Acne Treatments - Supplements
Using supplements to clear your skin |
Acne can be as much internal as it is external. Therefore, sometimes you can improve your skin by taking a few supplements. There are many different ones out there, some that I've never even heard of before, but I listed the more popular and well-reviewed supplements in the below chart, along with their function and main food sources:
| Type | Function | Food Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin. It helps with skin healing and regulates sebum production. Vitamin A also helps skin function as a barrier to bacteria and viruses. Some people claim that high doses of Vitamin A will help treat acne. However, high doses of Vitamin A can be toxic and dangerous. Always check with your doctor before beginning such an oral regimen. |
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| Vitamin B Complex | Vitamin B is broken down into individual vitamins such as vitamin B12, B6, etc. Each type of vitamin B aids bodily functions in a certain way (details here). Together, all the B vitamins help maintain healthy skin. It is actually thought that a deficiency in Vitamin B5 (or pantothenic acid) can cause acne. There's a regimen floating around on the internet claiming that ingesting large doses of Vitamin B5 will clear your skin. I admit I didn't try this long enough to see any results, but the thought of taking mega-doses of vitamins just doesn't agree with me. Who knows how safe that can be... |
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| Vitamin C | Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can be applied topically or ingested orally. Vitamin C helps with collagen production, wound healing, and skin elasticity. Vitamin C comes in many different forms but it usually sold as ascorbic acid or Ester C. |
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| Omega-3 | Omega-3s have many important health benefits. They are anti-inflammatory and can help stabilize your hormones. Some people with dry skin have reported feeling less dry after taking omega-3 supplements. Omega-3s shouldn't cause you to break out unless you are allergic to them or if the capsules aren't clean enough. You want to make sure whatever Omega-3 you buy is pure and free of metal toxins and hasn't gone rancid. You can't really tell if you take Omega-3 capsules, but you can test their freshness by puncturing them and seeing if they smell rancid. Most Omega-3s also come in the form of fish oil or flax oil. |
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| Zinc | Zinc is a mineral that helps to regulate androgenic activity in your body (androgens are responsible for things like body hair and acne). It is also important for regulating oil production, fighting free radicals, and helping with scar healing. You should take approximately 25-75 mg per day. Taking more than that can reduce your body's absorption of copper and cause other unwanted side effects. In fact, if you are taking 50mg of zinc, it's a good idea to take 5mg of copper as well because you can become deficient in copper when you take zinc. |
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Aside from the supplements listed above, you also hear a lot about how saw palmetto, evening primrose oil, burdock root, green tea, and probiotics can help with acne. Of those things, I have only personally tried green tea and probiotics, both of which had no effect on my skin whatsoever. People say drinking green tea helps your skin, but I didn't see much of a difference even though I regularly drink 2-3 cups a day out of habit. The probiotics also didn't make me feel any different, so I thought I'd just save my money and not buy them anymore.
I don't know much about saw palmetto or evening primrose oil, other than that they do something to your hormones. Evening primrose oil is actually a popular supplement for women in menopause, but it's supposedly a supplement that only older women should take (says my mom). As far as how well saw palmetto or evening primrose oil work to treat acne, I have read a smatter of success stories here and there but that's about it.
Burdock root, on the other hand, supposedly cleanses your liver and helps rid your body of toxins. The idea is that without toxins, you wouldn't get any acne. In Asia, they use burdock root in cooking (I don't really like how it tastes) and brewing teas, but fresh burdock root is hard to find in the States. Does taking burdock root actually help with acne? I have no idea, but I am leaning towards no. My thinking is that while supplements can help with clearing skin, they usually need some other kind of help too, like skin care, topical treatments, lifestyle changes, etc.
Before taking any oral supplements, you should always be aware of any potential side effects. Make sure you do the proper research and take the recommended amount for your age and gender. Also, be mindful of expiration dates and proper storage.
Supplements aren't magic pills for all of your skin problems. They can help some, but they mostly complement good skin care routines and healthy lifestyles. Therefore, before taking any supplements, it's best to try to get all your nutrients from food sources first.
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Last updated: January 28, 2011
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