How much sunshine to make vitamin D

Sunshine is necessary to make vitamin D by the skin. The amount of vitamin D produced by the skin depends on the area of skin exposed to sunshine; more the area of the skin exposed more is the amount of vitamin D produced.

But the question often asked is what is the best time for sun exposure and for how long.

The best time for sun exposure is between 11 am to 3 pm.

The exposure should be for about 15 minutes or less as that is the time taken for the skin to begin to turn red or burn. The exposure time will depend on the color of the skin type. The lighter skin will require much less exposure than the dark skin. People with darker skin need more exposure to sun to produce the same amount of vitamin D.

Manufacture of vitamin D will not occur in the following circumstances:

• When the exposure to the sun is with sunscreen lotion on.
• While wearing long sleeved shirt and trousers when exposing to sun.
• Sitting in a glass house or sitting near the window with the glass blocking the sunrays.

Prolonged exposure to sun is not good and is known to cause skin cancer.