FAQ
Why can’t I just take a pill?
Humans evolved to produce vitamin D in skin from sunlight. If its practical, healthy sun exposure is still the best solution for you. Synthetic vitamin D has only been around for 100 years, and oral vitamin D supplements aren’t very effective at optimizing health outcomes. A large, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 26,000 older adults found that vitamin D supplements “did not prevent major diseases or extend life”. This is, most likely, because oral vitamin D provides only part of the complex chemistry that occurs when sunlight hits skin. UV light produces previtamin D, but it also produces other sterols … approximately 60% lumisterol and about 4% tachysterol. These other sterols have been shown to be highly active, and scientists have only recently started to piece the full puzzle together. D~Ray does its best to mimic the effect of natural sunlight on skin.
How do I know if I’m vitamin D deficient?
The main symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are fatigue, poor sleep, depression, pale skin, aching bones, muscle weakness and getting sick more easily. If you’re in doubt, it is worth taking a blood test to confirm your levels. In summer it is much more likely that you will have sufficient vitamin D. On average, levels in winter drop substantially. The further from the equator you live, the more likely it is that you’re deficient.
Can I overdose?
No.
Do I need this every day?
The product is designed to be used as part of your normal skincare regime … so, yes.
How much vitamin D do I get per application?
Each 3-drop dose of D~Ray Serum will deliver 8000 I.U. equivalents of previtamin D. The Triple Serum will deliver 24 000 I.U. equivalents of previtamin D.
When the UVB light activates provitamin D a series of complex reactions occurs resulting in three products … previtamin D (±60%), tachysterol (±25%) and lumisterol (±6%). For decades, tachysterol and lumisterol were thought to be biologically inactive byproducts, but both been shown to have benefits in skin and elsewhere. Lumisterol acts as an antioxidant that protects skin cells from photodamage and both tachysterol and lumisterol have shown anti-cancer properties.
Do I have Provitamin D in my skin?
Yes. Your skin produces provitamin D (or 7DHC) as the starting point for vitamin D synthesis. As you age, the concentration of 7DHC in your skin decreases, so by age 70, your skin produces less than half the amount it did at age 20. UVB light from the sun converts 7DHC to previtamin D, which slowly converts to vitamin D with body heat. The action of UVB on 7DHC also produces two other photoproducts … lumisterol and tachysterol … which have their own benefits.
Where should I apply the serum?
Most people apply the serum on their faces as part of their normal skincare regime, but you can apply the serum wherever you would like to … just avoid contact with eyes and other mucous membranes. To maximise absorption, apply on areas with thinner skin like the inside upper arm or inner thigh.
Can I use the D~Ray Serum without the device? Just put it in the sun?
Technically yes, however given the uncertainty of getting sufficient sunshine to properly activate the serum, we recommend using our specially designed device to ensure adequate doses are reached.
UV does DNA damage. Do I still get the DNA damage?
No. The serum takes the beating for you.
Is there a warranty on the unit?
Yes. You can return a faulty unit at any point during the first year of use.
Can I stop taking my Vitamin D supplements?
You should consult your medical health practitioner before making changes to your prescribed supplements.
I can see light coming out of the D~Ray device. Is it bad for me?
UV light is not visible. We have used a blue LED light to help indicate that the device is active.
How long before my blood Vitamin D levels go up?
Our testing has shown that blood serum 25 OH vitamin D levels rise slowly but sustainably over the course of 2 months with 3 drops of activated serum applied 5 times per week. Of the 13 test subjects that were vitamin D deficient at the start of the study, only 1 was still deficient at the end and that person was only marginally below the 20 ng/ml threshold.
Will I get a tan?
No. Your skin produces more melanin and builds a tan in response to high levels of UV or blue light.
Do you have safety studies?
The activated serum has undergone safety testing in Germany and was found to have very good skin tolerance… even on very sensitive skin after tape-stripping.
What happens if my toddler gets hold of my D~Ray device?
The device is designed to shut off as soon as the two halves are separated. So your toddler is safe.
What if I miss a day?
Just carry on as normal. Don’t try to apply double the volume on the next day, particularly for the Triple Serum. Our testing was done with application 5 days per week … we figured that most people would forget sometimes.
