Older Adults and Sun Exposure

Everyone needs to have some sun exposure each day to produce enough vitamin D. To get enough vitamin D:

• Fair-skinned people need about 15 minutes of sunlight each day.
• Dark-skinned people need about 30 to 45 minutes each day.

Older adults who avoid the sun or use sunscreens may want to eat a variety of dairy products each day, or take daily vitamin D supplements to ensure they get adequate vitamin D.

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised	September 1, 2011