As you know diet, essential minerals and vitamins play an essential role in maintaining a healthy body. Some specific vitamins have been seen to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of acne. Lets look at these in some details.
What exactly are vitamins?
Vitamins are “micro nutrients” that can only be obtained through diet and other natural sources like sun light and are considered “essential” for the growth, development and maintenance of general health of the human body.
Which vitamins help acne treatment?
Studies have shown that the deficiency of certain vitamins is linked to the development of acne, while the presence of these reduce the occurances of acne.
The group of vitamins that help acne, “acne vitamins” so to speak include vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin E and some vitamins of B complex. There are others but these are the essential ones.
Vitamin A
This is perhaps the most important vitamin for the prevention of acne. The role of Vitamin A is essential for the conversion of the fatty acids found in the blood stream into the oil of the sebaceous gland, in a healthy form.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Riboflavin is essential for the absorption of Vitamin A. Without enough Vitamin B-2, no matter how much vitamin A is taken, much of it will remain inactive and ineffective. Even adequate supplies of Vitamin A in the diet will not insure healthy skin without an adequate intake of Vitamin B-2. Riboflavin is also valuable for more than just making Vitamin A more effective. Several studies have found it to be essential for the overall good health of the skin, and its deficiencies leads to skin problems. If riboflavin is deficient in your diet and the body, it results in cell glucose accumulation and food for the growth of bacteria within the skin pores, which in turn leads to pimples and acne.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, the effective antioxidant, is found abundantly in citrus fruits and vegetables and is highly beneficial for healing of skin and inflammation due to these properties. Similarly it is highly effective in treating acne by promoting rapid healing and prevention against scarring.
Vitamin E
Vitamin is the next essential acne Vitamin. Its importance comes from the fact that it protects Vitamin A from becoming toxic or being oxidized. Studies show that it can also reduce formation of acne scars. Vitamin E’s antioxidative property helps promote a healthy look of your skin.
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
Vitamin B3 promotes healthy skin by improving circulation. It also helps the body metabolism. Just like riboflavin, niacinamide is an absolutely essential nutrient which assures your body and its skin of improved cell respiration and increased energy production in your skin cell. It helps remove the surplus sugar in the skin cell by speeding up the conversion of glucose into energy in the mitochondria. This in effect starves the bacteria in the skin pores and prevent them from being active and acne prone.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B5 is naturally found in eggs, yeast, whole-wheat products, broccoli and red meat. Vitamin B5 increases your body’s ability to break down oil, this prevent acne breakouts, as acne occurs when the pores on your skins get clogged with oil. Increased intake of Vitamin B5, helps you breakdown and metabolize more oil and hence reduces acne breakouts.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of proteins that are essential in the daily replacement of dead skin cells. It is more helpful to females. as most women find that their acne gets worse in the week before their menstrual periods. Studies have shown that a supplement of 50mg of Pyridoxine (B6) daily helps control this pre-menstrual acne flare ups.
That covers our brief introduction to Acne Vitamins, do remember to make these a part of your diet and anti acne regiment to get rid of acne effectively.