Medically reviewed by Minimalist Health Specialist - Written by Rupali Goswami (Beauty Expert) on 21st Aug 2020
Vitamins to the rescue! How vitamins can help you achieve clear and healthy skin
Acne doesn't have a particular timeline. It can pop up at any age, at any time, and on anybody. While acne generally occurs in teenagers, it needs to happen again once you cross that period.
As stated by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 54 % of adult women and 40 % of adult men over the age of 25 suffer from acne.
Sometimes it can be minor zits and blemishes, but sometimes acne can be stubborn and painful, no matter what face creams, spot treatments, or acne cleansers you use, but it just stays there, causing a lot of pain, irritation, and discomfort. It can severely affect the quality of life due to the damage it creates to our skin.
Acne can be of several types:
- blackheads
- whiteheads
- papules
- pustules
- nodules
- cysts
The occurrence of acne depends on a lot of factors, such as:
- excess production of oil (sebum)
- bacteria
- hormones
- dead skin cells
- ingrown hairs
Did You Know:
Vitamins are differentiated based on their solubility. Vitamins can be classified into two types: water and fat-soluble. Vitamin A, D, and E are fat-soluble vitamins, and Vitamin B and C are water-soluble vitamins.
Vitamins for acne:
Vitamins are organic micronutrients that our body requires to perform essential functions. Vitamins are believed to be very fragile and are easy to break under heat. These essential nutrients are also necessary for metabolism functioning.
While there are so many chemical treatments available out there, acne can also be addressed using some natural remedies, including topical and oral vitamins.
Vitamins don't just help reduce your breakouts and fading away blemishes but also helps your skin become healthier from within. Unhealthy skin is a significant ground for flights, may it be blackheads, whiteheads, cystic, or any other acne form.
You can experience the benefits of vitamins in the form of foods that you consume or via supplements. It may take longer for vitamins to work their way through your body, but they are less likely to cause an adverse reaction. Our skin tends to change under some factors, including environment, health issues, hormones, etc.
Vitamins can help our body to rebalance fluctuating hormonal levels for clear and healthy skin. Hormones play an essential role in the emotional state of both men and women. Hormonal imbalance can affect our physical and mental health. As women experience extreme shifts in their hormonal level, they are more likely to be prone to acne, making you feel irritated, lethargic, and uncomfortable.
The good news is that this can be solved when you introduce the right type of vitamins and nutrients into your lifestyle, which can balance your hormones and benefit your body and skin.
Introducing vitamins can upgrade your health inside out and also protect your body from further destruction.
Here are some essential vitamins you should know about:
Vitamin A:
Vitamin A is considered an excellent treatment for vision, skin, reproductive health, and immune health. As our body doesn't produce this vitamin, it is essential to introduce foods rich in vitamin A to our diet to consume its benefits. According to some studies, vitamin A supplements may not work and cause harm to your body.
Foods rich in vitamin A
- Carrots
- Tuna
- Sweet Potato
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
Vitamin A Skin Benefits:
- Cellular health
- Firms
- Anti-aging
- Lessen the signs of fine lines and wrinkles
For skin, Vitamin A can be used in the form of retinoids to treat moderate acne conditions, anti-aging, and stimulates collagen production. However, it is recommended to consult your doctor before taking this vitamin as higher concentration can lead to dry skin, sun - sensitivity: hair loss, and other side effects.
This retinoid formula by minimalist provides just the right percentage, dermatologically tested to avoid irritation and skin sensitivity.
Did You Know:
Lack of Vitamin A in the body can cause night blindness, especially in pregnant women, and can majorly affect your immune system, resulting in death from some contagious diseases.
Vitamin B3:
Niacinamide, a form of Vit B3, works to restore skin moisture and prevent further water loss. Lack of vitamin B3 can cause pigmentation, sun damage, environmental damage, and other skin deficiencies. This vitamin can improve skin texture, uneven skin tone, dullness, fine line, and wrinkles.
Foods rich in vitamin B3:
- Tuna
- Brown Rice
- Peanuts
- Avocados
- Green Peas
- Portabella Mushrooms
Vitamin B3 Skin Benefits:
- Reduces inflammation
- Minimizes the appearance of pores
- Strengthens lipid barrier
- Balances skin tone
- Brightens
- Balance sebum production
Vitamin B3 is proven to reduce acne symptoms and can be found as nicotinamide in many creams and serums. Vitamin B3 works in both ways, whether taken orally or applied topically.
This aloe-based serum by minimalist contains 10% of niacinamide and 1% Zinc, clinically tested to reduce melanin concentration and balance sebum production.
Did You Know:
Deficiency of Vitamin B3 can cause memory loss, headache, depression, fatigue, mental confusion, and many skin problems.
Vitamin C:
If you desire healthy skin from within, consider vitamin C to be an essential vitamin out of all. Discovered through ample research, vitamin C works great in healing wounds, helps minimize scars, and prevents skin from drying out and quick aging.
Foods rich in vitamin C:
- Kiwis
- Broccoli
- Lemons
- Papayas
- Strawberries
- Oranges
Vitamin C Skin Benefits:
- Firms
- Brightens
- Evens skin tone
Vitamin C is an antioxidant consisting of anti-inflammatory properties to reduce redness and swelling on the skin.
Minimalist offers ultra-light vitamin C serum made with sufficient quality SAP to provide you with great skin benefits.
Vitamin D:
Whatever we consume shows its effects on our skin. Vitamin D is all about fighting germs in our body, which keeps our body clean, and that's what helps us maintain clear skin. A study in 2016 derived that people with vitamin D deficiency are more prone to acne than those with higher levels of this vitamin.
Food rich in vitamin D:
- Egg yolks
- Mushrooms
- Soy milk
- Orange juice
- oatmeal
- Cod liver oil
Vitamin D Skin Benefits:
- Neutralizes free radicals
- Supports cellular growth
- Supports repair and renewal
- Anti-acne benefits
Your body starts producing vitamin D as soon as your body comes in direct contact with the sun. But as we all know, UV rays can damage your skin badly, so it's better to incorporate certain foods in your diet to have some fantastic benefits of this vitamin.
Vitamin E:
Like vitamin C, vitamin E is an antioxidant known to fight free radical damage, contributing to acne. Both vitamin C and E have been considered very important for overall skin health.
It can also maintain our body functions properly, like the immune system, fighting bacteria, and preventing foreign aggressors from entering the body.
Food rich in vitamin E:
- Sunflower Seeds
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts
- Mango
- Wheat Germ Oil
Vitamin E Skin Benefits:
- Lessen the signs of fine lines and wrinkles
- Heals
- Soothes
- Moisturizes
Did You Know:
Improper treatment due to vitamin E deficiency can result in significant disorders such as nerve damage, muscle weakness, loss of ability to walk, or blindness.
Importance of vitamins:
Vitamins are an essential nutrient as they perform a lot of functions inside and outside of the body. From the usage of a moisturizer to consuming a pill, vitamins can be found in the small things you may use on a day-to-day basis for your body and skin's health and wellness. Your body needs vitamins to perform all the task such as
- converting food into energy
- building and maintaining bones
- To keep our teeth, muscle, skin, blood, and hair in a healthy state
- To keep our brain, eyes, nervous and immune systems in good working condition
What vitamins should you use?
Out of these, vitamins A, C, and E are great supplements to get started to fight with acne. It is essential to take care of our body, skin, and health, which sometimes we forget due to some unwanted zits or diseases. Taking the right kind of vitamin can help you get rid of those unwanted guests and maintain your bodily health.
Every vitamin has its advantages and can do wonders for your skin if taken in the right amount and at the right time.
Final Note
It is known that vitamins are natural forms of micronutrients that can have a more extended procedure, but this is so much safer and healthier for your body and skin to take the long route than to opt for a shortcut and end up disappointing yourself.
Plus, diet also plays a vital role in preventing the symptoms of acne. Incorporating food rich in vitamins A, B3, C, E, and D can eliminate the risk of acne and help your skin heal faster from the past damage caused by acne-like deep scars, blemishes, redness, and pigmentation.
Consult your doctor for the best advice before incorporating any new vitamin, nutrients, or minerals in your diet or skincare.
