Video by drwendyaesthetics

That's commitment, okay. We get a lot of sun here in Australia, so you would think it's fairly easy to get enough vitamin D. But surprisingly, almost 65% of Australians born in North East Asia are vitamin D deficient. So why is that? In many East Asian cultures, lighter skin has historically been associated with beauty and status.

Darker or tan skin was often linked to outdoor labor, so many people developed strong sun avoidance habits. And today, we also understand the effects of UV exposure on the skin, like pigmentation, premature aging, and skin cancer. But medically speaking, we still need some vitamin D. Vitamin D supports bone health, muscle function, immune health, and there is some evidence it also supports skin barrier function and collagen maintenance.

So how much sun do you actually need? In Australia, many people only need about 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight on the arms or face a few times a week to maintain vitamin D. The best time is when the UV index is around 3 to 5, which is usually mid-morning or mid-afternoon depending on the season.

And if you have darker skin, you may need longer exposure because melanin reduces vitamin D production. The goal isn't to chase the sun or avoid it completely. Like most things in medicines about balance, protecting your skin from excessive sun exposure is important. But so is making sure your body still gets the nutrients that it needs.