Vitamins Used To Treat Acne
It will probably come as no great surprise to learn that despite the vast array of different foods on offer in supermarkets and food stores, cases of vitamin deficiencies are on the rise in the western world. Indeed, it has been estimated that as few as 20% of Americans consume the correct levels of vitamins and minerals in their daily diet, which can have a devastating effect on our health, and since the largest organ in the human body is our skin, skin conditions such as acne are exacerbated by these vitamin deficiencies. So which vitamins can you use to help alleviate the symptoms of acne?
There are lots of very important vitamins and minerals, all of which are essential to our metabolic functions, but modern diets often lack these essential ingredients. This is especially true if you eat a large amount of junk food packed full of trans-fats and sugar—aside from the token slice of pickle in your burger, most fast food is sorely lacking in essential vitamins and minerals.
Essential vitamins used to treat acne
There are several key vitamins that help improve the appearance of our skin and guard against the conditions that cause acne. Some vitamins act as antioxidants and play a role in removing the harmful toxins that accumulate in the body whereas others have antibacterial properties and prevent skin bacteria from forming and leading to the spots and skin lesions so typical of acne.
No one vitamin can be used to prevent or treat acne and in an ideal world you should aim to have a balanced diet that includes all of the recommended vitamins and minerals as this will improve your overall health, not just your skin health. But once you have a greater awareness of which vitamins have the most significant part to play in healthy skin function, you can make sure you include these important vitamins in your daily diet—or at the very least, start taking a vitamin supplement.
Vitamin A is vital to healthy skin as it stimulates new skin growth and helps our body to repair the damage caused by acne skin lesions, cysts and nodules. Vitamin A is found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin and yellow squash. It can also be applied directly to the affected skin in the form of topical creams and lotions. Vitamin A is best taken with vitamin E so that the body can digest it properly.
B vitamins are crucial for healthy skin and a lack of vitamin B2 is a known cause of acne. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is an antioxidant and helps to flush out waste products from the skin. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B3 (niacin) are essential for healthy skin. Vitamin B5 can help to correct hormonal imbalances that are often the cause of acne in women and girls. Vitamin B6 is important for a healthy immune system and a vitamin B6 deficiency can cause acne.
Vitamin C is essential for a healthy immune system as it acts as an antioxidant. There are lots of foods that contain vitamin C, including citrus fruits, strawberries, blackcurrants, and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin E has antioxidant properties and boosts the immune system. It can be found in green vegetables, sunflower seeds, almonds, papaya, and olives. Vitamin E also has useful anti-scarring properties, which is why it is used in skin care products, so try using vitamin E creams to reduce the scarring caused by severe acne.
Zinc is very important for healthy skin and there is lots of research to suggest that zinc is a powerful weapon in the fight against acne as it can help regulate the production of sebum (oil) in the skin. Zinc has antioxidant properties that actively support healthy skin. It also promotes healing, which is essential for acne scarred skin, plus it boosts the immune system and helps the body to fight bacterial infections that can cause acne lesions on the skin. Foods that are rich in zinc include veal, oysters, sesame seeds, shrimps, yoghurt, green peas and turkey.
Chromium is another essential mineral all acne sufferers should not go without. Chromium supplements can help to reduce the skin infections that cause acne to spread, but unfortunately a high sugar diet can prevent the body from absorbing enough of this essential mineral. To ensure you are ingesting enough chromium, it is a good idea to take a liquid chromium supplement.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish are a great way to help the body combat further breakouts of acne. Omega-3 fatty acids have powerful anti inflammatory properties and can help to bring the skin inflammation that is characteristic of acne under control. Omega-3 fatty acids also help to control the levels of androgens in the body, a major cause of too much skin oil production. In order to increase your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, eat more oily fish such as sardines or salmon, or take a fish oil dietary supplement.
There is no doubt that taking a vitamin and mineral supplement is an excellent idea if you are suffering the effects of acne, but it is very important to be aware that some vitamins and minerals are toxic when taken to excess, so monitor how much you are ingesting and be aware of any symptoms that could be an indication you have taken too much of any one vitamin or mineral. If in doubt, always seek medical advice immediately.
