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Vitamin A
What is it?
Vitamin A is an antioxidant that belongs to the class of compounds called retinoids. The active alcohol form of vitamin A is known as retinol. Vitamin A, commonly known as Retin-A, has been prescribed for decades by dermatologists to treat acne topically. Accutane, a prescription oral medication, has been used to treat severe nodular acne by dermatologists for years as well and is also a form of vitamin A. Low levels of this vitamin have been associated with inflammation and acne. In the body, vitamin A is responsible for red blood cell production, immune system support, healthy skin, normal vision, and overall growth and development of the body. Food sources include orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, sweet potatoes, spinach, and cod liver oils.
Why is it of value for treating acne?
Vitamin A is essential to the normal shedding of dead skin cells that build up inside the pore and ultimately cause acne- this sticky build up and excess production of skin cells is one of the main causes of acne! Click here to read about other causes of acne, especially hormonal acne. This vitamin functions by preventing this build up that would have otherwise caused a clogged pore. In addition, the antioxidant properties of vitamin A for acne act as an anti-inflammatory for the skin and help to calm swollen, red, and sore acne breakouts.
Who should increase their Vitamin A intake?
It is highly recommended that individuals with inflammatory acne on the face and/or body should be eating foods high in vitamin A and supplementing with 10,000 iu’s of vitamin A per day. I have had great success with Clove Hill Skin Clarity. If you are pregnant, please consult a physician before starting on this vitamin for acne.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
What is it?
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and seafood, particularly oily, ocean fish such as mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. It is arguably the best anti-inflammatory found in nature.
Why is it of value for treating acne?
Inflammation is at the core of acne (externally and systemically), therefore an anti-inflammatory supplement is key to clearing acne. The inflammation process is triggered at the systemic level and then, with many other factors, causes acne at the skin level. An important side note, inflammation is also connected to nearly all chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, etc.
Omega-3 fish oil for acne works by inhibiting two inflammatory chemicals that are responsible for acne breakouts, they are called PGE2 and LTB4. One way to inhibit the production of these two chemicals is with the drug Accutane and the other way is, naturally, with EPA omega-3 fatty acids. To find out if you have inflammatory acne click here. EPA Omega-3 supplements and foods are the best way to put out the flame. Research shows that people consuming diets higher in omega-3 fatty acids, such as in Japan, the coastal regions of North Carolina, and Papua New Guinea all have a low rate of acne.
Who should increase their Omega-3 intake?
It is highly recommended that individuals with inflammatory acne on the face and/or body should be eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and supplementing with 2 grams (2,000 mg) of EPA omega-3s per day. I have had great success with the Clear Skin Trio (which contains Vitamin A and Omega-3’s) and the Clove Hill Fish Oil. Be sure to check your labels, as you want to have a therapeutic dose of 2,000 mg of EPA per day. This is because EPA is a better anti-inflammatory than DHA. Most Fish Oil supplements will contain more DHA than EPA so be sure to check your labels. If you are pregnant, please consult a physician before starting on fish oil supplements.
In addition to supplements, fish oil for acne such as anchovies, sardines, and mackerel as well as flax seed oil are fantastic resources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3-enriched eggs are also recommended. Soybean, peanut, sunflower, palm oil, and other vegetable oils should be strictly avoided as these will make acne worse by stimulating the PGE2 chemical that causes acne.
Zinc
What is it?
Zinc is a mineral that’s responsible for contributing to many, many functions within the body. To name a few: growth and development, brain function, reproduction, and immune function. In food, zinc is in beans, nuts, seeds, oatmeal, whole grains, lean meats, and oysters.
Why is it of value for treating acne?
Zinc has many important functions for acne clearing. One, zinc assists with the metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids. Two, zinc is an important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory for the skin. Three, zinc helps break down substance P, the nerve chemical that causes sebum production when the body is stressed. Four, zinc is responsible for transporting Vitamin A. An antiacne nutrient, from the liver. Recent studies have shown that people with acne have low levels of zinc in their system.
Who should increase their Zinc intake?
As you can see, Zinc is an important supplement to take with Vitamin A and Omega-3 Fish Oils. Zinc for acne is highly recommended if taking either of these supplements to assist in the uptake and metabolism. It is also recommended as part of a basic supplement regimen for non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne. Approximately 40 mg per day is the therapeutic dose of zinc. Check all your supplement labels as zinc is often added to a multivitamin and the Clove Hill Skin Clarity.
Selenium
What is it?
Selenium is a minor mineral as well as an antioxidant that works to protect other antioxidants. It can be found in grains, nuts, seafood salmon, and halibut.
Why is it of value for treating acne?
Selenium has been proven to work synergistically with as well as preserve the levels of other antioxidants, such as zinc. Selenium functions in glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme which is very important in preventing the inflammation of acne. This selenium-dependent enzyme that controls glutathione is low in acne patients, and low levels of blood selenium have also been documented. Small amounts of selenium and vitamin e have been shown to improve acne, particularly in those with low baseline glutathione enzyme activity. In addition, research has shown that a deficiency in selenium may play a role in inflammatory conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Who should increase their Selenium intake?
Selenium should be taken along with other antioxidants as well as zinc supplements. The Vitamedica Healthy Skin contains 48 mcg of Selenium per dose.
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Jessica, I a 33 year old female, it seems my skin has changed recently. I went from having very few to no acne issues at all to having much more breakouts on a regular basis. I had not changed my routine so I am not sure what happened? What would you recommend as far as vitamins and supplements to take to help combat this issues? Thank you so much.
-Victoria
Hi Victoria. thank you for reaching out to us. I think you would be a great candidate for our Virtual Acne Clearing Program! As adult women, we continue to go through hormonal changes and imbalances throughout our lives, and these changes can often be at the root of a new and seemingly unprovoked acne breakout. Without knowing more about your situation, I can’t recommend specific supplements, but please check out our website at https://www.naturalacneclinic.com/ and set up a consultation if you would like a detailed analysis of your skin and any possible hormonal, dietary, stress-related, or digestive factors that might be triggering your acne.
Hi my skin is prone to small acne and there is redness on cheeks like spots. I have used every household remedy but it didn’t work. Help me
Hi Anjali, I recommend you try the Natural Acne Clinic online clearing program. We specialize in getting clients clear when nothing else has worked, by using innovative skincare products and herbal supplements to balance the body and skin, inside and out. We would love to help you!
Hi, I am taking biotin pills to help stimulate hair growth. I’ve taken these before and it broke me out. Would taking any of the suggested supplements or foods help combat that and cancel out the acne effects that come from biotin?
Hi Jenetra, biotin is going to continue to cause breakouts as long as you are taking it, so I would recommend desisting. Vitamin A, as in our Healthy Skin Supplement, has the opposite effect and actually slows down excessive skin cell production and helps to slough off dead skin. This is the nutrient we need when we are acne prone, as opposed to biotin.
Hello Jessica..
I’m a 54 year old woman with severe nodulcystic acne. I’ve had the acne since I was 24 and have been on every treatment out there. Accutane, spirnolactone, Prednisone, dexamethasone, and just a couple weeks ago started Finasteride. My dermatologist finally referred me to an endocrinologist who ordered blood tests. Not surprisingly, I had extremely high levels of the Androgen hormones DHEA and Testosterone. I am hoping the Finasteride will help, but I have no idea how long it will take to kick in.
Without a doubt, My cystic acne flares up when I am stressed. Unfortunately my life the last couple of years has been turbulent and very stressful. Reducing stress of course would help, but that’s easier said than done!
So I’m researching any alternative methods to minimizing my acne. I don’t need a complete cure….just less severe. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on lasers and fillers for my acne scars. All depressed and rolling scars that are very hard to eliminate.
Any suggestions at this point would help. Have you ever come across anyone my age with this problem?
Thank you!
Debi
Hi, I’ve had breakouts for years now. It is mild, but every little breakout leaves a dark mark for months. I have lots of blackheads on my nose, cheeks, and chin. It was better when I took birth control pills, but since I have stopped taking them, I started breaking out again. I eat healthy and drink lots of water. Used different acne products that have helped at first, but after few months they seem to loose the effect.
Hi Rusiko, thanks for your comment. Natural Acne Clinic’s online clearing program specializes in getting our clients clear when nothing else has worked. Often products work for a little while, as in your experience, but begin to lose their effectiveness after a few weeks. This is because the skin adapts to a product regimen like your muscles adapt to a gym routine, and it is necessary to implement systematic routine changes in order to effectively treat acne. What makes our program so unique is that we change your skincare regimen biweekly over the course of 16 weeks, at the end of which our clients graduate with a clear complexion. We’d love to help you get clear too!