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September 24th, 2020 | 1 min. read
During her first video on sun, supplements, and your immune system this week, Owings Mills health coach Yvonne Bull explained how sunlight and supplements can help boost your immune system against COVID-19.
During that video, she mentioned how your skin type affects how long you need to be in the sun for your body to start manufacturing Vitamin D, and also the development of UVB lights that can be used as well. Yvonne discusses more about both skin type and UVB lights in this video. Watch below and read on for a recap.
Exposure to direct sunlight activates your body's natural Vitamin D manufacturing system. But not everyone has the same skin type. The Fitzpatrick Scale features six different skin types, all of which react differently to the sun and alter how you should care for your skin. But when it comes to getting enough sunlight to help boost your immune system, the lighter the skin you have, the less time you need to spend in the sun. The darker your skin, the longer you will need to be in the sun.
For lighter skin, it could be as little as 15 minutes. For darker skin, it could be over an hour.
Also, remember, the time of year and your geography also affect how much time you will need to spend in the sun.
UVB lights, sometimes known as sun lamps, can be helpful in exposing your skin to sunlight so it creates Vitamin D naturally, especially during the winter when sunlight isn't prevalent. These are commonly used to help treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Read more about sun lamps here, but Yvonne suggests checking out the following brands: Virulux, Teltronics, Circadian Optics, and Ravio.
You wear a mask, keep your distance, and wash your hands frequently. You are doing what you need to do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19. But what can you do to reduce your risk of having a bad outcome, think serious symptoms or hospitalization?
That's what we're focusing on this September. What strategies will help boost your immune system so it's best prepared to ward off COVID-19 (and any other illness)? Check out all of our content here.
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