If you or someone you know suffers from acne, you've probably tried a range of different lotions, potions, and creams without much success. But acne can be more than what we put onto our skin. It can also be what we put into our bodies, in our diet and the supplements we take. So what are the top vitamins for acne?
What Causes Acne?
Although it is more common among teenagers, anyone can suffer from acne at any point in their lives. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that more than 50 million of us are suffering from acne right now.
It is characterised by blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples on the face, chest and back. These are caused when skin follicles become blocked by oil or dirt. Busy lifestyle schedules, stress and poor diet are just some of the factors that may increase your chances of bad skin.
For extreme cases, it is advised that you should visit the dermatologist, and they may prescribe you antibiotic treatments such as tetracycline. However, there are other natural ways to treat the condition. Here are our top 2 vitamins for acne.
Vitamins For Acne
Because acne can be caused by lots of different things, there is no single cure. However, the nutrients in your diet can be just as important as the things you use on your skin.
Vitamin A
Also known as retinol, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which has antioxidant properties. The antioxidant nature of Vitamin A also helps to reduce acne symptoms by fighting free radicals from causing oxidative stress. This reduces bacteria build up in sebaceous glands (the glands that produce oil) which results in nasty breakouts.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) have also published studies that have looked at vitamin A and acne. They showed that it activates the genes that generate Keratinocytes, which are specialised cells designed to release enzymes that dissolve germs and keep toxins from entering the skin surfaces. Due to the short lifespan of Keratinocytes (21 days), it is essential that our bodies have a constant supply of vitamin A to help regularly regenerate these cells.
Zinc
As a natural mineral, our bodies need zinc for a range of bodily functions. Zinc is believed to the most studied treatment acne, with studies to date reviewed and accessible online at the NIH. A recent review by the National Institue of Health found that zinc can help acne as both a topical and oral treatment. It found that zinc can decrease oil production in the skin, and can protect against bacterial infection and inflammation.
Try a multivitamin that contains both zinc and vitamin A, such as your Eye Spy.
Vitamins For Skin Health
The right vitamins can also help to support the health of our skin generally. Here are our top vitamins for skin:
American Academy of Dermatology, 2017. ‘Acne’. <https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/acne>
National Institute of Health, 2015. ‘Low-dose Vitamin “A” Tablets–treatment of Acne Vulgaris’ <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4384860/>
National Institute of Health, 2013. ‘The Clinical Effects Of Zinc As A Topical Or Oral Agent On The Clinical Response And Pathophysiologic Mechanisms Of Acne: A Systematic Review Of The Literature.’ <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23652948>
