A common question often arises among acne sufferers, "does taking vitamins help prevent acne?". The answer to this question is simple, YES. Taking Vitamins for your acne problem may just be the answer, It's no secret that adding vitamins to your diet may reduce the outbreaks of acne vulgaris which is the mildest form of acne.
Your body needs complete nutrition to prevent acne. There are a number of vitamins and minerals that are powerful antioxidants capable of flushing out free radicals and toxins from your body.
Some even have antibacterial effects and promote immunity, both of which are important in keeping your pores clean of clogging toxins and in healing the damaged skin tissue. Some vitamins and non vitamin antioxidants can also help play a key role in treating acne are Vitamin A, B, C, D, E and K listed in order of importance to fight body and facial acne.
VITAMIN-A:
Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne? It is recommended you take up to 10,000 IU of vitamin A to successfully combat acne. Naturally occurring vitamin A or retinol is commonly found in fish oils, dairy products and liver. Vitamin A found in plants is called beta-carotene and is commonly found in yellow/orange fruits and vegetables like carrot and cantaloupe. This is essential for the maintenance and healing of epithelial tissues, with skin being the largest expanse of epithelial tissues we have. This diet includes plenty of dark orange (carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash) and dark green (broccoli, spinach, kale) vegetables” all of which are high in vitamin A. Many skin conditions are caused by diets that actually starve the body instead of bringing in the much-needed vitamins and minerals. Your skin cannot function properly without the daily supply of vitamins, among which the most important are Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B7, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. Vitamin A is one of the building blocks of the body's immune system. It plays a key role in the formation of intact epithelial tissues, which are the first barrier to infections, and also in keeping white cells healthy to fight bacteria. An insufficient supply of Vitamin A can lead to dry skin. The best sources of Vitamin A are milk, eggs, carrots and spinach.
VITAMIN-B:
Choose foods with plenty of B vitamins like B-2 and B-3. These foods convert calories into energy for metabolism and are components of enzymes that maintain normal skin function and helps you maintain healthy skin tone. The best sources for these are green leafy vegetables, lean meats, eggs, avocados, fish, brewer's yeast, whole grains and peanuts. The vitamin B group comprises Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (Nicotinic Acid, Niacinamide, B3), Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine (B6) and Cyanocobalamin (B12). Each one of these vitamins has a specific role in promoting healthy skin, as well as overall health. Vitamin B2 is involved in the regulation of human growth, including the health of skin, hair and nails. It can be found in milk, cheese, leafy vegetables and almonds. According to studies conducted by Doctor Hung Leung, deficiency of Vitamin B5 can cause acne. Doctor Leung has actually managed to prove through his studies that regular doses of Vitamin B5 have a positive impact on acne, with milder cases being solved in matter of weeks. This vitamin is common in whole grain cereals, legumes, eggs and meat. Vitamin B7 is used by the cosmetics and health industries in many skin and hair care products. It is also recommended by doctors for strengthening hair and nails. Common sources of B7 are liver and kidney, dairy products and some seafood.
VITAMIN-C:
The C vitamin is for collagen maintenance. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are another set of antioxidants that are required for at least 300 metabolic functions in the body, including tissue growth and repair. Best sources are citrus fruits and juices, slow cantaloupe, strawberries, tomato sweet peppers and green peas. The well-known Vitamin C is not used solely for preventing the loss of teeth, but also to keep skin flexible and strong at the same time. The vitamin is required for the production of collagen in the connective tissues. Collagen is responsible for keeping the connective tissue flexible, yet strong. The best sources of Vitamin C are fruits and vegetables, with the Billygoat Plum (also known as Gubinge or Kakadu Plum) being the undisputed leader of Vitamin C sources (60 times more Vitamin C than oranges). VITAMIN-D: The body synthesizes large quantities of Vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, which makes this vitamin one of the easiest to get. However, the end of summer means an end to large-scale Vitamin D synthesis and the body has to rely on reserves to get through the autumn and winter. Lack of Vitamin D is one of the causes behind skin cancer. Other sources of Vitamin D are fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) fish and beef liver and eggs.
VITAMIN-E:
The E vitamin is used to protect your cells against free radicals and enhances healing and tissue repair. This is a powerful antioxidant that helps slow the aging of skin cells and promote healthy skin. A powerful antioxidant, it protects your cells against the effects of free radicals, which are potentially damaging by-products of the body's metabolism. Foods rich in vitamin E include almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, broccoli, wheat germ, peanuts and vegetable oils. Vitamin E is used in many skin creams and lotions. It is believed to play a role in promoting skin healing and reducing scarring after certain injuries. It can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, wheat and leafy vegetables.
CHROMIUM:
Chromium aids acne by reducing skin infection rates. To get the adequate amount of chromium in your diet, you need to take liquid supplemental chromium called chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate. Chances are you are chromium deficient because the form of chromium in foods is not easily absorbed and is lost during processing. High quantities of sugar in the diet cause a loss of chromium from the body. There are reports that suggest that up to 90% of the population may be deficient in chromium. Chromium is related to blood sugar - the more sugars we eat, the more chromium we need. Hence the common deficiency; most people eat excess sugar foods. Researchers have found that people with unstable blood sugar levels have a high incidence of severe acne.
ZINC:
Zinc is for boosting the immune system and promoting optimum health. Zinc helps with healing of the tissues and helps prevent scarring. It helps prevent acne by regulating the activity of the oil glands. Zinc can be found in eggs, seafood, turkey, pork, whole grains, nuts and mushrooms. This trace mineral helps maintain collagen and elastin fibers that give skin its firmness, helping to prevent sagging and wrinkles. It also links together amino acids that are needed for the formation of collagen” essential in wound healing.
SELENIUM:
which is available in tea or natural products is a mineral antioxidant that will help minimized the damage of ultraviolet lights. Researches show that it might even aid in skin cancer prevention. Selenium is a trace element that has received a lot of attention in the health press in recent years. Research has shown that selenium coupled with vitamins A & E can within 12 weeks reduce the severity of persistent acne and help alleviate resultant scarring. Good sources of selenium include tuna, wheat germ, sesame seeds, nuts, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mushroom and whole grains.
VITAMIN-K:
Lastly, the skin also needs vitamin K. The K vitamin does not do much for the skin, but it has one major benefit. This benefit is manifested by the reduction of dark circles formed under the eyes and the appearance of bruises. It can also be combined with vitamin A to form a potent formula for lightening the circles under the eye. There are also formulated lotions, which include a combination of vitamins C and E to help restore lost vitamins and to make your skin healthier looking. Good sources of vitamin C include broccoli, bell peppers, citrus fruits, cauliflower, and other green leafy vegetables. There are also a lot of vitamin C supplements available as over the counter drugs, of which it is enough to take a 500 to 1,000mg tablet a day. For Vitamin E, nuts, olives, asparagus, vegetable oils, and spinach are good sources. Unfortunately, you cannot make your vitamin E supply depend only on taking these foods. It can be supplemented by creams, lotions, and pills, of which the required amount is up to 400 units a day. An excessive intake of vitamin E may also be harmful so consult your dermatologist or family doctor before increasing your body intake of vitamins.