Vitamins For Acne: Which Vitamins are for Acne?

If you hear someone say that beauty is just more than skin deep, take note that it is also true for acne – the ugly swellings and breakouts are really a result of a prolonged period of nutritional deficiency that results in skin that’s ripe enough for bacteria attacks.

Vitamin A and B2 For Acne

In a 1985 study done by the Dr. O. Rollman and associates, it was found that People who suffer acne have low levels of Vitamin A in their blood. But when the individuals in the study where treated with Vitamin A, the acne lesions cleared.

Take note, however, that Vitamin A can only work effectively with Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin, so even if you take as much Vitamin A as you like, you still will not clear your acne if you don’t have enough Riboflavin. Vitamin B-2 Riboflavin converts Vitamin A to its active and non-toxic forms.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E can work wonders on your acne condition. There are a number of reasons for this. One is that it protects Vitamin A from being destroyed by oxygen, or allowing it to become toxic. Also, researchers have found it is essential in the protection of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which is absolutely essential to protect the prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are important in regulating skin health. When Vitamin E is low, the skin’s glutathione peroxidase drops to a low level. This means there is a loss of effective prostaglandin regulation of skin cells, thus resulting in an increase of acne.

Niacinamide (NOT Niacin)

Like Vitamin B-2, Niacinamide is another nutrient vital for producing energy inside the body, without it and without Vitamin B-2, all the carbohydrates you take will simply be lodged up in your cells as glucose – too much glucose will saturate your skin cells and enlarge the pores, making your skin vulnerable to acne-causing bacteria attacks. It’s very important that you take 200 mg of Niacinamide three times a day because it is a very soluble nutrient.

Vitamin B-6 or Pyridoxine

Vitamin B-6 is especially helpful for women in controlling acne out break just before menstruation. Take 50 mg of this vitamin everyday. Pyridoxine helps eliminate pre-menstrual breakouts by protecting Vitamin A from destroyed by oxygen. Researchers have also found that it is essential in protecting the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which is absolutely essential to protect the prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are vital for regulating skin health. Acne develops when the prostaglandins are not working properly.

Lipoic Acid

This nutrient may not be popular but it is absolutely essential for moving glucose inside your body – from the blood and to the cells. Once inside the cell, this nutrient joins other enzymes in converting glucose into energy. This one vitamin does wonders to correct the dysfunctional energy cycle of glucose associated with hypoglycemia, syndrome X and diabetes. Doctors suggest you take 500 mg of Lipoic acid three times a day.

Zinc

Aside from being absolutely essential for good and healthy skin, zinc is required for the production of reproductive cells. Men especially need a large amount of zinc for the production of sperm cells. Zinc is also required to produce normal protein as new skin cells. The lack of zinc is literally a recipe for acne. Taking 60 mg of zinc everyday, along with other necessary nutrients, will do wonders in curing your acne.

Magnesium

Aside from being essential for the production and release of insulin, Magnesium very essential for properly utilizing the vitamin Pyridoxine mentioned above. Take supplements of about 500 mg. of this mineral each day.

Selenium

Selenium is essential co-factor for properly utilizing Vitamin E. Take about 400 mcg per day of Selenium as selenomethionine.

Chromium

Chromium is notoriously low in the American diet, glucose and insulin stay in the blood instead of going inside the cells. If you’ve got acne, chances are you also have unstable level of blood sugar and low levels of chromium. One study proved that taking 400 mcg twice a day rapidly clears skin of acne. Take Chromium in the Picolinate form.

Source: Acne – How To Prevent And Overcome Acne Forever, Dr. Robert Preston, ND