Vitamins For Acne
Vitamin A (with carotenoids)
Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and prevents acne. It helps reduce sebum production.
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.
Apply Tea Tree Oil to pimples about three or four times daily. Tea Tree Oil will help to dry the abcess and allow it to heal. Do not get Tea Tree Oil in the eyes or take internally.
Vitamin E: This vitamin is important for skin repair and retards cellular aging.
Zinc: Zinc is essential for absorption of Vitamin A and also regulates levels of Vitamin E in the blood. It also boosts the immune system and helps kill acne bacteria.
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant. Although not as strong of one as Vitamin A, Vitamin E still does help to rid the skin of toxins which can lead to acne and helps to clear up existing acne. Vitamin E also promotes tissue repair and healing of the skin, two important aspects that help to both strengthen the skin and also to prevent damage caused by acne to become permanent. Additionally, Vitamin E prevents cell damage by inhibiting the oxidation of lipids (fats) and the formation of free radicals.
Vitamin B5 is a revolutionary way to fight acne that is just starting to come into mainstream use. Knowledge of its benefits have been relatively unknown until 1997 when Dr. Lit-Hung Leung, M.D. published his studies on B5’s effects in preventing acne. Through years of research, he obtained results that are quite astonishing. The American medical community and the public have been slow to recognize the great effects of B5.
Several double-blind trials indicate that zinc supplements reduce the severity of acne. In one double-blind trial, though not in another, zinc was found to be as effective as oral antibiotic therapy. Doctors sometimes suggest that people with acne take 30 mg of zinc two or three times per day for a few months, then 30 mg per day thereafter. It often takes 12 weeks before any improvement is seen. Long-term zinc supplementation requires 1–2 mg of copper per day to prevent copper deficiency.
B vitamins
B vitamins are important for healthy skin function. Vitamin B6 can be useful in treating premenstrual flare up of acne, possibly due to its ability to affect steroid hormone action.2 Most experts recommend taking it in the second half of the menstrual cycle, that is, one week before and during menstruation. The typical dose is 50 mg per day. Niacin may also be helpful in acne treatment as it improves blood flow to the skin.
