Vitamin D and ED: Can You Sun Tan Your Shaft?

If your schlong stays soft, you may need a little sun. There is research that may suggest erectile dysfunction is linked to vitamin D deficiency. That being said, being tan doesn’t necessarily mean you have vitamin D coming out your ears. You could look like an inaugural cast member of MTV’s Jersey Shore and still be vitamin D deficient.

While sun exposure does improve vitamin D levels, tanning in the nude will not make a dramatic impact. Regardless of size, making sure your shaft is sun kissed should not be on the top of your tanning list. Even if your penis has its own zip code, it is still virtually only 1% of your body’s surface area, and tanning it won’t make much of a difference. Let’s not confuse our penises with peonies here, people. Sunlight isn’t necessary.

Should you still want to catch a tan sans bathing suit, potentially to avoid pesky tan lines, you need to make sure you are using plenty of sunscreen SPF. You want to shield your shaft from the sun the best you can as the skin on your penis and scrotum are very sensitive and prone to sunburn. Apply sunscreen to your shaft like you would any other part of your body, but you be careful with your bell end (better known as the head of your penis). The tip of your penis is especially sensitive and you want to make sure you don’t get any lotion in your urethra. I know every penis having person just winced reading that, but it's better safe than sorry. 

We are all accustomed to a little shade, figuratively speaking, of course. But we may need to spend some time in the literal shade. Asking if it is safe to tan your penis raises other questions. Is it really “safe” to tan any part of your body? Too much sun exposure on any part of your body, especially those that aren’t usually exposed is never a great idea.

Sunbeams on your shaft and balls might not be the best idea. While tanning feels great, and may be an aesthetic choice, it should be enjoyed in moderation. Excessive tanning increases your chances of developing skin cancer. While your penis isn’t more susceptible to skin cancer than other parts of your body, we promise you will not want to have skin cancer removed from your genitals. The process is painful and not a procedure you would want to have done to your penis.

So how do you know if you are vitamin D deficient? Some symptoms of deficiency include muscle and bone pain, a tingling “pins and needles” feeling in the hands and feet, muscle twitches or tremors, among others. A more concrete way of knowing is through routine blood testing through your primary care provider. Routine blood work is a great way of getting to know your body and its needs. Bloodwork is like a progress report. You can see where your body is performing and what categories it could use a little help in. You can’t fix a problem that you don’t know exists. Identifying that your body is low in vitamin D is the first step and there are numerous ways to remedy the situation. 

To reiterate, the sun is a free, natural source of vitamin D. If tanning isn’t your thing, or you are looking to limit your sun exposure then an OTC (over the counter) supplement can help raise your vitamin D. If you are giving Casper the Friendly Ghost and the sun is indeed not your friend, you can take the D in a supplement or incorporate more vitamin D rich foods into your diet like: salmon, tuna, egg yolks, breakfast cereals, milk, orange juice, to name a few. Yes, that’s right, you can take the D orally. But I think you already knew that. *wink* 

So what have we learned? The D is good for you. Is it necessary for your loins to see the light of day? Not necessarily. Sunning your shaft won’t help with ED. If you would like to learn about things that will help with erectile dysfunction, check out our blog post here. 

Furthermore, showing just a little more skin, or tanning in the nude won’t help your body absorb any more vitamin D than it already would have. If you feel like you may be vitamin D deficient, spend a little more time outside, but make sure you are using SPF. If you aren’t traveling much this winter to warmer climates, incorporate supplements and vitamin rich foods into your diet. Schedule a routine checkup with your PCP, get your bloodwork done, and get to know your body. And always remember to take the D!