Myth: Man thinks suntanning lotion helps with his Vitamin D deficiency.

A regular fat man wants my advice on Vitamin D supplements.

He says his got a vitamin d deficiency and his already taking supplement tablets for it. He wants me to recommend him a lotion that will make his skin brown coz he wants to stay in the sun a bit so he can get vitamin D.

I thought he meant sunscreen to protect himself when he goes out into the sun. No. He actually wanted a suntanning lotion to make his skin brown.

Me: Suntanning lotion does not increase you vitamin d levels.
Him: Oh we use this overseas. I'm thinking of putting it all over my skin so when i go out into the sun, my skin will go darker.
Me: You know what these suntanning lotions are for? Its for people who want to improve their appearance coz they are too pale and they want to become a bit more darker so it looks nicer. You are a full grown man, and you are already tanned, I don't think these products are for you.
Him: Oh how I can get vitamin D then if I don't go dark?
Me: You can't see vitamin D. Dark skin does not mean you got lots of vitamin D. Plus the sun itself is too low to increase your vitamin D levels if you have a deficiency. Better to use tablets coz its got more vitamin D than the sun. And only a blood test can tell you if you have a deficiency - not the color of your skin.
Him: Oh I see, thanks for your help.