Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Spring has not sprung in Omaha, and I think I need some D! Has anyone ever tanned with UVB for D? Did it work? Was it awful? Did you turn orange? I'm thinking of doing ten minutes.

My skin is cringing in protest.

Mine, too! I didn't have my labs done this year, and my D is usually fine, but I think it's low right now because of the looooong gray winter that won't ever end. Supplements don't always work and I'm at my wit's end.

I used to tan occasionally to help with my eczema, and if this summer is like last summer I might go back to it. You can absolutely wear sunscreen in a tanning booth, and seven minutes is usually what they suggest for transparent people. VERY IMPORTANT TIP: do not miss the crack of your asparagus with the sunscreen. A burnt asscrack is awful.

i haven't done it, but i read one study that said about 10 minutes of direct UVB every two weeks over the winter is enough to keep vitamin D at average summer levels. so if you did it once now while taking supplements, that might be enough of a bump to carry you until fully sprung spring. said the girl who hasn't had any sort of bloodwork done in at least ten years.

I think if you wear sunscreen you won't get the vitamin d, unfortunately. How much vitamin D do you take in supplements? Maybe just double that? I'm taking 5,000IU a day right now to correct my deficiency and then I'll stay on 2000IU/d for maintenance.

Eep! No! The skin cancer risk is too high


http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_in ... anning.htm

Have you tried taking D3 instead of D2? I know it's expensive and annoying to remember, but I usually just take one large dose every week.

I used to tan all the time in high school and I was addicted to the warmth. The only reason I can think of for tanning Would be if it helped with vitamin D.

My levels were really low and I slacked for a looong time on taking a supplement, but I just bought Country Life Vegan D3. (I think that's a great price too, because I swear it was like $28 at my Whole Foods.) Anyway this is probably unhelpful until I take it for a few more weeks and get my levels re-checked, but I wanted to mention it because I didn't know vegan D3 was so easily accessible now.

Yes! I still miss the warmth of a tanning bed years and years later, even though I fully understand that tanning is the devil. But so cozy!

Sounds like D3 might be the way to go. I was/am badly deficient and I'm on a gross 50,000 IU prescription D3 megadose for like another month before I can get rechecked. I think I'm gonna do the vegan D3 for maintenance since the D2 I was taking didn't seem quite up to the job.

I’m not suggesting this source as definitively authoritative, but I recalled Jack Norris’s opinion on the topic (important bit is in the comments).

It’s from 2009 though, so you may want to shoot him an email about what he thinks these days.

http://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifes ... a-priority

"There is no scientifically validated, safe threshold level of UV exposure from the sun or indoor tanning devices that allows for maximal vitamin D synthesis without increasing skin cancer risk."
http://www.aad.org/File%20Library/Globa ... tement.pdf

"Encouraging people to expose themselves to UV radiation to get vitamin D is like telling people to smoke cigarettes to help them lose weight. Both can work, but both are awful ideas."
http://thebeautybrains.com/2009/03/16/i ... vitamin-d/

The damaging effects of UV radiation are cumulative over time, so the risks of tanning definitely outweigh any potential benefit. The research end of vitamin D hasn't really panned out, so I would really caution against doing anything expensive or potentially harmful to raise levels. If you haven't been low in the past, chances are you are getting adequate amounts from whatever dietary sources you already have anyway if you live in northern parts of the US.

D3 isn't really much better than D2. There is a prescription form of the vitamin that is a more activated form, but as far as I know that is not available over the counter.

I know it seems like a long winter, but chances are you won't develop rickets.

I'm sorry you are having such a long winter. That sounds pretty crummy.

In large amounts D3 is more effective at raising D levels than large amounts of D2. This was in people with normal levels, but I still would not dismiss the possibility that it could help someone with absorption issues.

ttp://veganhealth.org/articles/bones#d2d3

Well, I did 7 minutes. I don't think it hurt. And now my cheeks are red and I can say I have tanned. Hopefully the sun comes out soon. A goth in a tanning bed, who woulda think it.

This is me. I loved it, but I can't bring myself to do it any more.

Was thinking about you today, Isa--heard there's snow in Omaha! Yikes! I don't blame you for needing some sunshine and warmth.

Yikes! Snow still?

You need a little road trip. The beaches here are the best now. I love, love Virginia beach in late April. Hotels are cheap, no crowds, nice weather, lots of seagulls to watch.

This thread makes me never want to leave my cave.

This thread is making me appreciate Florida. (Don't worry, it'll pass.)

Well, funny enough, I am going on vacation. But it's to London!!!! Of course I planned it months ago and couldn't have known I'd be trading gloom for gloom.

Sugh. (that is a mix of sigh + ugh.)

Take a side trip to Brighton. The Royal Pavillion is pretty awesome in a completely crazy sauce kind of way. The prince regent is lucky nobody beheaded him.