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What are the Different Types of Vitamins for Acne?
Some of the most helpful vitamins for acne might include vitamin A and E. Other vitamins and minerals that may be useful to take for treating and preventing acne include zinc and vitamin B. A person who is taking vitamins for acne should not expect vitamins to clear up her acne completely, although they may help to reduce the severity of acne if supplements are taken regularly. There are also some people who take vitamins for treating their acne and notice no improvements whatsoever. The effectiveness of vitamins for treating acne and other problems tends to vary from person to person, and it may be a good idea to consult with a doctor before adding any additional vitamins and minerals into what is already consumed each day for treating various problems.
Using A vitamins for acne may be effective because vitamin A can reduce the formation of sebum, which is a type of oil the skin produces that can cause acne to develop when too much is present. In addition to reducing sebum, vitamin A can help repair damaged tissue, which might make permanent scarring from acne less likely to occur. Even though vitamin A might be useful for acne, too much of it can be dangerous for some people. Pregnant women in particular should be careful about taking vitamin A supplements and might want to ask their doctors how much is safe to take during their pregnancies.
Vitamin E is another vitamin that people occasionally use for acne. It is possible that vitamin E aids in skin cell regeneration and tissue damage repair, which could help prevent and reduce existing acne scarring. Vitamin E might also lessen redness, irritation, and inflammation related to existing acne. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant, which means that it can destroy toxins that exist around the surface of the skin. These toxins sometimes contribute to acne, and a reduction in the toxins might reduce the frequency of breakouts.
Zinc is a type of mineral that people occasionally take in supplement form for the treatment of acne. Some of the potential benefits of zinc for acne include oil gland regulation, wound healing, and scarring prevention. Some people who have acne are surprised to discover that they are actually deficient in zinc, and sometimes taking zinc in supplement form is all that is needed to greatly improve their acne symptoms.
One of the other vitamins for acne treatment is vitamin B. Vitamin B may indirectly help with acne that is caused by increased levels of stress. Most dermatologists agree that stress is a common cause of acne, and people often notice an increase in the frequency of their breakouts during times when they are dealing with a lot of stress. Vitamin B is typically helpful for reducing stress levels, and for this reason it could prevent acne breakouts.
Discussion Comments
@fify-- My brother is a pharmacist and one of the things about vitamins that I have learned from him is that vitamins should be treated as they were medication. If you take too much of it, it can be very toxic and lead to serious health problems. I realize that these vitamins are easily available over the counter, but my view is that they should be taken under the control of a doctor.
It's true that vitamin B5 (also called pantothenic acid) can help in clearing out acne, but the way it does that is by drying out your skin in general. Some people who take vitamin B5 for acne complain about dehydration and dryness, changes in menstrual cycles for women and even hair fall. The effects seem to be different for different people. If you want to take vitamin B5, please advise with a dermatologist first.
Can we benefit from cremes, lotions and masks which have vitamins just as much as vitamin capsules that we take?
There are several different brands with products that have vitamin E for oily skin and skin with acne. Has anyone benefited from them? Would you suggest using them?
And has anyone tried vitamin B5? I have heard really good things about it for acne treatment. Does it work?
I was taking multivitamins for healthier skin, nails and hair. I took two tablets a day made of different complexes but was negligent about reading the details on the back. My acne actually got worse and then I realized that I was taking way too much Vitamin A.
You really have to be careful about Vitamin A, there is a specific range that is safe for the body and too much can have adverse effects. 25,000 IU of Vitamin A is enough for acne treatment. For pregnant women, only 10,000 IU is allowed per day. Read the labels of your vitamins and know exactly what you are taking.
Also, I only take organic vitamins made from real foods and are certified. Other vitamins have synthetic additives which can also be dangerous.
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