Taking vitamins - how can they help with acne?

The skin is the largest organ in the body and it acts as the first line of defense against infectious diseases and microbes. The skin is also the place where toxins from inside the body are excreted through pores and glands. Therefore, your body needs total nutrition to promote healthy skin and to prevent acne. Vitamins and minerals play an important part in keeping the skin healthy and keeping acne at bay.

There isn’t one vitamin or mineral that will drastically improve your acne or prevent it from forming, but there are some that are vital for helping to maintain healthy skin.

Vitamin A:
Research has found that those who have severe acne often have low levels of Vitamin A in their blood. Vitamin A is needed for the maintenance and repair of the tissue which the skin and mucous membranes are made of. It is also an antioxidant that relieves the body of oxidative stress. It is found naturally in carrots, green leafy vegetables and yellow/orange fruits. Vitamin is very toxic if taken in high doses and pregnant women should seek advice before taking a vitamin A supplement.

Vitamin B:
The B group of vitamins, help to maintain healthy skin tone, they can also help to relieve anxiety and stress, which can be a trigger for acne formation. Studies have found that Vitamin B6 is helpful in treating acne. It is crucial in the functioning of the immune system and antibody production. It is found naturally in bananas, blackcurrants, watermelon, leek, green pepper, sweet potato, avocado and chick peas.

Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is needed for the production of collagen (connective tissue in skin and bones), it also aids the absorption of iron and speeds up healing. The body uses more vitamin C if you smoke or take antibiotics or oral contraceptives. Found naturally in blackcurrant, blackberry, grapefruit, lemon, oranges, brussel sprouts.

Zinc:
Zinc is a mineral not a vitamin so foods will only have as much zinc in them as the soil they were grown in contained. A lack of zinc has shown to increase the production of male hormones. An excess of male hormones stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce an excess