Sun block that promotes Vitamin D production

[Loren Booda]

Could one design an effective sun block which passes the spectrum necessary for Vitamin D synthesis?

 

[Nerro]

Vitamin D is most succesfully synthesized in the skin at wavelengths of 270-290nm, which is just outside of the UVA and UVB spectra. A sunblock that uses salicylic acid as the effective ingredient shouldn't block Vit D production.

 

[marcusl]

Vitamin D production peaks at 297 nm, right in the middle of the UVB band (280 - 315 nm), suggesting that separation of Vitamin D metabolism from burning will be difficult or impossible.

EDIT: "..the ultraviolet action spectra for DNA damage, skin cancer, and vitamin D3 photosynthesis are identical ..."
B. Gilchrest, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 2, 570S-577S, August 2008