a daily endeavor." 

So if you've hit a wall trying to restore moisture in your skin, a high-quality vitamin D supplement can help give your skin the final hydration nudge it needs.*

Not to mention, our vitamin D3 potency+ supplement also contains organic and virgin avocado, olive, and flaxseed oils, all of which support skin health as well.* In fact, one user even considers it her "secret weapon for radiant skin."*

As she writes in a personal review: "I've been taking mbg vitamin D3 potency+ every night for about two months now, and it has made a massive improvement in my skin's clarity and hydration—even compared to the vitamin D3 supplement I was taking before."*

The takeaway

If you've tried to hydrate your skin without success, you might want to check your vitamin D levels.

Luckily, vitamin D insufficiency is 100% fixable with a targeted daily supplement, and an effective formula can help fill that dietary gap, as well as provide other benefits to your skin and overall health.* Check out our top vitamin d supplement picks here.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Lifestyle
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.