Eczema is caused by so many factors. We know there is an underlying genetic basis, but there are several environmental factors that can affect babies too! Here is an update on what we know about sunlight and Vitamin D so far.

Sun exposure through UV light has been shown to lower risk of eczema. There have been several studies published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) and Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (JACI IP) that have looked into this. Babies born in colder climates during fall and winter tend to have increased risk of eczema. In one exciting study by Rueter and colleagues, infants wore UV dosimeters from 0 to 3 months of age, and the infants who were exposed to more UV light had less eczema at 6 months! UV light reduces overall immune inflammation and helps the body make more Vitamin D. In addition, when eczema is severe, phototherapy in the office is a treatment option offered by physicians.

Although in general sunlight can help eczema, it may possibly irritate the skin in some children. It may be helpful to try short bursts of exposure initially. If your baby’s eczema is severe, it would be good to ask your allergist or dermatologist before direct sun exposure. There are also risks of photodamage and potential skin cancer in the future, so always always put sunscreen on your babies! Read more about baby sunscreen in our sunscreen blog.

Vitamin D supplements can possibly help eczema. The data is mixed. In several studies, people who have eczema tend to have lower levels of Vitamin D. An impactful study in 2014 (again in JACI) followed 2 groups of Mongolian children with winter worsening of eczema, and the group who received Vitamin D supplementation (1000 IU/day) had more improvement in their eczema than the group that did not supplement. On the other hand, the Rueter and colleagues group did not show improvement in eczema with supplementation of Vitamin D (400 IU/day) in infants. Perhaps the higher dose of Vitamin D is more helpful, but we don’t know for sure.

In summary, UV light seems to make a greater difference in improving eczema than Vitamin D. But, Vitamin D is also important for your child’s health. In addition to its effect on eczema, Vitamin D is essential for the immune system and bone strength. I personally love Vitamin D as it modifies your immune cells to improves your immune system in multiple ways. If you are wondering whether your child would benefit from Vitamin D supplements, it’s worth it to try as there are very little risks. However keep in mind that Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin which means it is possible to take too much of it. It is safest to follow your doctor’s advice while giving your child Vitamin D supplements so she or he can measure and titrate the levels to make sure they are in the correct range.

Hope that was helpful!