Feeling the sun on your skin doesn’t just feel good, it also helps to keep you healthy, as exposure to sunlight is the main way for your skin to produce Vitamin D.

The lack of sunshine in the UK often means that many of us are short of the nutrient. It is surprising to find that up to forty percent of the population of sunny Bournemouth is deficient in Vitamin D.

Vitamin D has several important functions. For example, it helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones and teeth healthy.

A lack of Vitamin D is connected to a wide range of illnesses including Rickets in children, bone problems in adults and even diabetes and dementia.

We get most of our Vitamin D from sunlight on our skin. The vitamin is made by our body under the skin in reaction to summer sunlight.

Sunscreen can stop the production of Vitamin D, so while it is important not to allow your skin to burn, the skin also needs regular time in the sun unprotected by sunscreen. Be safe and responsible by making sure you get enough Vitamin D without damaging your skin.

A short period in the sun means a matter of minutes - about 10 to 15 minutes for most people. It is sensible to avoid being out in the sun when it is at its strongest. The larger the area of your skin that is exposed to sunlight, the more chance there is of making enough Vitamin D before you start to burn.

Some people are at higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Anyone who spends a lot of time indoors, as part of their job, or because they are housebound may not be getting enough sun. This includes people who often keep their skin covered for cultural reasons. There are some groups of people that are generally more at risk of deficiency, including all pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five.

During the winter months it is harder for the skin to make enough Vitamin D, as the sun does not have enough UVB (Ultra Violet B) radiation. The nutrient is also found in a small number of foods including oily fish.

Using a Vitamin D supplement can improve health, these are available from pharmacists and are also available for pregnant women and babies as part of the healthy start programme.

Dr Tristan Richardson, consultant at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital