Vitamins for Acne
Most people are lacking in the vitamins that are important for your
body to function efficiently. Only around 15 percent of Americans eat
the recommended three to five servings of vegetables every day. Did you
know that your skin is the largest organ of your body. It above all else
requires proper nutrition to function well and act as the first line of
defense against infectious diseases and microbes.
Your body needs complete nutrition to promote healthy skin and 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.
Vitamin A with carotenoids strengthens the protective
tissue of the skin and prevents acne formation by reducing sebum
production. Vitamin A is essential for the maintenance and repair of the
tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. Vitamin A is
also a powerful antioxidant that relieves your body of oxidative stress
caused by free radicals.
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 but don’t take more than 5,000 IU if you are pregnant. A
high-quality liquid multivitamin is a good source for vitamin A, as well
as the other vitamins that help with preventing acne.
A good Vitamin B complex helps you maintain healthy skin tone. These
vitamins also help you relieve anxiety and stress, and stress can be a
major factor that can trigger acne.
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.
Thiamine acts as an antioxidant, enhances your circulation, and assists
your body to properly digest the food you eat. You should take 100 mg of
Thiamine thrice daily to combat acne.
Riboflavin or vitamin B2 works with Vitamin A to maintain and improve
the mucous membranes in your digestive tract. It is also essential for
healthy skin, hair and nails. Acne is one of the symptoms of riboflavin
deficiency. The dosage of vitamin b2 recommended to fight acne is 100
mg, 3 times daily. You may find that this dose also helps with migraine
headaches.
Niacinamide or vitamin B3 is also important for healthy skin by
improving circulation and helping your body with the metabolism of
carbohydrates, fats and proteins. A deficiency in Niacinamide will cause
acne.
Pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is noted for helping reduce stress, in
effect indirectly reducing acne, which stress is known to cause. It is
also required for the proper function of the adrenal glands.
Pyridoxine or vitamin B6 is crucial in the functioning of your immune
system and your antibody production. A deficiency of vitamin B6 can
result in acne.
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. Vitamin C protects against infection and
enhances immunity. Bioflavanoids have an antibacterial effect. The
recommended dosage to fight acne is 1000 mg 3 times daily. If you have
diabetes, ask your doctor about the proper dosage.
Chromium aids acne by reducing skin infections 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. The recommended dosage to fight acne is 150 mcg
per day.
Zinc helps with healing of the tissues and helps prevent scarring. It
helps prevent acne by regulating the activity of the oil glands. Zinc
promotes a healthy immune system and the healing of wounds. It is also
an antioxidant which helps to fight and prevent the formation of free
radicals. Acne can be a sign of Zinc deficiency. The recommended dosage
to fight acne is 25 to 30mg per day.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that enhances healing and tissue repair. It
prevents cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids (fats) and
the formation of free radicals. Take 400 IU daily of Vitamin E to combat
acne.
Taking a potent liquid multivitamin with chromium will supplement most
of your daily requirements. Remember to find a multi-vitamin that you
can take at least twice a day. It is important to know that taking too
much of a vitamin or mineral can be toxic and extremely dangerous. Each
supplement listed has a recommended dosage that you should not exceed.
Taking "too much" of a vitamin will NOT decrease your acne relief and
may not be healthy. That said, many people with acne find great relief
in the fact that proper vitamin levels can clear up much, if not all of
their acne.
A good multivitamin is the foundation of health and nutrition.