Acne Help That Vitamin

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Acne can strike at any age. Although it’s more common among teenagers, and sometimes in women going through menopause, acne affects an estimated 50 million people in the United States each year.

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Acne surfaces during times of hormonal imbalance. When glands produce more oil than normal, skin pores get clogged, allowing bacteria (and pimples) to grow.

Pimples come in many different forms and depths, including blackheads whiteheads, cysts, and nodules. To banish them, research has long pointed to topical medications such as benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics like tetracycline, and oral drugs that contain vitamin A, such as isotretinoin, which is for moderate to severe acne.

Alternatively, some seek more natural treatments such oral vitamin and mineral supplements. Do natural remedies also work? And if so, which ones? Find out below.

Does Vitamin C Help Acne? Here's What You Need To Know

Vitamin A oral supplements don’t work the same as topical vitamin A, according to clinicians at the University of Michigan. In fact, they caution against the supplement, as it can do more harm than good.

Because the vitamin is fat-soluble, it builds up in your body, and a high intake of more than 10, 000 international units (IU) can be toxic. This is especially true during pregnancy, so women who are planning on becoming pregnant should check with their doctors before starting any supplements.

But as a topical medication, vitamin A can help with your acne. Most topical medications chemically alter the vitamin into a retinoid that you can apply to the skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, retinoids are the most effective treatment for acne because of their ability to regenerate and heal the skin rapidly, so that you quickly have fresh skin.

Using Vitamin A For Acne

Popular retinoid brands — in the order of least side effects — include tazarotene (Tazorac) and adapalene (Differin). You can get them only with a prescription.

Pregnant women shouldn’t take retinoids. The substance also weakens your skin’s natural UV protection, so people using retinoids should take care to avoid long exposure to the sun and use sunscreen.

Zinc is a mineral that can also help with acne. You can take it as an oral supplement or as a topical treatment.

I Tried Taking Zinc And Vitamin A For 30 Day (acne Prone Skin) — Lakisha Adams

Of the past studies on the topic found that zinc can decrease oil production in the skin, and can protect against bacterial infection and inflammation.

That a relatively safe dose of 30 mg can help treat acne. Higher amounts of zinc may be harmful. Some people have reported becoming ill from taking too much zinc, and excessive zinc intake can lead to a copper deficiency.

We’ve talked about how vitamin A and zinc can help your acne, but you’ve also probably heard of vitamin E as a possible remedy as well. Acne’s relationship with vitamin E isn’t as well studied as with vitamin A or zinc. However, in a recent

Vitamin A For Acne: Benefits, Types, And Uses

, people with acne were shown to have vitamin E, A, and zinc deficiencies. So it wouldn’t hurt to make sure you get your daily recommended intake of the 15 mg of vitamin E.

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, 30 people used tea tree oil gel for 45 days, and another 30 people used a placebo. Those who used the gel saw greater improvements in their acne.

Tea tree oil is a good alternative to benzoyl peroxide, a well-known ingredient in acne creams. It has similar effects, wiping out bacteria and decreasing oil production. Both are available over the counter, but tea tree oil seems to cause fewer side effects like itching, burning, and peeling.

Vitamin E Oil For Acne Scars

Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.If you deal with hormonal acne, you know how frustrating it can be. People assume that hormonal acne stops after puberty, but that's not always the case. In fact, many women continue to deal with hormonal acne well into their 20s and 30s and even during perimenopause.

There are several reasons people get breakouts, but primarily hormonal acne is related to imbalances of excess androgen production, the main culprit behind hormonal acne. Androgens are a class of hormones that includes testosterone and DHEA, both of which can contribute to excess sebum production and clogged pores.

The truth is that there is no one cure for hormonal acne, and clearing up your skin often needs a holistic approach. Lifestyle habits such as good skin care and a healthy diet are foundational, and supplements can be especially helpful to fill in nutritional gaps or add beneficial levels of specific nutrients for the skin.

Treating Acne With Vitamin A: A Potential Solution To The Imbalance

In this article, I'll share my top ten supplement picks for hormonal acne. These are products I regularly use in practice with my patients to help balance hormones, calm inflammation, and help reduce the appearance of acne so you can feel confident in your skin.

Each of these supplements has evidence in clinical studies for hormonal acne or are nutrients that are known essentials for skin health.

Vitamin

Many health practitioners recommend zinc in their approach to hormonal acne. Zinc is a mineral involved in skin health and collagen synthesis. It helps with acne in several ways, including lowering sebum production (possibly by reducing androgens) and helping to maintain proper levels of inflammation. Yes, while too much inflammation is problematic, the body does need to maintain healthy levels as part of our immune defense.

Vitamin C For Acne: Benefits And Uses

Inflammation contributes to breakouts by worsening acne and by delaying healing. Zinc also has antimicrobial properties, which can help reduce bacteria on the skin that contribute to acne.

Several studies show that taking 400 to 600 mg of zinc sulfate each day for 12 weeks reduced inflammatory acne and had similar results as taking antibiotics, a treatment often used for severe acne. This is considered a high dose of zinc. High doses of zinc are associated with upset stomach and nausea. Whereas, low zinc levels are also associated with more severe breakouts. Part of the reason a study would use a high zinc concentration is because of the form of zinc administered—zinc sulfate is not as bioavailable and easily absorbed as other forms. So, if you use a more readily available zinc then benefits may be seen at lower dosages.

Zinc is found primarily in shellfish (oysters are one of the top sources), organ meat, beans, and pumpkin seeds. Typically, research doesn’t focus on increasing dietary sources of zinc—instead, supplementation is usually the focus of research on zinc for acne and seems to provide the most benefit. Taking too much zinc over time could lead to copper deficiency, so it's helpful to take a supplement that includes both copper and zinc in optimal ratios.

Vitamin A Supplement For Acne: Does It Work?

Vitamin A is a go-to nutrient for skin health, and while it's usually used in topical treatments as retinol or retinoids, oral vitamin A could help too. Some research suggests that Vitamin A has anti-inflammatory effects because it promotes the body's antioxidant response, which may make it easier for your cells to clear out free radicals that could damage skin issues.

Vitamin A could also reduce sebum production from the sebaceous glands. However, there's more research on topical vitamin A than oral vitamin A in regards to this, so a combo of both may be your best bet for brighter skin.

You can find a type of vitamin A known as provitamin A in many fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Provitamin A converts to retinol, also known as preformed vitamin A. Provitamin A is from plants and you know them as carotenoids. Previtamin A is found in animal foods, dairy and organ meat.

Vitamin

How Vitamin A Works On Acne Prone Skin

If you take supplemental vitamin A, it's usually helpful to take it as part of a multivitamin to make sure you take the right amount. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means your body stores any extra and can build up excess amounts if you take too much.

If you’re pregnant, it is important to limit the amount of provitamin A you consume. While some is beneficial, too much can be potentially harmful to a developing baby. Look for a prenatal vitamin that contains a combination of provitamin A and carotenoids like our Prenatal Plus.

If you've heard that cruciferous veggies like kale, cabbage, cauliflower, or broccoli are good for detoxification, a big reason why is because of DIM. DIM is a phytonutrient that I use all the time to support healthy hormone balance.

How To Use Vitamin E For Acne

DIM works by reducing androgen production that contributes to acne (making it an especially helpful supplement for PCOS). It also promotes healthy estrogen detoxification, which is essential for people with estrogen dominance.

@drjolenebrighten You started DIM for high estrogen & now feel worse. Why? #learnontiktok #healthyliving #drjolenebrighten #hormoneimbalance #hormoneimbalance ♬ STAY – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber

DIM is a derivative of indole-three-carbinol (I3C), also present in cruciferous veggies. However, I3C is not as well absorbed as DIM, so supplementation

Best Vitamins And Minerals For Acne Skin [2023 Nutritionist Reviewed]