Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School published an article in March 2020 (updated November 23, 2020) entitled “Treatments for COVID-19.”1 In this article, the question was posed, “Does vitamin D protect against COVID-19?” Their response to this question follows:
“There is some evidence to suggest that vitamin D might help protect against becoming infected with, and developing serious symptoms of, COVID-19. We know, for example, that people with low vitamin D levels may be more susceptible to upper respiratory tract infections. One meta-analysis found that people who took vitamin D supplements, particularly those who had low vitamin D levels, were less likely to develop acute respiratory tract infections than those who didn’t.
There is some evidence to suggest that vitamin D might help protect against becoming infected with, and developing serious symptoms of, COVID-19.”
– Harvard Medical School
Vitamin D may protect against COVID-19 in two ways. First, it may help boost our bodies’ natural defense against viruses and bacteria. Second, it may help prevent an exaggerated inflammatory response, which has been shown to contribute to severe illness in some people with COVID-19.
Our bodies make vitamin D when exposed to sunshine. Five to ten minutes of sun exposure on some or most days of the week to the arms, legs, or back without sunscreen will enable you to make enough of the vitamin.”
Science tells us that the energy for vitamin D synthesis in our bodies occurs when our skin is exposed to sunlight and the UV-B rays emitted by the sun interact with the cholesterol in our skin cells. Science also tells us that the sun’s UV-B rays are the best source for the production of vitamin D in our bodies.
We know that low-pressure indoor sun systems produce UV wavelengths that mimic the sun with a more consistent and efficient mixture of UV-B and UV-A. This allows indoor sun systems to produce a tan while minimizing the risk of overexposure.
We are not making any claims with any of this. We are just reminding everyone of the simple and indisputable fact that low-pressure indoor sun systems emit UV output that is similar to natural sunlight. And beyond that, we will share a popular refrain these days: “Let’s follow the science.”
With the sun spa industry continuing to introduce new and exciting services for patrons visiting salons across America, we look forward to 2021 being a banner year for our industry and for the U.S. economy, as a whole. We are optimistic that as we all find successful ways of addressing and dealing with COVID-19 for our businesses and our families, we will all be able to get back to a more normal way of living. And, this will result in greatly increased consumer confidence which will open the avenues of pent-up demand … a rising tide that will float many boats.
References
1. Harvard Medical School, Treatments for COVID-19: What helps, what doesn’t, and what’s in the pipeline. Boston, MA: Harvard Health Publishing, March 2020. Updated November 23, 2020.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/treatments-for-covid-19#:~:text=There%20is%20some%20evidence%20to,with%20COVID%2D19
