Acne and breakouts surely have the power to ruin your appearance and kill your mood especially before an event. In this festive season where every other day there is something or other event that a person needs to attend, you surely can’t let those blemishes and breakouts come into your way. As we all are, we all are well aware that there is not one but multiple types of acne that can take up the form of cysts, whiteheads, pustules, blackheads, papules and nodules. There can be various reasons behind the emergence of these breakouts that can range from improper hygiene to menstrual cycle and from hormonal changes to stress. Where these are some of the popular reasons behind the emergence of acne, one thing that also contributes to these breakouts is a nutrient deficiency. Where nutrient deficiencies can lead to various diseases and complications, it is also a contributing factor in the emergence of acne. Lucky for you that it can be treated and corrected with the help of some supplements. Let us take a deep dive into this article and learn about the supplements that can help you in easing acne, with Dr. Madhulika Gupta, Cosmetology, Trichology, Clinical Diet and Nutrition.
Supplements To Treat Acne
Where acne is a concern, nutritional deficiency is another. As popping those pimples is not a solution, it is best to treat this condition from inside. In order to do so, it is important to correct the nutrient deficiency and get that healthy and glowing skin back, that too without the appearance of acne or blemishes. Before we learn about the supplements that can be helpful in easing out that acne, let us take a quick look at what Dr. Madhulika Gupta has to say about it.
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Also Read: 5 Lifestyle Habits You Need To Drop Right Away To Avoid Acne
“Various research studies indicate that supplementing the diet with various vitamins and minerals can help a person in easing acne. A proper diet and supplements when taken along with the traditional medicine can be used to control this condition naturally. Taking supplements can be really helpful if your diet lacks some important nutrients as it can help to stabilize the hormones, fight bacterial infection and reduce inflammation. It would be best to consult your doctor and get yourself evaluated before starting the use of any supplements.”
Here are 7 nutritional supplements as suggested by Dr. Madhulika Gupta, that can help you in easing out that acne and inflammation caused due to it.
#1. Vitamin A
A vitamin that has an abundance of antioxidant properties, Vitamin A is something that can help to make your skin healthy and promote a better skin health by fighting the free radicals and damage caused due to it. By reducing the free radical damage, vitamin A not just helps in easing out those pimples, but also reduces the cellular damage and slows down the skin’s aging. Including Vitamin A in your regular diet with the help of oranges or consuming supplements for the same can help with acne by increasing the cell growth and healing process, reducing inflammation, smoothening the skin and decreasing the sebum production.
One should only consume Vitamin A supplements after consulting the doctor and the daily intake of this supplement should not be more than 5000 IU.
#2. Vitamin D
This one is for those of you who have been playing hide and seek with the sun all their lives in order to nurture their complexion and save themselves from that sun tan. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that our body needs not just to absorb calcium and maintain healthy bones but for a good skin as well. Vitamin D is a nutrient also known as the “sunshine vitamin” that is packed with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Adequate levels of vitamin D in the body can help you in reducing the inflammation, control the bacterial growth and reduce the redness caused due to acne. Along with this, vitamin D can also help in normalizing those white patches.
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Also Read: 9 Signs That Your Body Is Begging For Vitamin D
Although vitamin D is an important nutrient that your body needs, the daily intake limit of this supplement should not exceed more that 1000 UI in any case.
#3. Selenium
A lesser known nutrient that is vital for your health, selenium is something that acts as a powerful antioxidant. This nutrient not just helps a person in preventing cancer, boosting the immune system and protecting the heart from various cardiovascular diseases but can also improve your skin quality and ease out those breakouts and acne. Being a powerful antioxidant, selenium can help reduce the oxidative stress and the free radical damage caused due to it and protect the healthy cells from getting damaged. This vital nutrient also helps in reducing the inflammation by balancing out the hormones.
Selenium works best with a conjunction of vitamin E and zinc but shouldn’t be taken without consulting your physician and its daily dosage shouldn;t exceed 400 mg.
#4. Zinc
One of the most essential nutrients that the human body requires in order to perform various important body functions such as immune functioning, contributing in growth and development, boosting the wound healing process and helping in protein synthesis. Being an essential nutrient, zinc contributes in various body functions but to our surprise it can also be helpful in achieving healthy skin and easing acne. Zinc is known to lower the inflammation levels by fighting the damaging oxidative stress in the body. This reduced inflammation results in healed acne. Apart from this it can also help to decrease the oil production in the skin and protects it against bacterial infections.
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An essential nutrient that can be obtained from various food items such as nuts, meat and eggs, one should not consume zinc supplements without consulting the doctor and the consumption of these supplements should not be more than 34 mg for teenagers and 40 mg for adults.
#5. Omegas
The connection between acne and the omega fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 has been well established by the researchers. As acne is considered to be an inflammatory skin condition that results in red painful bumps. Omega -3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect that helps in fighting acne by triggering the inflammation. The case is quite similar with omega-6 fatty acids as they target the inflamed area and hence help in easing out the acne by reducing inflammation. Along with this it also helps in controlling the sebum production that will help to prevent the occurrence of acne in the coming future. These omegas also help in strengthening the skin, control hormonal levels, manage stress and reduce sebum production.
If consuming omegas in the form of supplements, one thing that you need to keep in mind is that the intake of these supplements should not be more than 200 mg in a day.
#6. Probiotics
Where probiotics are popularly known for keeping your gut healthy, who knew that it can do wonders to your skin as well. Probiotics provide a protective shield to your skin and strengthen that skin barrier. By doing so it prevents the environmental toxins from coming in contact with your skin and from causing any kind of inflammation. These probiotics also have an antimicrobial action that can kill or attack the acne causing bacteria present on your skin.
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Moreover probiotics are associated with excess estrogen and hormonal balance that can result in reduced inflammation.
#7. Magnesium
A nutrient that is involved in various biochemical reactions that take place in your body, magnesium is something that comes with various health benefits such as fighting depression, lowering blood pressure, preventing diabetes, reducing insulin resistance, preventing migraine and a lot more. Where this essential nutrient can be so helpful in treating these conditions and helping you to prevent them, no wonder that they can help with acne too. Magnesium is best known to control hormonal acne by lowering the cortisol production and stabilizing the hormonal imbalance in the body. By doing so it helps in reducing inflammation and the appearance of acne and blemishes as well.
This Article is based upon Dr. Madhulika Gupta's post on her instagram handle.
